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Speakers:
Julie Brigham-Grette
University of Massachusetts- Amherst
Stephanie Pfirman
Barnard College
James White
University of Colorado-Boulder
What is the Polar Research Board (PRB)?
• A unit of the National Research Council (the operating arm of the National Academy of
Sciences): http://dels.nas.edu/prb
• PRB is dedicated to enhancing understanding of the Arctic and Antarctic, and providing
guidance to Congress, federal agencies, and the nation on polar region issues.
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Find the booklet and interactive at http://nas-sites.org/arctic.
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An effort initiated by the PRB, to expand public understanding of how Arctic
change have effects throughout the world’s weather, climate, ecosystems,
food supply, and economy – illustrating why the Arctic matters to us all.
Main components of the effort include (i)creation and dissemination of a
booklet and website, and (ii) holding a major public symposium (early 2016).
Contributes to the U.S. State Department’s public outreach goals for the U.S.
chairmanship of the Arctic Council: “Conduct a widespread public outreach
campaign to educate the U.S. public about why the Arctic matters and its
strategic importance for our country; and about climate change impacts in
the Arctic and how they are affecting our country.”
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What is the Arctic Council?
• An intergovernmental forum representing 8
member states (Canada, Denmark, Finland,
Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United
States) and 6 Arctic indigenous groups.
• Promotes cooperation, coordination, and
interaction among member states and partner
communities
• Advances awareness and action on issues such
as sustainable development and environmental
protection in the Arctic.
• The United States serves as Chair of the Council
for the 2015–2017 term (starting April 24th).
http://www.arctic-council.org/
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How did we develop the Arctic Matters booklet?
The booklet draws from
a large collection of
peer-reviewed National
Research Council
reports, and other
national and
international reports
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What does the Booklet Cover?
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Dispatches from the Front Lines of Climate Change
Temperatures are rising:
Temperatures are rising twice as fast in the
Arctic as compared to the global average.
Sea ice is melting: The area of summer sea ice
coverage has declined by more than 40 percent since the
late 1970s, a trend that has accelerated since 2007.
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Dispatches from the Front Lines of Climate Change
Land ice is melting: Ice is melting
at a rapid pace on the land masses that
encircle the Arctic Ocean.
1976
2003
Permafrost is thawing: Permafrost
has declined over the past 30 years and
may eventually disappear across much of
the Arctic.
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Dispatches from the Front Lines of Climate Change
Arctic ecosystems are changing:
Living creatures found nowhere else on
Earth face mounting challenges as ice
melts and temperatures change.
Life is charging for the people if the Arctic:
The Arctic is home to ~ 4 million people -- city dwellers, oil
prospectors, hunters and herders, and indigenous groups
whose ancestors have lived in the Arctic for millennia.
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What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic
Melting land ice causes sea level to rise.
Greenland's ice sheet contains
the equivalent of 7 meters (23 feet) of sea level rise.
Arctic changes ripple through the oceans and atmosphere.
Changes in Arctic ice/snow cover may impact weather thousands of miles away through
effects on the jet stream. Changes in the Arctic could also affect the ocean’s currents
and circulation (in turn, a major driver for weather patterns around the world).
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What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic
The Arctic’s living resources affect global health and well-being:
10% of the world’s fish catch comes from Arctic and subarctic waters, and ~ half of the
U.S. fish catch comes from subarctic waters. Changes in the Arctic marine environment
could have important implications for this global food source.
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What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic
Feedback loops accelerate the pace of change.
Albedo effects: snow and ice shrinks  darker surfaces (tundra, open ocean) absorb
more sunlight reflectivity (albedo) of the region decreases, causing more heat to be
absorbed and temperatures to rise  this causes more snow and ice to melt.
Permafrost: Locked within the Arctic’s ancient ice
and permafrost are vast quantities of carbon. If
warming temperatures release this carbon to the
atmosphere, it would greatly exacerbate global
climate change.
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What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic
Wildfires burn plant material, releasing carbon. The dark charred ground they
leave behind increases warming because of the albedo effect. Severe fire can also
speed the thawing of permafrost below.
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Into the Future: Managing Change
A more accessible Arctic opens opportunities – and risks.
•
•
•
Oil and mineral extraction in the Arctic
The northern route: shipping and transportation
Tourism at the ends of the Earth
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Into the Future: Managing Change
New challenges for communities and governments:
The increasing
exploration and exploitation of Arctic resources has important geopolitical and economic
ramifications far beyond the Arctic Circle.
• New roles for Arctic residents
• National security in the far North
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Resilience in the face of change
People living in the Arctic, who have a long history of adapting to fluctuations in
their harsh environment, are facing many new challenges but are also finding
new ways to survive and thrive.
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Find the interactive at http://nas-sites.org/arctic
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Arctic Matters Symposium
• layman-friendly presentations
that illustrate these arctic-global
linkages
• open to the public / webcast
• early 2016 (date TBD)
• at the National Academy of
Sciences building in DC
Planning committee
James W.C. White [Chair] Univ. of Colorado
Brenda Ekwurzel, Union of Concerned Scientist
Karen Frey, Clark University
Malte Humpert, The Arctic Institute
Geraldine Knatz, Univ. of Southern California
Walter Meier, NASA / GSFC
Stephanie Pfirman, Barnard College
Henry Pollack, University of Michigan
Geoff Haines-Stiles, Passport to Knowledge
Louis Mead Treadwell Former Lt. Governor of AK
Staff: Laurie Geller (lgeller@nas.edu)
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Ask us Questions!
Julie Brigham-Grette
University of Massachusetts- Amherst
Stephanie Pfirman
Barnard College
James White
University of Colorado-Boulder
To download the booklet,
see the interactive, order
hard copies, and sign up
for updates:
http://nas-sites.org/arctic