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<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;margin:0px;text-decoration:none" class="ContentPasted0">Dear Colleague,</span></div>
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<div style="margin:0px"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">We are aware of your excellent work in this area. We are hoping the note below will capture
your interests and involvement.<br class="ContentPasted0">
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">We are a group of four scientists based in
the U.S. (three researchers and one journalist) with extensive recent experience with drying terminal lakes in arid/semi-arid portions of the U.S. Our particular expertise lies with the Salton Sea right in our backyard. It is California’s largest lake, and
like many other lakes in the world, it is experiencing rapid degradation in water quantity and quality and ecosystem health; shifting biogeochemical cycles; intense eutrophication; and high dust, pesticide, and seasonal pathogen loads that are already threatening
human populations on and near the margins. As the lake continues to shrink, our research is exploring the relationships to climate change, lake chemistry, macro- and microfaunal ecology, and effects on neighboring communities, taking into account factors
such as quality of life, public health, and local economies. We examine the broader impacts that extend beyond local boundaries, recognizing the interconnected and fragile nature of our limited natural resources. </span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">We know that you also have a particular interest
in analogous systems, including those in your ‘backyard,’ and this shared concern is why we are reaching out to you. Our ambitious goal is to assemble and coordinate a global community of researchers, journalists, and diverse other stakeholders with interests
in drying lakes and their causes and consequences. As a first step, we plan to assemble a large group at the annual meeting of the EGU (European Geoscience Union) this April. The focal point of this get together will be a session (likely oral and poster)
to facilitate exchange of shared and unique issues surrounding drying lakes throughout the world. </span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">We plan to follow the many discussions at the
meeting (particularly on the poster floor) with evenings and lunches of informal brainstorming with the idea of planning regular (annual) events and exchanges within our community. The ultimate goal is establishment of a global research group that will support
colleagues throughout the world (through shared science, policy experiences, system threats, mitigation strategies, etc.) with the hope of finding solutions through intellectual and resource sharing. Drying lakes are a subset of climate change (drought and
warming), poor land and water management, and over population—and are thus something to integrate more comprehensively into global discussions about our changing planet.</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">With this in mind, we hope you will
</span><span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">submit an abstract to attend the
</span><a href="https://www.egu24.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" style="margin:0px;text-decoration:none" id="OWA724bb2c6-66f5-459d-2f4a-9a515b0ca024" class="OWAAutoLink ContentPasted0" data-loopstyle="linkonly"><span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">2024
EGU General Assembly</span></a><span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">, to be held 14-19 April 2024, both on-site in Vienna, Austria,
and virtually. We have convened a session HS1.1.9, </span><a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU24/session/48263" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1" style="margin:0px;text-decoration:none" id="OWAdda84418-39fe-4089-2741-9fe1fe115d69" class="OWAAutoLink ContentPasted0" data-loopstyle="linkonly"><span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">“Lake
in Crisis: The global challenge of shrinking lakes in arid and semi-arid regions, causes, and consequences''</span></a><span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">. </span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">Details about the session:</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">Lakes in crisis: The global
challenge of shrinking lakes in arid and semi-arid regions, causes and consequences</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">This session focuses on the many environmental and ecological challenges linked to shrinking lakes around the world.
In the face of intense droughts, increased evaporation with warming temperatures, and greater demand on water resources, lakes worldwide are drying, exposing surrounding regions to diverse consequences that include threats to human health from increased dust
emissions and deteriorating water quality. We view this as an opportunity to meet and share common and unique challenges from the many locations in the world impacted by this problem—to work toward solutions and draw further global attention to the issues.
Presentations will include, but are not limited to, those describing case studies from specific lake systems experiencing dramatic and rapid declines in size, water quality, and the attendant deleterious environmental impacts. Additional themes include those
addressing the common threads that run through these settings, such as increasing salinity and nutrient levels, controls on the amounts and compositions of increasing dust loads, harmful microbiological/biogeochemical effects, dwindling resource availability
(e.g., for agriculture), sociopolitical pressures, ecological degradation within the lakes and beyond, and current and future threats to large human populations, among others. </span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">Our EGU session aims to bring attention to
the global issue of diminishing lakes, while fostering better understanding and communication among science, policy, and the public. We invite scientists and other stakeholders worldwide to join this effort, contributing diverse perspectives on the challenges
posed by these degrading systems. </span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">The deadline for abstract
submission is 10 January 2024, 13:00 CET. Registration and fee information is available
</span><a href="https://www.egu24.eu/attend/register.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2" style="margin:0px;text-decoration:none" id="OWA3f53545b-5f6c-a416-d273-2e10835d1c2d" class="OWAAutoLink ContentPasted0" data-loopstyle="linkonly"><span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">here</span></a><span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">.</span></p>
<br class="ContentPasted0">
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">We are reaching out to you specifically because
of your present and/or past efforts and experience with the topic.</span><span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0"> Importantly, please share
this announcement with your colleagues and any others within or interested in the field. </span></p>
<br class="ContentPasted0">
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">We aim to cast a big net
that captures a big, diverse community interested in the science and solutions of catastrophically drying lakes and the many lessons learned from a global distribution of these systems. As we all know, these conversations must face the reality that water resources
will continue to decline, shifting the focus to better resource management (e.g., water and nutrients), alternative water sources, and minimization of threats to humans and local ecologies.</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">Thank you for your consideration! We look forward
to welcoming you to Vienna or virtually in April and to working with you from that point forward. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">We are excited to be moving forward on this
vital front.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">Tim Lyons, Distinguished Professor of Biogeochemistry and Associate Director of the Salton Sea Task Force, University
of California-Riverside</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">Charlie Diamond, Academic Coordinator, University of California-Riverside</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">Caroline Hung, PhD Candidate, University of California-Riverside</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ContentPasted0">Virginia Gewin, Science Journalist</span></p>
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