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The Arctic in the Anthropocene Emerging Research Questions. Study sponsors: DOE, NASA, NOAA, NSF, Smithsonian, USARC. Photo credit: P. Spector. Stephanie Pfirman and Henry Huntington Committee Co-Chairs April 28, 2014. Who are we?.
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The Arctic in the AnthropoceneEmerging Research Questions Study sponsors: DOE, NASA, NOAA, NSF, Smithsonian, USARC Photo credit: P. Spector Stephanie Pfirman and Henry Huntington Committee Co-Chairs April 28, 2014
Who are we? • National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a nonprofitorganization established in 1863. We were charteredby Congress during the Lincoln Administration toprovide independent advice to the Nation onscience, engineering, and medicine We are nota government agency. • National Academy of Engineering (NAE - est. 1964) and Institute of Medicine (IOM - est. 1970) are connected institutions, expanding our breadth and depth of expertise. (National Research Council is “operating arm.”) • Intellectual leadership comes from volunteer experts, chosen for expertise, balance, and objectivity. • Committee reports are most well known (200+ reports each year) but also research grants, fellowships, workshops, & other uses of independent experts.
Committee Membership LARRY HINZMANUniversity of Alaska, Fairbanks AMANDA LYNCHBrown University A. MICHAEL MACRANDERShell Alaska GIFFORD MILLERUniversity of Colorado, Boulder KATE MORANOcean Networks Canada ELLEN MOSLEY-THOMPSONThe Ohio State University SAMUEL MUKASAUniversity of New Hampshire TOM WEINGARTNERUniversity of Alaska, Fairbanks HENRY HUNTINGTON, Co-ChairThe Pew Charitable Trusts STEPHANIE PFIRMAN, Co-ChairBarnard College, Columbia University CARIN ASHJIANWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution LAURA BOURGEAU-CHAVEZMichigan Technological University JENNIFER FRANCISRutgers University SVEN HAAKANSONUniversity of Washington ROBERT HAWLEYDartmouth College TAQULIK HEPANorth Slope Borough DAVID HIKUniversity of Alberta
1. Study Context • What happens in the Arctic—to ecosystems, people, and climate—has far-reaching implications for the entire planet • Climate change is happening faster in the Arctic than anywhere else on Earth, causing the loss of sea ice, thawing of permafrost, and shifts in ecosystems • This report connects the dots between future science opportunities and methods to meet those challenges
Charge to the Committee • Summarize the rationale for continued U.S. research in the Arctic • Identify key emerging scientific questions in different realms of Arctic science (both disciplinary and cross cutting) Photo credit: M. Kennedy • Identify the types of research infrastructure, data management, technological developments, and logistical support needed • Identify needs and opportunities for improved coordination in Arctic research • Explore how agency decision makers might balance their research programs and associated investments
Community Engagement • Review of published reports and articles(including previous reports from numerous regional, national, and international agencies, organizations, and other institutions ) • Online questionnaire(over 300 responses) • Targeted interviews(15 researchers) • Anchorage Workshop(~50 participants) • Ottawa Workshop(~45 participants) Photo credit: P. Spector
Community Engagement Respondent Career Stage Respondent Disciplines
2. Rationale for Arctic Research Examples of observed impacts of climate change in the Arctic from IPCC 2014
3. Emerging Research Questions • Existing Questions Those that have been the subject of ongoing research but remain unanswered or for other reasons deserve continued attention • Emerging Questions Those that we are only now able to ask because they: • Address newly recognized phenomena • Build on recent results and insights • Can be addressed using newly available technology or access Photo credit: G. Miller
Emerging Research Questions Evolving Connected Undetermined Managed Hidden
ERQ: Evolving Arctic • Will Arctic communities have greater or lesser influence on their futures? • Will the land be wetter or drier and what are the associated implications for surface water, energy balances, and ecosystems? • How much of the variability of the Arctic system is linked to ocean circulation? • What are the impacts of extreme events in the new ice-reduced system? • How will primary productivity change with decreasing sea ice and snow cover? • How will species distributions and associated ecosystem structure change with the evolving cryosphere? Connected Evolving Undetermined Managed Hidden Figure source: NOAA
ERQ: Hidden Arctic • What surprises are hidden within and beneath the ice? • What is being irretrievably lost as the Arctic changes? • Why does winter matter? • What can “break or brake” glaciers and ice sheets? Connected Evolving Undetermined • How unusual is the current Arctic warmth? • What is the role of the Arctic in abrupt change? • What has been the Cenozoic evolution of the Arctic Ocean basin? Managed Hidden Image source: NASA
ERQ: Connected Arctic • How will rapid Arctic warming change the jet stream and affect weather patterns in lower latitudes? • What is the potential for a trajectory of irreversible loss of Arctic land ice, and how will its impact vary regionally? • How will climate change affect exchanges between the Arctic Ocean and sub-polar basins? • How will Arctic change affect the long-range transport and persistence of biota? • How will changing societal connections between the Arctic and the rest of the world affect Arctic communities? Connected Evolving Undetermined Managed Hidden Image source: NASA
ERQ: Managed Arctic Evolving Connected Undetermined Managed • How will decreasing populations in rural villages and increasing urbanization affect Arctic peoples and societies? • Will local, regional, and international relations in the Arctic move toward cooperation or conflict? • How can twenty-first century development in the Arctic occur without compromising the environment or indigenous cultures while still benefitting global and Arctic inhabitants? • How can we prepare forecasts and scenariosto meet emerging management needs? • What benefits and risks are presented by geoengineering and other large-scale technological interventions to prevent orreduce climate change and associatedimpacts in the Arctic? Hidden Photo source: USCG
ERQ:Undetermined Arctic Evolving Connected Undetermined Managed Leaving room for new ideas and making it possible to identify new research directions when the need arises requires: • Research to better assess new topics • Long-term observations to identify changes and surprises without delay • Flexibility in funding to be able to move quickly when a significant event occurs. Hidden
Direct Application/Basic Understanding Medium-term Long-term M2: Cooperation/conflict M3: 21st century development M4: Forecasts Short-term M5: Geoengineering E1: Community futures M1: Urbanization C1: Jet stream C5: Social connections E4: Arctic extremes H2: What is lost C2: Irreversible ice E2: Wetter or drier Direct application H3: Winter H6: Abrupt change H4: Break or brake E5: Primary productivity Basic understanding E6: Species distribution H1: Icy surprises E3: Ocean variability C4: Biota transport H5: Unusual warmth C3: Ocean exchange H7: Cenozoic
Social Science/Natural Science Medium-term Long-term E1: Community futures M1: Urbanization C5: Social connections Short-term M2: Cooperation/conflict H2: What is lost E4: Arctic extremes M4: Forecasts M5: Geoengineering M3: 21st century development E2: Wetter or drier Social Science E5: Primary productivity C1: Jet stream C2: Irreversible ice H6: Abrupt change C4: Biota transport Natural Science H1: Icy surprises E3: Ocean variability H4: Break or brake H5: Unusual warmth E6: Species distribution C3: Ocean exchange H3: Winter H7: Cenozoic
Global/Regional/Local Medium-term Long-term C2: Irreversible ice C3: Ocean exchange H6: Abrupt change H4: Break or brake H1: Icy surprises Short-term C1: Jet stream C4: Biota transport M5: Geoengineering E3: Ocean variability Regional E4: Arctic extremes H5: Unusual warmth C5: Social connections E2: Wetter or drier Global H7: Cenozoic E6: Species distribution M3: 21st century development E5: Primary productivity H3: Winter M1: Urbanization M2: Cooperation/conflict M4: Forecasts Local E1: Community futures H2: What is lost
4. Meeting the Challenges Investment Strategies Human Capacity Cooperation Operations Information Observations
Meeting the Challenges Maintaining and Building Operational Capacity • Mobile Platforms • Fixed Platforms and Systems • Remote Sensing • Sensors • Power and Communication • Models in Prediction, Projection, and ReAnalyses • Partnerships with Industry Sustaining Long-Term Observations • Rationale for Long-Term Observations • Coordinating Long-Term Observation Efforts Photo credit: S. Roberts
Meeting the Challenges Enhancing Cooperation • Interagency, International, Interdisciplinary, Intersectoral, Social Media Managing and Sharing Information • Preserving the Legacy of Research through Data Preservation and Dissemination • Creating a Culture of Data Preservation and Sharing • Infrastructure to Ensure Data Flows from Observation to Users, Stakeholders, and Archives • Data Visualization and Analysis Growing Human Capacity • Training Young Scientists • Community Engagement Image source: Arctic Collaborative Environment Photo credit: H. Huntington
Meeting the Challenges Investing in Research • Comprehensive Systemsand Synthesis Research • Non-Steady-State Research • Social Sciences and Human Capacity • Stakeholder-Initiated Research • International Funding Cooperation • Long-Term Observations Photo source: NOAA
5. Building Knowledge and Solving Problems • Enhance the ways inwhich we make useof Arctic research • Foster collaboration,especially withdecision-makers • Manage change to the best of our abilities • Study what exists, what is emerging, and what awaits us in the Arctic Photo credit: M. Kennedy