2006 Annual Meeting and Arctic Forum | Abstracts

New Approaches to Understanding a Changing Arctic

Peter Schlosser^1
1Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, PO Box 1000 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY, 10964-8000, USA, Phone 845-365-8707, Fax 845-365-8155, schlosser@ldeo.columbia.edu

Recent observations have revealed rapid system-scale changes in the physical, chemical, biological and human domains of the Arctic. Placing these changes into the context of past changes and natural variability of the Arctic environment, as well as into the global context of a warming world with possible non-linear, abrupt transitions pose major challenges to our scientific understanding. To address these challenges, new observational approaches including system-scale, integrated, long-term observing systems and development of new observing methods are required. The data streams of the observing platforms have to be captured and readily made available to the research community. Synthesis activities and model studies have to be synchronized with observing efforts and linked to the development of Earth system models capable of projecting the future evolution of the planet and its subsystems including the Arctic. This presentation outlines the nature of these new challenges, possible ways to address them, programs that have been formulated to meet them, and the progress in the implementation of these programs on the national and international level.