Sensitivity of the Arctic Climate: A Factor in Developing Planning Strategies for Our Arctic Heritage
Studies have illustrated a sensitivity of the climate of the Arctic to natural and human-induced perturbations which greater than that in mid-latitudes or the tropics. This may be due, in part, to positive feedback linkages between the atmosphere and the cryosphere. We are only beginning understand...
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1986
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0376892900036262 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0376892900036262 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0376892900036262 2024-03-03T08:41:29+00:00 Sensitivity of the Arctic Climate: A Factor in Developing Planning Strategies for Our Arctic Heritage LeDrew, Ellsworth F. 1986 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0376892900036262 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0376892900036262 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Environmental Conservation volume 13, issue 3, page 215-228 ISSN 0376-8929 1469-4387 Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law Nature and Landscape Conservation Pollution Water Science and Technology journal-article 1986 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0376892900036262 2024-02-08T08:33:49Z Studies have illustrated a sensitivity of the climate of the Arctic to natural and human-induced perturbations which greater than that in mid-latitudes or the tropics. This may be due, in part, to positive feedback linkages between the atmosphere and the cryosphere. We are only beginning understand the nature of the process linkages within the atmosphere-cryosphere-ocean-Biosphere system, however, and this is reflected in the discrepancies between various model simulations. This uncertainty increases our vulnerability to climatic change and variability. In the development of policy regarding management and development of our Arctic Heritage, we must attempt to reduce our vulnerability: we must be able to simulate the physical consequences of a perturbation with some veracity, and translate the results into the language of the policy analysts. Three areas of research are highlighted as being important contributions towards this objective. The first is the derivation of climatically significant parameters from remotely-sensed data. Our climatologies and model validations are based upon spatially-biased data which include undetermined errors. With remotely-sensed imagery, we have access to previously inaccessible regions as well as spatial consistency in the data. The second area of research the detailed study of micro- and mesoscale processes at climatic ‘oases’. We must understand processes at these scales, and their linkage to the macroscale, if we are to design realistic General Circulation Models to simulate new climate states. The third area is effective communication of our knowledge in a form amenable to policy analysis. Current research is directed towards evaluating the impact of climatic variation in terms of risk assessment, and consideration of the policy implications of possible future climatic regimes through scenario analysis. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Cambridge University Press Arctic Environmental Conservation 13 3 215 228 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law Nature and Landscape Conservation Pollution Water Science and Technology |
spellingShingle |
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law Nature and Landscape Conservation Pollution Water Science and Technology LeDrew, Ellsworth F. Sensitivity of the Arctic Climate: A Factor in Developing Planning Strategies for Our Arctic Heritage |
topic_facet |
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law Nature and Landscape Conservation Pollution Water Science and Technology |
description |
Studies have illustrated a sensitivity of the climate of the Arctic to natural and human-induced perturbations which greater than that in mid-latitudes or the tropics. This may be due, in part, to positive feedback linkages between the atmosphere and the cryosphere. We are only beginning understand the nature of the process linkages within the atmosphere-cryosphere-ocean-Biosphere system, however, and this is reflected in the discrepancies between various model simulations. This uncertainty increases our vulnerability to climatic change and variability. In the development of policy regarding management and development of our Arctic Heritage, we must attempt to reduce our vulnerability: we must be able to simulate the physical consequences of a perturbation with some veracity, and translate the results into the language of the policy analysts. Three areas of research are highlighted as being important contributions towards this objective. The first is the derivation of climatically significant parameters from remotely-sensed data. Our climatologies and model validations are based upon spatially-biased data which include undetermined errors. With remotely-sensed imagery, we have access to previously inaccessible regions as well as spatial consistency in the data. The second area of research the detailed study of micro- and mesoscale processes at climatic ‘oases’. We must understand processes at these scales, and their linkage to the macroscale, if we are to design realistic General Circulation Models to simulate new climate states. The third area is effective communication of our knowledge in a form amenable to policy analysis. Current research is directed towards evaluating the impact of climatic variation in terms of risk assessment, and consideration of the policy implications of possible future climatic regimes through scenario analysis. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
LeDrew, Ellsworth F. |
author_facet |
LeDrew, Ellsworth F. |
author_sort |
LeDrew, Ellsworth F. |
title |
Sensitivity of the Arctic Climate: A Factor in Developing Planning Strategies for Our Arctic Heritage |
title_short |
Sensitivity of the Arctic Climate: A Factor in Developing Planning Strategies for Our Arctic Heritage |
title_full |
Sensitivity of the Arctic Climate: A Factor in Developing Planning Strategies for Our Arctic Heritage |
title_fullStr |
Sensitivity of the Arctic Climate: A Factor in Developing Planning Strategies for Our Arctic Heritage |
title_full_unstemmed |
Sensitivity of the Arctic Climate: A Factor in Developing Planning Strategies for Our Arctic Heritage |
title_sort |
sensitivity of the arctic climate: a factor in developing planning strategies for our arctic heritage |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
1986 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0376892900036262 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0376892900036262 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Environmental Conservation volume 13, issue 3, page 215-228 ISSN 0376-8929 1469-4387 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0376892900036262 |
container_title |
Environmental Conservation |
container_volume |
13 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
215 |
op_container_end_page |
228 |
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1792497203459129344 |