A roadmap for Antarctic and Southern Ocean science for the next two decades and beyond
International audience Antarctic and Southern Ocean science is vital to understanding natural variability, the processesthat govern global change and the role of humans in the Earth and climate system. The potential for newknowledge to be gained from future Antarctic science is substantial. Therefor...
Published in: | Antarctic Science |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Other Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
HAL CCSD
2015
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01076420 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102014000674 |
Summary: | International audience Antarctic and Southern Ocean science is vital to understanding natural variability, the processesthat govern global change and the role of humans in the Earth and climate system. The potential for newknowledge to be gained from future Antarctic science is substantial. Therefore, the international Antarcticcommunity came together to ‘scan the horizon’ to identify the highest priority scientific questions thatresearchers should aspire to answer in the next two decades and beyond. Wide consultation was afundamental principle for the development of a collective, international view of the most important futuredirections in Antarctic science. From the many possibilities, the horizon scan identified 80 key scientificquestions through structured debate, discussion, revision and voting. Questions were clustered into seventopics: i)Antarctic atmosphere and global connections, ii) Southern Ocean and sea ice in a warming world,iii) ice sheet and sea level, iv) the dynamic Earth, v) life on the precipice, vi) near-Earth space and beyond,and vii) human presence in Antarctica. Answering the questions identified by the horizon scan will requireinnovative experimental designs, novel applications of technology, invention of next-generation field andlaboratory approaches, and expanded observing systems and networks. Unbiased, non-contaminatingprocedures will be required to retrieve the requisite air, biota, sediment, rock, ice and water samples.Sustained year-round access toAntarctica and the Southern Ocean will be essential to increase winter-timemeasurements. Improved models are needed that represent Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in theEarth System, and provide predictions at spatial and temporal resolutions useful for decision making.A co-ordinated portfolio of cross-disciplinary science, based on new models of international collaboration,will be essential as no scientist, programme or nation can realize these aspirations alone |
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