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First Announcement: 2009 Sea Ice Outlook - Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH)

April 23, 2009

First Announcement: 2009 Sea Ice Outlook
Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH)

For further information about the Sea Ice Outlook, please go to:
http://www.arcus.org/search/seaiceoutlook

Or contact:
Jim Overland
Email: james.e.overland@noaa.gov

Or:
Hajo Eicken
Email: hajo.eicken@gi.alaska.edu

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The Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) Sea Ice Outlook is now
launching activities and soliciting contributions for the first monthly
2009 Sea Ice Outlook report.

ABOUT THE OUTLOOK
Extreme environmental changes such as loss of summer sea ice extent
continue in the Arctic. Such radical changes require increased
communication within the international arctic science community to
advance synthesis and understanding of the processes of arctic change.
The SEARCH Sea Ice Outlook, initiated in 2008, is an international
effort to provide an integrated, community-wide summary of the state of
arctic sea ice over the summer season. Over 20 research groups
participated in the 2008 Outlook, which was a great success. The
contrast of sea ice conditions and atmospheric forcing in 2008 compared
to 2007 provided clues to the future of arctic sea ice. See the 2008
summary report for highlights of the 2008 season:
http://www.arcus.org/search/seaiceoutlook/2008_outlook/summary_report.php.

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE FIRST MONTHLY REPORT
The first 2009 Sea Ice Outlook monthly report will be released in early
June. Outlook contributions are now solicited for this first monthly
report; the deadline for the contributions will be the end of May.

The format for the 2009 Outlook will be similar to 2008; some
improvements are planned based on feedback from contributors and users
of the 2008 Outlook. Each outlook contribution should include:
	-a sea ice projection for the September monthly mean arctic sea ice
	extent (million square kilometers),
	-the type of estimate (heuristic, statistical, ice-ocean model
	ensemble runs, etc.), and
	-a short paragraph on the physical rationale for the estimate.

Please send Outlook contributions to Jim Overland
(james.e.overland@noaa.gov) with the word OUTLOOK in the subject line.

Information on regional sea ice is also requested. For further
information about submitting a regional outlook, please contact Hajo
Eicken (hajo.eicken@gi.alaska.edu).

The Sea Ice Outlook Central Office will send a follow-up message in a
few weeks with more details and additional resources.

Further information about the Sea Ice Outlook is available at the
website: http://www.arcus.org/search/seaiceoutlook.

Or by contacting:

Jim Overland, Core Integration Group Lead
Email: james.e.overland@noaa.gov

Hajo Eicken, Core Integration Group
Email: hajo.eicken@gi.alaska.edu

Helen Wiggins, Sea Ice Outlook Central Office
Email: helen@arcus.org