Quaternary Caspian Sea level variations depended on geophysical processes (affecting the opening and closing of gateways and basin size/shape) and hydro-climatological processes (affecting water balance). Disentangling the drivers of past Caspian Sea level variation, as well as the mechanisms by which they impacted the Caspian Sea level variation, is much debated. In this study we examine the relative impacts of hydroclimatic change, ice-sheet accumulation and melt, and isostatic adjustment on Caspian Sea level change. We performed model analysis of ice-sheet and hydroclimate impacts on Caspian Sea level and compared these with newly collated published palaeo-Caspian sea level data for the last glacial cycle. We used palaeoclimate model simulations from a global coupled ocean-atmosphere-vegetation climate model, HadCM3, and ice-sheet data from the ICE-6G_C glacial isostatic adjustment model. Our results show that ice-sheet meltwater during the last glacial cycle played a vital role in Caspian Sea level variations, which is in agreement with hypotheses based on palaeo-Caspian Sea level information. The effect was directly linked to the reorganization and expansion of the Caspian Sea palaeo-drainage system resulting from topographic change. The combined contributions from meltwater and runoff from the expanded basin area were primary factors in the Caspian Sea transgression during the deglaciation period between 20 and 15 kyr BP. Their impact on the evolution of Caspian Sea level lasted until around 13 kyr BP. Millennial scale events (Heinrich events and the Younger Dryas) negatively impacted the surface water budget of the Caspian Sea but their influence on Caspian Sea level variation was short-lived and was outweighed by the massive combined meltwater and runoff contribution over the expanded basin.@en

Collecting in-situ environmental data from sensors installed in remote locations is a ubiquitous practice throughout earth sciences. Technical hurdles and financial considerations pose various barriers to entry and expansion of such sensor networks. With the ever-decreasing cost of off-the-shelf electronic components and increasing support and growth of communities like Arduino, Do-It-Yourself open-source alternatives are being developed by groups of researchers and organizations around the world. However, these efforts appear to be siloed, where breakthroughs in one community typically fail to directly advance relevant efforts in other communities. We believe a Do-It-Together approach as opposed to Do-It-Yourself would yield significant impacts across the broader needs of our communities. OPEnS International (Openly Published Environmental Sensing) is a growing and diverse community of environmental scientists, engineers, programmers, anthropologists, and artists seeking to build infrastructure that supports cross-pollinization and dissemination of designs, best-practices, technologies, and ideas. Chet Udell, Director of the OPEnS Lab (www.open-sensing.org) at Oregon State University will moderate a panel of 4 leaders in the field of open-source environmental sensing. Udell will provide a brief overview of OPEnS International, how to become involved, and currently existing infrastructure to support communities with environmental sensing needs, including SensorWiki.org. Panelists will present a brief overview of their background, experience, challenges, and objectives followed by an open discussion between town hall participants and the panelists. This conversation will be focused around assessing and identifying the needs, concerns, and challenges within the broader contexts of open environmental sensing and to propose solutions, infrastructure and initiatives to address those items. Whether you want to ask the community for a solution to challenges you have faced in the field, have a wealth of knowledge to share, or simply curious about the diverse makeup of people like yourself, there will likely be valuable take-aways for everyone at this event.@en