News Archive

We are happy to announce that the 2019-2020 PolarTREC applications for teachers, informal educators, and researchers to apply to the program is open! Applications are due Monday, 24 September 2018 by 5PM ADT. An informational webinar will be hosted on Wednesday, 29 August 2018. More information about the program and how to apply can be found here.

The Summer 2018 issue of Witness the Arctic is now published online. This issue includes a call for public comment on the Revised Principles for Conducting Research in the Arctic; news from a recent study indicating an increase in amplified Arctic temperatures; news of the recently developed use of remote sensing to study beaver encroachment in Arctic tundra; news about the EarthScope Transportable Array; updates from the SEARCH program, USARC, the Sea Ice Prediction Network–Phase 2, the women in polar research panel discussion during POLAR2018, and the 2018 Anchorage Arctic Research Day; comments from ARCUS board members, Board President Audrey Taylor, and Executive Director Bob Rich; and a highlight of ARCUS member institution, the Woods Hole Research Center.

The August report for the 2018 Sea Ice Outlook (SIO) is now available online. The goal of the SIO is to improve sea ice prediction on seasonal time-scales. For the August report, 39 contributions were received that include pan-Arctic predictions. Of those contributions, 10 also included pan-Antarctic predictions and 11 included predictions for Alaskan waters. For the Arctic, the median August Outlook value for a September 2018 sea ice extent projection is 4.6 million square kilometers.

The August report includes an overview of projections of total September Arctic ice extent; a section about predicted spatial fields with discussion on sea ice probability (SIP) and the first ice-free day (IFD) from a number of dynamical models; a section on current conditions and atmospheric conditions; a section discussing regional sea ice conditions; and a section discussing Antarctic sea ice extent forecasts.

This report is the product of the Sea Ice Prediction Network–Phase 2 (SIPN2) effort.

Please join us for two live events in August about research in the Arctic and in the mountains of Switzerland!
Monday, 13 August 2018 at 9:30am AKDT – PolarTREC teacher Svea Anderson and University of Alaska researcher Donie Bret-Harte will discuss their research live from Toolik Field Station in Alaska looking at Shrubs, Snow and Nitrogen in the Arctic.
Thursday, 23 August 2018 at 7:00am AKDT – PolarTREC teacher Lauren Neitzke Adamo along with researchers Dr. Neal Iverson and Dr. Luke Zoet will be live from the mountains of Switzerland discussing their work on Sliding Glaciers.

The Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) is seeking comment from the public on newly revised Principles for Conducting Research in the Arctic by September 4, 2018. IARPC is interested in all comments on the Principles document, including the core principles and sub-bullets describing the approaches that researchers are encouraged to adopt across all stages of research.

The Sea Ice Prediction Network–Phase 2 (SIPN2) announces the call for contributions for the 2018 Sea Ice Outlook August report. The Sea Ice Outlook provides an open process for those interested in Arctic sea ice to share ideas. The monthly reports contain a variety of perspectives—from advanced numerical models to qualitative perspectives from citizen scientists. Submissions are due Monday, 13 August 2018.

SEARCH brought together international experts to estimate how much methane might be released from thawing permafrost in the Arctic. The current state of knowledge and on-going efforts to improve our knowledge are detailed in a project update from EOS magazine. The SEARCH workshop was funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Arctic Research Commission​.​

The July report for the 2018 Sea Ice Outlook (SIO) is now available online. The goal of the SIO is to improve sea ice prediction on seasonal time-scales. For the July report, 39 contributions were received that include pan-Arctic predictions. Of those contributions, 9 also included pan-Antarctic predictions and 11 included predictions for Alaskan waters. For the Arctic, the median July Outlook value for a September 2018 sea ice extent projection is 4.7 million square kilometers.

The July report includes an overview of projections of total September Arctic ice extent; a section about predicted spatial fields with discussion on sea ice probability (SIP) and the first ice-free day (IFD) from a number of dynamical models; a section on current conditions and atmospheric conditions; a section discussing regional sea ice conditions; and a section discussing Antarctic sea ice extent forecasts.

The July report is the product of the Sea Ice Prediction Network–Phase 2 (SIPN2) effort. The goal of the previous SIPN1 was to enhance scientific discussion on the physics that control summer sea ice extents. In SIPN2 there is a further analysis of quantitatively comparing model forecast output.

PolarTREC has five teachers in the field in July and August. Please join us in following their expeditions. Teachers will be working on Migration and Carry-Over Effects in Arctic Seabirds, Shrubs, Snow and Nitrogen in the Arctic, Permafrost and Community, Sliding Glaciers and Winter Respiration in the Arctic. Also, please join us for upcoming PolarConnect Events with each of these teachers.

A new journal article authored by members of SEARCH's Land Ice Action Team reviews sea level contributions from land ice across the Arctic.

Registration is now available for the SIPN2 webinar, Advancing Predictability of Sea Ice. This webinar will provide an overview of the SIPN2 main activities and an overview of the SIPN Data Portal for sea ice prediction. The event will held at 9:00am to 10:00am (AKDT) on Tuesday, 10 July 2018.

The June 2018 issue of Witness Community Highlights is now available online. This issue highlights results from a recent program that focused on the sea state and boundary layer physics of the emerging Arctic, defined by less sea ice and larger expanses of open water in summer. The program was motivated by the observed increase in surface wave activity that has been coincident with the seasonal reduction in sea ice.

The June report for the 2018 Sea Ice Outlook (SIO) is now available online. The goal of the SIO is to improve Arctic sea ice prediction on seasonal time-scales. For June, we received 34 contributions that include pan-Arctic predictions, of those contributions 10 also included pan-Antarctic predictions and 11 included predictions for Alaskan waters. We received one additional contribution with a regional focus on the Nares Strait. For the Arctic, the median June Outlook value for a September 2018 sea ice extent projection is 4.6 million square kilometers. The June report includes analysis of the contributions, predicted spatial fields with discussion on sea ice probability (SIP) and the first ice-free day (IFD) from a number of dynamical models; a section on current conditions with discussion on this winter's record low sea ice conditions and atmospheric conditions; a section discussion regional ice conditions; and a section discussing Antarctic sea ice extent forecasts.

Dr. Robert Rich, Executive Director of ARCUS, ARCUS Board Member Kaare Erickson from Utqiaġvik, Alaska and PolarTREC teacher Deanna Wheeler from JC Parks Elementary School are guests on the weekly program Emerald Planet. Dr. Rich (0:01-0:13), Deanna (0:30-0:43) and Kaare (0:46-0:58) are interviewed as leaders who work with researchers, indigenous communities, and stakeholders in the Arctic, as well as educating today’s youth and future leaders about the Arctic, and how what we do on a daily basis can make a difference.

In 2019, SEARCH and partners will convene Arctic scientists from all disciplines, indigenous knowledge holders, and decision makers to share current understanding and identify future directions for research needed to inform Arctic policy. The conference also is intended to foster more effective and iterative collaborations among Arctic scientists and decision makers.

DATES: 4-6 September 2019
VENUE: National Academy of Sciences,
2101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC

Watch for updates at https://www.searcharcticscience.org/arctic-2050

For more information, contact:
Brendan P. Kelly
Executive Director
Study of Environmental Arctic Change
bpkelly [at] alaska.edu

Staff and Board members from the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS) look forward to meeting with members of the Arctic research community at POLAR2018, a joint event hosted by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) at the Congress Centre in Davos, Switzerland. Our representatives plan to attend IASC/ASSW Business & Satellite Meetings as well as the SCAR/IASC Open Science Conference (OSC) between 15—23 June 2018. We invite you to seek us out during proceedings or at the following scheduled events.

Join us for a LIVE event from Toolik Field Station, Alaska where we'll be learning all about the Arctic! The event will be held on June 20, 2018 starting at 9:00 AM Alaska Daylight Time. This event will feature PolarTREC teacher Melissa Lau and researchers, Dr. Steve Oberbauer and Dr. Jeremy May. The team will be sharing what it's like to be working in the Arctic as well their research as part of the Arctic Observing Network (AON). They are researching the relationships between vegetation change, plant phenology, and ecosystem function in a warming Arctic. More information about their research as well as journals and photos can be found on their expedition page.

The May 2018 issue of Witness Community Highlights is now available online. This issue highlights the efforts of the CICE Consortium. The consortium aims to incorporate and maintain scientific sea ice model development in CICE, also known as the Community Ice CodE, and accelerate its transfer into operational applications.

The Sea Ice Prediction Network–Phase 2 (SIPN2) announces the call for contributions for the 2018 Sea Ice Outlook June report (based on May data). The Sea Ice Outlook provides an open process for those interested in Arctic sea ice to share ideas. The monthly reports contain a variety of perspectives—from advanced numerical models to qualitative perspectives from citizen scientists. Submissions are due Monday, 11 June 2018.

The Sea Ice Prediction Network is now funded through a new collaborative proposal, "Advancing Predictability of Sea Ice: Phase 2 of the Sea Ice Prediction Network (SIPN2)". SIPN2 will result in a better quantification of the role of oceanic heat and climate variations in the Pacific sector of the Arctic; new observational-based sea-ice products; and activities to improve seasonal predictability of Arctic sea ice, the limits of this predictability, and the economic value of forecasts for stakeholders.

A recording is now available of the Arctic Indigenous Scholars seminar featuring Theresa Arevgaq John of Nelson Island, Alaska. Nelson's presentation explored issues of cultural resiliency and adaptation in Arctic climate change.

Registration is open for a panel discussion, “From Entering the Field to Taking the Helm, Perspectives of Women in Polar Research”, which will be held at the POLAR2018 Conference on Wednesday, 20 June 2018. This lunch panel discussion, with complimentary bag lunch, will explore the accomplishments, challenges, quality of work experiences, insights, recommendations, and prospects for women in polar research.

Join PolarTREC for our first live event of the 2018-2019 field season! Teacher Keith Smith and the team working on Chemical Ecology of Shallow Water Marine Communities will be broadcasting from Palmer Station, Antarctica on Tuesday, 29 May 2018 at 9:30am AKDT (10:30am PDT, 11:30am MDT, 12:30pm CDT, 1:30pm EDT). Register today for this free event!

The April 2018 issue of Witness Community Highlights is now available online. This issue highlights the work of the Fish CAFE Project, which brings multiple sciences to bear upon understanding freshwater habitats of the Fish Creek Watershed in northern Alaska. These efforts are part of an ongoing adaptive management process that is essential to sound decision making for resource management.

The American Geophysical Union has created a network of 30 individuals from diverse disciplines who will advocate for science in their congressional districts.