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ARCSS Program | Co-oP Concept Paper Submissions By Author

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Lilian Na'ia Alessa  Complexity and Synthesis in Arctic Hydrology
Thomas Douglas  Arctic TRACE: Tracking Routes of Atmospheric Components in the Environment
Ivan Eyefor Watts  (Example Submission) The Arctic Energy Budget
Kenneth Hinkel  Thaw Lakes and Basins in the Arctic Landscape
Andrea Lloyd  Surface Dynamics and Human Environments of the Arctic System
Patricia Matrai  Ocean-Atmosphere-Sea Ice- Snowpack (OASIS) Interactions
Gifford Miller  Volcanoes in the Arctic System

Lilian Na'ia Alessa

Lilian Na'ia Alessa
Resilience and Adaptive Management Group
afla@uaa.alaska.edu

Q1. What is the tentative name of the proposed Community of Practice (Co-oP)?

Response: Complexity and Synthesis in Arctic Hydrology

Q2. List up to three keywords that describe the primary focus of this Community of Practice concept.

Response: Hydrology, complexity, local scale synthesis

Q3. Identify the lead contact person(s), as well as other key Co-oP participants.

Response: Contact: Lil Alessa, RAM/UAA
Daniel M. White, WERC/UAF
Larry Hinzman, WERC/UAF
Kenrick Mock, Math-Comp Sci/UAA
Andrew Kliskey, RAM/UAA
John Cassano, CIRES/UofColorado Boulder
William J. Gutowski, Iowa State
Bob Busey,WERC/UAF
Richard Lammers, Complex Systems/UNH

Q4. What are the focusing science questions and goals of the Co-oP? (<300 words)

Response: How does the hydrological cycle link components of the Arctic System at local scales?

Which components are attractors and modifiers in the system?

Which attractors are changing rapidly and which are changing slowly?

With a focus on the hydrological cycle relevant to human scales:
a. does synthesis indiiicate that there may exist greater degrees of complexity in arctic processes than previously thought and
b. what insight can we gain into emergent patterns/processes and guidelines for them?

Q5. How do the Co-oP science question(s) and goals fit within arctic system-scale science and the overall ARCSS Program goals? (<300 words)

Response: A variety of changes have been identified in the Arctic System. Changes in the availability of freshwater at local and regional scales will have the most direct and immediate impact on humans and their antecedent activities. A common component of existing programs is the characterization of changes in multiple venues (e.g., earth surface, sea ice, etc). We suggest that while many of these changes (e.g., vegetation) of the Arctic are profound, they are occurring on temporal scales that allow slightly more time to adapt. However, changes in the hydrological cycle may be sudden and acute resulting in unpredicted emergent patterns. We propose the formation of a research community whose goal is to undertake the integrated study of local scale changes in hydrology, particularly as they interact with and affect biological communities in the Arctic system, including but not limited to, humans. There exist substantial Bodies of Knowledge from which we can conclude that changes in both the land and ocean surface will establish complex feedback cycles in Arctic hydrology. We propose to pursue an understanding of the interactions between these variables in order better understand how freshwater links and affects critical processes in the Arctic.

Q6. What other groups and disciplines do you expect the Co-oP to interact with?

Response: Surface Dynamics and Human Environments of the Arctic System.
American Museum of Natural History/Columbia University.
Multi-agent simulation (MAS)/Agent-based modeling community (e.g., Arizona State).
Native Corporations, Villages and Tribal Councils.

Q7. What is the appproximate number of currently active Co-oP participants?

Response: Less than 30, more than 10

Q8. What is the approximate size and scope of anticipated future Co-oP participation?

Response: More than 30

Q9. What other researchers or groups (based on expertise, focus, methodology, etc) would you like to connect with in order to further develop the Co-oP goals and science questions?

Response: Epidemiologists, particularly those specialized in cold regions.

Q10. What type of support from the ARCSS Science Management Office would best facilitate your Co-oP development?

Response: Web Conferences
Scientifically focused Webseminars
Online Bulletin Board
Shared electronic workspace (wiki)
Electronic email list

Q11. What additional (other) Science Management Office support would facilitate your Co-oP development?

Response: Current methods are working well. Will correct as need arises.