Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
The Western Arctic Shelf-Basin Interactions (SBI) project, sponsored by
ARCSS Program and the U.S. Of
ce of Naval Research, is investigating the Arctic
marine ecosystem, to improve our capacity to predict environmental change. The
SBI Phase II Field Implementation Plan (2002
2006) focuses on three research
-
topics in the core study area:
northward
fl
fluxes of water and bioactive elements through the Bering Strait input
region;
seasonal and spatial variability in the prediction and recycling of biogenic matter
on the shelf-slope area; and
temporal and spatial variability of exchanges across shelf-slope region into the
Canada Basin.
The meeting of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) has identi
ed
the following four science priorities:
(1) arctic processes relevant to global systems;
(2) effects of global change on the Arctic and its peoples;
(3) natural processes within the Arctic; and
(4)
sustainable development in the Arctic.
The following areas in Arctic global change research have been considered the
most signi
cant:
(1) terrestrial ecosystem;
(2) mass balance of glaciers and ice sheets;
(3) regional cumulative impacts; and
(4) human dimensions.
An important aspect of studying high-latitude environmental dynamics is an
assessment of the impact of potential anthropogenic climate warming. In this
context Frederick (1994) has formulated key issues of integrated assessments of the
impact of climate change on natural resources. Speci
c project objectives include:
(1) characterizing the current state of natural science and socioeconomic modeling
of the impacts of climate change and current climate variability on forests,
grasslands, and water;
(2)
identifying what can be done currently with impact assessments and how to
undertake such assessments;
(3)
identifying impediments to linking biophysical and socioeconomic models
into integrated assessments for policy purposes; and
(4)
recommending research activities that will improve the state of the art and
remove impediments to model integration.
The following questions are supposed to be answered:
How will the overall system (physical-biological-economic) respond to various
imposed stresses?
How do the uncertainties in the component models add up to give an overall
system response uncertainty?
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