The Arctic has warmed four times faster than the globe since 1980

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mika Rantanen ◽  
Alexey Karpechko ◽  
Antti Lipponen ◽  
Kalle Nordling ◽  
Otto Hyvärinen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Models ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Amplification ◽  
Ice Melt ◽  
Precise Quantification ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Simple Definition ◽  
The Arctic Region

Abstract In recent decades, the warming in the Arctic has been much faster than in the rest of the world, a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification (AA). Numerous studies report that Arctic is warming either twice, more than twice, or even three times as fast as the globe on average. However, the lack of consensus of AA definition precludes its precise quantification. Here we show, by using several observational datasets which cover the Arctic region and adopting a simple definition of AA, that during the last 40 years the Arctic has been warming almost four times faster than the globe as a whole, which is a higher ratio than generally reported in literature. Furthermore, we compared the observed AA ratio to the ratio simulated by state-of-the-art climate models, and show that the models largely underestimate the present AA, a finding that is not very sensitive to the exact definition of AA. The underestimation of AA by climate models most likely results from their inability to realistically simulate feedback mechanisms between sea ice melt and atmospheric temperatures. Our results imply that the underestimated AA leads to biased projections of climate change both in the Arctic and mid-latitudes.

scholarly journals Permafrost Hydrology Research Domain: Process-Based Adjustment

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikita Tananaev ◽  
Roman Teisserenc ◽  
Matvey Debolskiy
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Change ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Linguistic Relativity ◽  
Water Migration ◽  
Soil Matrix ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Research Domain ◽  
The Arctic Region

Permafrost hydrology is an emerging discipline, attracting increasing attention as the Arctic region is undergoing rapid change. However, the research domain of this discipline had never been explicitly formulated. Both 'permafrost' and 'hydrology' yield differing meanings across languages and scientific domains, hence 'permafrost hydrology' serves as an example of linguistic relativity. The differing views of permafrost as either an ecosystem class or a geographical region, and hydrology as a discipline concerned with either landscapes or generic water bodies, maintain a language-specific touch in the definition of permafrost hydrology. From this point of view, the English and Russian usage of this term is explained. A universal process-based definition is further proposed, developed on a specific process assemblage, including (i) water table dynamics caused by migration of an upper aquitard through freeze–thaw processes; (ii) water migration in soil matrix, driven by phase transitions in the active layer; (iii) transient water storage in solid state in the subsurface compartment. This definition is shown to fill the niche in existing vocabulary, and other definitions from northern hydrology field are revisited.

scholarly journals CMIP5 Projections of Arctic Amplification, of the North American/North Atlantic Circulation, and of Their Relationship

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (13) ◽  
pp. 5254-5271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Barnes ◽  
Lorenzo M. Polvani
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Coupled Model ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Cmip5 Models ◽  
Arctic Amplification ◽  
Arctic Warming ◽  
The North ◽  
Sequence Of Events

Abstract Recent studies have hypothesized that Arctic amplification, the enhanced warming of the Arctic region compared to the rest of the globe, will cause changes in midlatitude weather over the twenty-first century. This study exploits the recently completed phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) and examines 27 state-of-the-art climate models to determine if their projected changes in the midlatitude circulation are consistent with the hypothesized impact of Arctic amplification over North America and the North Atlantic. Under the largest future greenhouse forcing (RCP8.5), it is found that every model, in every season, exhibits Arctic amplification by 2100. At the same time, the projected circulation responses are either opposite in sign to those hypothesized or too widely spread among the models to discern any robust change. However, in a few seasons and for some of the circulation metrics examined, correlations are found between the model spread in Arctic amplification and the model spread in the projected circulation changes. Therefore, while the CMIP5 models offer some evidence that future Arctic warming may be able to modulate some aspects of the midlatitude circulation response in some seasons, the analysis herein leads to the conclusion that the net circulation response in the future is unlikely to be determined solely—or even primarily—by Arctic warming according to the sequence of events recently hypothesized.

Galois Involutions

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard M¨uhlherr ◽  
Holger P. Petersson ◽  
Richard M. Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Fixed Points ◽  
Polar Region ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Spherical Building ◽  
Linear Automorphism ◽  
Moufang Condition ◽  
Coxeter Diagram ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Arctic Region

This chapter focuses on the fixed points of a strictly semi-linear automorphism of order 2 of a spherical building which satisfies the conditions laid out in Hypothesis 30.1. It begins with the fhe definition of a spherical building satisfying the Moufang condition and a Galois involution of Δ‎, described as an automorphism of Δ‎ of order 2 that is strictly semi-linear. It can be recalled that Δ‎ can have a non-type-preserving semi-linear automorphism only if its Coxeter diagram is simply laced. The chapter assumes that the building Δ‎ being discussed is as in 30.1 and that τ‎ is a Galois involution of Δ‎. It also considers the notation stating that the polar region of a root α‎ of Δ‎ is the unique residue of Δ‎ containing the arctic region of α‎.

Man and the Arctic Environment: Parameters of Reciprocal Influence

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 955
Author(s):  
Marina L. BELONOZHKO ◽  
Oleg M. BARBAKOV ◽  
Lyudmila K. GABISHEVA
Keyword(s):  
Legal Status ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Anthropogenic Effect ◽  
Arctic Environment ◽  
Reciprocal Influence ◽  
Environmental Development ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Arctic Region

The paper deals with the analysis of specific parameters of reciprocal influence between man and the Arctic environment, the formulation of the theoretic provisions, as well as the development of the scientific conclusions regarding the definition of the perspectives and peculiarities of the Arctic Region environmental development under conditions of globalization and the world environmental crisis. As the results of the conducted research, the authors revealed and generalized the scientific approaches towards the definition of the legal status of the Arctic; stated the legal contents and the meaning of the basic environmental standards and programs of the international legislation regarding the Arctic Region; considered the spheres of influence of the states on the Arctic territory and on the environmental situation of this region in general; characterized the environmental conditions for living of the Arctic population; and defined the nature of the adverse anthropogenic effect on the environment of the investigated region. The analysis of the literature helped to formulate the theoretical conclusions, to develop the practical recommendations and to forecast the long-run perspectives and peculiarities of the Arctic environmental development. It is substantiated that the reciprocal influence between man and the environment in the territory of the Arctic Region moves towards a qualitatively new stage, which forces the states to adopt the strategical decisions in the sphere of the reclamation of the Arctic Region only considering the preservation of the ecosystem, provision of the proper living quality of the Arctic population, as well as the environmentalization of all the kinds of economic activities in the region. The paper contains the scientific substantiation and proposes the development of the Concept of Sustainable Development and Preservation of the Ecosystem for the Arctic Region, which will also include the monitoring system for the condition of the Arctic.

Conservation of Arctic fauna and its habitats

Polar Record ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 17 (108) ◽  
pp. 237-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Curry-Lindahl
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Eastern Siberia ◽  
The Urals ◽  
Southern Limit ◽  
Mountain Chain ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Arctic Region ◽  
Arctic Fauna

In reviewing the conservation of Arctic fauna, it may be useful to describe what is meant, geographically and ecologically, by the word Arctic, as it is used here. Geographical boundaries are not often the same as ecological boundaries, and the Arctic Circle itself has no zoogeographical significance. Permanently ice-covered land and treeless lands with permanently frozen subsoil in the Northern Hemisphere would be included in any definition of the Arctic region, and in northern countries the timber line constitutes a satisfactory southern limit for the region in question. In mountains, it is altitude rather than latitude that gives an Arctic character to climate and landscape, as in the Urals, the mountain chain of Scandinavia (south to 59°N) and eastern Siberia, and the Rocky Mountains of North America.

scholarly journals Positioning in the Arctic Region: State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives

IEEE Access ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Anastasia Yastrebova ◽  
Marko Hoyhtya ◽  
Sandrine Boumard ◽  
Elena Simona Lohan ◽  
Aleksandr Ometov
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
The Arctic Region

scholarly journals Future emissions from oil, gas, and shipping activities in the Arctic

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 4913-4951 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Peters ◽  
T. B. Nilssen ◽  
L. Lindholt ◽  
M. S. Eide ◽  
S. Glomsrød ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Arctic Sea Ice ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Emission Inventories ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
The Arctic Region

Abstract. The Arctic sea-ice is retreating faster than predicted by climate models and could become ice free during summer this century. The reduced sea-ice extent may effectively "unlock" the Arctic Ocean to increased human activities such as transit shipping and expanded oil and gas production. Travel time between Europe and the north Pacific Region can be reduced by up to 50% with low sea-ice levels and the use of this route could increase substantially as the sea-ice retreats. Oil and gas activities already occur in the Arctic region and given the large undiscovered petroleum resources increased activity could be expected with reduced sea-ice. We use a detailed global energy market model and a bottom-up shipping model with a sea-ice module to construct emission inventories of Arctic shipping and petroleum activities in 2030 and 2050. The emission inventories are on a 1× 1 degree grid and cover both short-lived pollutants and ozone pre-cursors (SO2, NOx, CO, NMVOC, BC, OC) and the long-lived greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O). We find rapid growth in transit shipping due to increased profitability with the shorter transit times compensating for increased costs in traversing areas of sea-ice. Oil and gas production remains relatively stable leading to reduced emissions from emission factor improvements. The location of oil and gas production moves into locations requiring more ship transport relative to pipeline transport, leading to rapid emissions growth from oil and gas transport via ship. Our emission inventories for the Arctic region will be used as input into chemical transport, radiative transfer, and climate models to quantify the role of Arctic activities in climate change compared to similar emissions occurring outside of the Arctic region.

scholarly journals Managing of the Arctic Development: Financial Support  of the Region and the Criteria Choice for Evaluating  the Effectiveness of Investment Projects

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-77
Author(s):  
V.  A. Tsvetkov ◽  
M.  N. Dudin ◽  
D. A. Еrmilina
Keyword(s):  
Financial Support ◽  
Optimal Allocation ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Executive Power ◽  
Investment Projects ◽  
Russian Economy ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Arctic Region

The article highlights the current problems of financial support for investment projects for the development of the Arctic. There is one of the most important factors in the implementation of such projects significant for the national economy should be a focus on the systematic development of the Arctic territories and the optimal development of its scientific and industrial potential. The full-scale implementation of such projects will provide a cargo flow increase across the Northern Sea route, that will affect positively on strategic positions of the russian economy, have being possessed one more perspective transit transport corridor. A research purpose is comprehensive study of the existing and perspective investment projects of the Arctic region development, to working-out on recommendations about the priority projects selection and assessment of their efficiency. The analysis of various federal programs and initiatives of the executive power of the Arctic shows the efficiency evaluation of investment projects of the region development and their selection should be based on indicators as commercial and budgetary, as well as the socio-economic efficiency of each project. Evaluation of each type of efficiency involves the use of a number of indicators from which the authors single out the most significant. Besides, the selection of the development investment projects of the Arctic region should consider the following criteria: coordination of project parameters, their consistency with the priorities of the Arctic state policy; specification of deadlines, amounts of funding, resources support and the presence of targeting in each project; definition of the target results of the project providing for the special (basic) zones formation in the Arctic development. Such approach provides a comprehensive assessment of each project from the point of feasibility view of implementing and obtaining the required results, which is going to be expressed in the sustainable scientific, industrial, economic and technological development of the russian Arctic. It is revealed that the assessment of the effectiveness of projects for the development of the Arctic region should be based on a set of indicators of commercial, socio-economic and budgetary efficiency. regulatory base assessment: methodological documents approved by the federal executive authorities, taking into account the peculiarities of the implementation of infrastructure projects based on various forms of public-private partnership. The stated above application assessment criteria for each individual Arctic project will allow optimal allocation of budget funding in the context of a shortage of public finances.

scholarly journals Future emissions from shipping and petroleum activities in the Arctic

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 5305-5320 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Peters ◽  
T. B. Nilssen ◽  
L. Lindholt ◽  
M. S. Eide ◽  
S. Glomsrød ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Arctic Sea Ice ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Emission Inventories ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
The Arctic Region

Abstract. The Arctic sea-ice is retreating faster than predicted by climate models and could become ice free during summer this century. The reduced sea-ice extent may effectively "unlock" the Arctic Ocean to increased human activities such as transit shipping and expanded oil and gas production. Travel time between Europe and the north Pacific Region can be reduced by up to 50 % with low sea-ice levels and the use of this route could increase substantially as the sea-ice retreats. Oil and gas activities already occur in the Arctic region and given the large undiscovered petroleum resources increased activity could be expected with reduced sea-ice. We use a bottom-up shipping model and a detailed global energy market model to construct emission inventories of Arctic shipping and petroleum activities in 2030 and 2050 given estimated sea-ice extents. The emission inventories are on a 1×1 degree grid and cover both short-lived components (SO2, NOx, CO, NMVOC, BC, OC) and the long-lived greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O). We find rapid growth in transit shipping due to increased profitability with the shorter transit times compensating for increased costs in traversing areas of sea-ice. Oil and gas production remains relatively stable leading to reduced emissions from emission factor improvements. The location of oil and gas production moves into locations requiring more ship transport relative to pipeline transport, leading to rapid emissions growth from oil and gas transport via ship. Our emission inventories for the Arctic region will be used as input into chemical transport, radiative transfer, and climate models to quantify the role of Arctic activities in climate change compared to similar emissions occurring outside of the Arctic region.

Soviet terms for the north of the USSR

Polar Record ◽  
1961 ◽  
Vol 10 (69) ◽  
pp. 609-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. E. Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Tree Line ◽  
Precise Meaning ◽  
The North ◽  
Soviet Literature ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Extreme North ◽  
The Arctic Region

There has for long been discussion among Soviet geographers on the definition of various terms in Soviet usage to indicate the northern part of the USSR. Some of these terms—“the Arctic” [Arktika], “the Arctic region” [arkticheskaya oblast'], “the sub-Arctic” [subarktika], “the polar regions” [Zapolyar'ye]—are normally used to denote areas defined according to physical criteria. Such criteria are similar to those usually applied outside the USSR, such as the “10° C. July isotherm”, the “tree line”, or the “limit of continuous permafrost”, and, again as in the non-Soviet world, the terms have no generally accepted precise meaning and must be defined by each user. But in addition to these terms for natural regions, there are certain terms in predominantly economic and administrative usage: “the north” [sever], “the far north” [dal'niy sever], “the extreme north” [krayniy sever], “the northern marches” [severnyye okrainy], and “the Soviet north” [sovetskiy sever]. Some explanation of their current connotations may be helpful to those studying Soviet literature.

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