Observations and Mechanisms, while Part 2 addresses Consequences and Implications.

• Main Author: Presented David Wasdell
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic; Climate change; Global warming; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.364.1118; http://www.apollo-gaia.org/Arctic Dynamics.pdf

As Director of the Apollo-Gaia Project 1 I have spent the last seven years working on feedback dynamics and acceleration in the global climate system 2. What is going on in the Arctic area at the moment is probably the fastest moving response to global warming and climate change anywhere on the planet. 1 Executive Summary Strong and interactive feedback processes are driving change in the Arctic climate faster than anywhere else on the planet. This over-view of Arctic Dynamics is firmly grounded in observational data (in sharp contrast with computer models which are struggling to play catch-up). Four multi-decadal parameters are presented dealing with: � Regional temperature change (in the context of global behaviour) � Area of floating sea ice � Volume (or mass) of floating sea ice � Change in the decadal rate of mass loss of the floating sea ice. All show strongly non-linear behaviour consistent with feedback-driven