UCAR

National security, economics, and a unique and fragile ecology place the Arctic high on the national agenda.

In recent decades, this region has undergone dramatic environmental change. Routine satellite monitoring shows a significant decline in total Arctic sea ice, and these changes are projected to continue. As a result, understanding and predicting future sea ice volume and other environmental changes on seasonal to annual to decadal time scales is critical to address the challenges, opportunities, and risks associated with the region. Research at U.S. universities and research labs is providing new understanding and forecasting capabilities that will help decision makers prepare for environmental change in the Arctic.

— September 2015

State of the Arctic: Forecasting environmental change, risk, and opportunity

Panel members

Jennifer Kay, Assistant Professor, Department of Atmopsheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder

Arctic sea ice loss and warming: The long-term perspective (View slides)

 

David Titley, Director, Center for Solutions to Weather and Climate Risk, Pennsylvania State University, and U.S. Navy Rear Admiral (retired)

Challenges, risks, and opportunities in a changing Arctic environment (View slides)

 

Julienne Stroeve, Senior Research Scientist, U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center, and Professor of Polar Observation and Modelling, University College London

Forecasting changing sea ice conditions months to years in advance (View slides)

 

Use of the briefing room was sponsored by Representative Lamar Smith of Texas and Reprepresentative Jason Chaffetz of Utah.