2.2 Impacts in and Vulnerability of Northern Latitude Ecosystems (aquatic and terrestrial)

Kevin Arrigo, Stanford University, arrigo@stanford.edu (Presenter)

Significant impacts of climate change (natural and anthropogenic) on the biogeochemistry and ecology of northern high latitude ecosystems are occurring now, both on the land and in the ocean. On land, permafrost is melting and surface properties and processes are changing as a result. Vast wildfires shape the boreal landscape and may be becoming a more prominent factor in arctic ecosystems. These phenomena alter carbon dioxide and methane emissions, and there are concerns that the vast stores of organic carbon in arctic and boreal soils could be released to the atmosphere. Results will be reported from recent studies to document and understand these changes. In the ocean, changes in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas are driven by increases in incoming solar radiation, the corresponding rapid decrease in sea ice in the Arctic, and resultant seasonal increase in primary production. The Impacts of Climate change on the EcoSystems and Chemistry of the Arctic Pacific Environment (ICESCAPE) program conducted two field campaigns aboard an ice-capable USCGC Healy to provide in situ optical measurements that will be used to reduce uncertainties and improve validation of ocean satellite data at high latitudes. Other objectives include characterizing and quantifying the interactions and feedbacks of water and sea ice photobiology and photochemistry with above-water, in-water, and ice radiation fields, and their effect on ocean and sea ice biology, ecology, and biogeochemistry. Early results from ICESCAPE will be presented.

Presentation Type:  Plenary Talk

Session:  2.0 Global Change Impact & Vulnerability

Presentation Time:  Tue 9:00 AM  (30 minutes)