1.1 ,Understanding environmental processes that occur in soil and rock systems in cold regions of the world depends on adequate characterization of not only the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil and rock but also the climatic factors under which they exist. Processes of interest may include, but are not limited to, surface and subsurface hydrology, contaminant mobilization, distribution, fate and transport, chemical and biological degradation of wastes, geomorphological, and ecological processes in general.