An Arctic hydrologic system in transition: Feedbacks and impacts on terrestrial, marine, and human life

• Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research
• Other Authors: Francis, Jennifer (author), White, Daniel (author), Cassano, John (author), Gutowski, William (author), Hinzman, Larry (author), Holland, Marika (author), Steele, Michael (author), Vorosmarty, Charles (author)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Geophysical Union 2009
• Subjects: Arctic; hydrology; climate; synthesis; Arctic Ocean
• Online Access: http://nldr.library.ucar.edu/repository/collections/OSGC-000-000-000-950; https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JG000902

The pace of change in the arctic system during recent decades has captured the world's attention. Observations and model simulations both indicate that the arctic experiences an amplified response to climate forcing relative to that at lower latitudes. At the core of these changes is the arctic hydrologic system, which includes ice, gaseous vapor in the atmosphere, liquid water in soils and fluvial networks on land, and the freshwater content of the ocean. The changes in stores and fluxes of freshwater have a direct impact on biological systems, not only of the arctic region itself, but also well beyond its bounds. In this investigation, we used a heuristic, graphical approach to distill the system into its fundamental parts, documented the key relationships between those parts as best we know them, and identified the feedback loops within the system. The analysis illustrates relationships that are well understood, but also reveals others that are either unfamiliar, uncertain, or unexplored. The graphical approach was used to provide a visual assessment of the arctic hydrologic system in one possible future state in which the Arctic Ocean is seasonally ice free. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): NNG06GB26G National Science Foundation (NSF): 065838 National Science Foundation (NSF): OPP-0229559 National Science Foundation (NSF): ARC-0240791 National Science Foundation (NSF): ARC-0229429 National Science Foundation (NSF): OPP-0229649 National Science Foundation (NSF): ARC-0629412 National Science Foundation (NSF): ARC-0629326 National Science Foundation (NSF): ARC-0633885 National Science Foundation (NSF): OPP-0611577 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): NNX08AN58G National Science Foundation (NSF): ARC-0629495 National Science Foundation (NSF): OPP-0352754 National Science Foundation (NSF): ARC-0531103 National Science Foundation (NSF): ARC-0105461 National Science Foundation (NSF): 0229705 National Science Foundation (NSF): ARC-0805789 U.S. ...