Publications regional arctic system model rasm naval. Asr is produced using highresolution versions of the polar weather forecast model pwrf and the wrfvar and high resolution land data assimilation hrldas data assimilation systems that have been optimized for the arctic. The arctic climate dynamics group conducts observations and evaluates models of arctic sea ice to document and predict climate change impacts on arctic marine ecosystems. The arctic is a key part of the global climate system because the net positive energy input to the tropics must ultimately be resolved through substantial energy losses in highlatitude regions. Acting as the northern hemispheres refrigerator, a frozen arctic plays a central role in regulating earths climate system. In the future, arctic warming and the melting of polar glaciers will be considerable, but the magnitude of both is uncertain. This comprehensive, uptodate assessment begins with an outline of early arctic exploration and the growth of modern research. It is the first to provide an integrated assessment of the arctic climate system, recognizing that a true understanding of how the arctic functions lies in appreciating the interactions and. Although water vapor is a greenhouse gas, it has very little effect on the external factors controlling the climate, unless pushed from within. Identify patterns and trends in arctic sea ice from maps and satellite imagery. Monitoring climate changes and impacts refuge researchers, along with other agencies and scientists, are studying the impacts of global climate change within the arctic refuge.
A variety of research projects are being undertaken to help determine additional climatechange effects on refuge wildlife species and their habitats. A number of critical arctic climate feedbacks affect the global climate system, and many of these. According to the ipcc intergovernmental panel on climate change, the arctic is experiencing the fast and drastic climate change with a temperature increase of 1. Our simulated climate matches paleoclimatic observations of. We used a global climate model, a dynamic ice sheet model, and paleoclimatic data to evaluate northern hemisphere highlatitude warming and its impact on arctic icefields during the last interglaciation. The arctic system reanalysis asr polar meteorology. On average, the temperature on the earths surface has increased by 0. Cambridge core climatology and climate change the arctic climate system by mark c.
The arctic system reanalysis is a multiagency, universityled retrospective analysis reanalysis of the greater arctic. Guess, a regional atmosphere model rca, and an ocean sea ice model rco, to explore the dynamic coupling between vegetation and sea ice during 19892011. Arctic system reanalysis asr ncar climate data guide. The evolution of knowledge about the arctic and its climate 2. Pdf sea ice is the central component and most sensitive indicator of the arctic climate system. Precipitation, net precipitation and river discharge 7. Arctic, the barents sea is the site of coupled feedback processes that are important for creating variability in the entire arctic airiceocean system. Covered in sea ice yearround, with midnight sun in the.
The evolution of knowledge about the arctic and its climate. In addition to the regional consequences of arctic climate change are its global impacts. Integrated regional changes in arctic climate feedbacks. The antarctic treaty system as a model for arctic governance 1. The arctic, defined as the area north of the arctic circle, is a vulnerable and complex system integral to earths climate. Land surface climate in the regional arctic system model joseph hamman,a bart nijssen,a michael brunke,b john cassano,c anthony craig,d alice duvivier,c mimi hughes,c,e dennis p. The arctic influences the global climate system through both positive and negative feedbacks that involve physical, ecological, and human systems of the arctic.
The arctic is warming at a rate of almost twice the global average. The arctic climate system, second edition request pdf. This region influences patterns and changes in the arctic system and encompasses the boreal forest region. Atmospheric measurements as a prerequisite for modeling. Without urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the world will continue to feel the effects of a warming arctic. The arctic states hold a responsibility to safeguard the future development of the region and. A dynamical link between the arctic and the global climate system. Simulating arctic climate warmth and icefield retreat in. There is a large amount of variability in climate across the arctic, but all regions experience extremes of solar radiation in both summer and winter. If the atmosphere starts to warm, the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere will increase. Climate change in the arctic thus deserves and requires urgent attention by decision makers and the public worldwide. Arctic and boreal ecosystems of western north america as. Carbon dioxide is often abbreviated by its chemical formula, co.
An important example is the water vapor feedback loop. Arctic governance in a time of change in 2007, russia planted its flag beneath the north pole, laying claim to large expanses of arctic. Asr is produced using highresolution versions of the polar weather forecast model pwrf and the wrfvar and high resolution land data assimilation. The arctic climate system cambridge atmospheric and space. Physical characteristics and basic climatic features 3. Pdf recent advances in understanding the arctic climate system.
The book begins with a historical perspective, followed by discussion of the basic physical and climatic. It spans the width of subject areas, covering impacts on physical and biological systems, as well as on humanity. Synthesis of results from several arctic and boreal research programmes provides evidence for the strong role of high. Glacier front, alpefjord, northeast greenland national park photo.
The arctic system reanalysis asr, which can be viewed as a blend of modeling and observations, provides a high resolution description in space 15 km and time 3 h of the atmospheresea iceland surface system of the arctic. The large arctic fires in june could be a sign of a climate tipping point, said thomas smith, a climate researcher at the london school of economics and political science. Land surface climate in the regional arctic system model. The regional arctic system model rasm has been developed to advance capability in simulating critical physical processes, feedbacks and their impact on the arctic climate system and to reduce uncertainty in its prediction. Make predictions about the future extent of sea ice changes in the arctic. Fullfills climate minor application option course description addresses current issues impacting the arctic region from the perspective of visiting scientists, social scientists, practitioners, and arctic indigenous leaders. A k duvivier, j j cassano, a craig, j hamman, w maslowski, b nijssen, r osinski, a roberts 2016 journal of climate pdf version 3. Rarely does a visitor to this unique and storied region leave without impressions that last a lifetime. A wealth of valuable information about the recent climate of the arctic is presented in this excellent volume this is one of the best books on the arctic climate system and should be required reading for all scientists and students engaged in the study of the arctic environment. Lettenmaier,f wieslaw maslowski,d robert osinski,g andrew roberts,d and xubin zengb a department of civil and environmental engineering, university of washington, seattle. Arctic changes and their effects on alaska and the rest of. Zakharov state research center of the russian federationarctic and antarctic research institute federal service for hydrometeorology and environment monitoring st. The group is also documenting bering sea changes, where research suggests a shift from predominantly interannual variability to decadal variability. Feedbacks occur within the system that can either dampen or amplify the response to external factors affecting the climate.
Callaghan, margareta johansson, jeff key, terry prowse, maria ananicheva, alexander klepikov changes in the arctics climate are a result of complex interactions between. Guess, which comprises a dynamic vegetation model lpj. The changes will also reach far beyond the arctic, affecting global climate, sea level, biodiversity, and many aspects of social and economic systems. Pdf a study of feedbacks and the formation of climate. In spite of the paucity of actual data, certain progress has been achieved over the. While the important role of the arctic in the global climate system has long been recognized, recent. Arctic climate impact assessment acia overview report. The land of the midnight sun has enchanted humankind for centuries. The arctic can be viewed as an integrated system, characterised by intimate couplings between its atmosphere, ocean and land, linked in turn to the larger global system.
The data is organized around seven different topic areas. By means of simulations with a global coupled aogcm it is shown that changes in the polar energy sink region can exert a strong influence on the mid and highlatitude climate by modulating the strength of the midlatitude westerlies and storm. The interplay of recent vegetation and sea ice dynamics. From the arctic cryosphere to the climate system 0 terry v. The temperatures in the arctic continue to rise at more than twice the global annual average, which drives many of the changes underway in the arctic. Understanding feedback loops the sensitivity of earths climate system is determined mostly by feedback loops or mechanisms. Climate change and the arctic 5 learning objectives students will examine their knowledge and beliefs about the topic of climate change in the arctic. Pdf a dynamical link between the arctic and the global. Relative importance of tropical atlantic and pacific sst anomalies. Past and present find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate.
Trevelyan wing is a research fellow at the climate institute. The evolution of knowledge about the arctic and its climate physical characteristics and basic climatic features the basic atmospheric heat budget the atmospheric circulation the surface energy budget precipitation, net precipitation and river discharge arctic oceansea iceclimate interactions climate regimes of the arctic. The work is devoted to the study of the arctic climate system. The climate of the arctic is characterized by long, cold winters and short, cool summers. Both the depletion and areal decline of the arctic sea. A former stefansson fellow at the dartmouth institute of arctic studies, he holds an mphil in environmental change and management from oxford university and a ba from dartmouth college. It is the first to provide an integrated assessment of the arctic climate system, recognizing that a true understanding of how the arctic functions lies in appreciating the interactions and linkages among its various components. Global climate change and the arctic region the worlds climate is changing. This project and several complementary projects grew out of regional arctic climate modelling work at the naval postgraduate school, the. The vulnerability stems in part from the extensive cover of ice and snow, where the freezing point marks a critical threshold that when crossed has the potential to transform the region. Alaska chokes on wildfires as heat waves dry out the arctic.
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