scholarly journals Effects of Black Carbon Mitigation on Arctic Climate

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Kühn ◽  
Kaarle Kupiainen ◽  
Tuuli Miinalainen ◽  
Harri Kokkola ◽  
Ville-Veikko Paunu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emission Reduction ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Arctic Climate ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Council Member ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Emission Reductions ◽  
Member States ◽  
Direct Radiative Forcing ◽  
Effective Radiative Forcing

Abstract. We use the aerosol-climate model ECHAM-HAMMOZ to assess the effects of black carbon (BC) mitigation measures on Arctic climate. To this end we constructed several mitigation scenarios that implement all currently existing legislation and then implement further reductions of BC in a successively increasing global area, starting from the eight member states of the Arctic Council, expanding to its active observer states, then to all observer states, and finally to the entire globe. These scenarios also account for the reduction of the co-emitted organic carbon (OC) and sulphate (SU). We find that, even though the additional BC emission reductions in the member states of the Arctic Council are small, the resulting reductions in Arctic BC mass burdens can be substantial, especially in the lower atmosphere close to the surface. This in turn means that reducing BC emissions only in the Arctic Council member states can reduce BC deposition in the Arctic by about 30 % compared to the current legislation, which is about 60 % of what could be achieved if emissions were reduced globally. Emission reductions further south affect Arctic BC concentrations at higher altitudes and thus only have small additional effects on BC deposition in the Arctic. The direct radiative forcing scales fairly well with the total amount of BC emission reduction, independent of the location of the emission source, with a maximum direct radiative forcing in the Arctic of about 0.4 W/m2 for a global BC emission reduction. On the other hand, the Arctic effective radiative forcing due to the BC emission reductions, which accounts for aerosol-cloud interactions, is small compared to the direct aerosol radiative forcing. This happens because BC and OC containing particles can act as cloud condensation nuclei, which affects cloud reflectivity and lifetime, and counter-acts the direct radiative forcing of BC. Additionally the effective radiative forcing is accompanied by very large uncertainties that origin from the strong natural variability of meteorology, cloud cover, and surface albedo in the Arctic. We further used the model TM5-FASST to assess the benefits of the aerosol emission reductions on human health. We found that a full implementation in all Arctic Council member and observer states could reduce the annual global amount of premature deaths by 339 000 by 2030.

scholarly journals Effects of black carbon mitigation on Arctic climate

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 5527-5546
Author(s):  
Thomas Kühn ◽  
Kaarle Kupiainen ◽  
Tuuli Miinalainen ◽  
Harri Kokkola ◽  
Ville-Veikko Paunu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emission Reduction ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Arctic Climate ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Emission Reductions ◽  
Member States ◽  
Premature Deaths ◽  
Direct Radiative Forcing ◽  
Effective Radiative Forcing

Abstract. We use the ECHAM-HAMMOZ aerosol-climate model to assess the effects of black carbon (BC) mitigation measures on Arctic climate. To this end we constructed several mitigation scenarios that implement all currently existing legislation and then implement further reductions of BC in a successively increasing global area, starting from the eight member states of the Arctic Council, expanding to its active observer states, then to all observer states, and finally to the entire globe. These scenarios also account for the reduction of the co-emitted organic carbon (OC) and sulfate (SU). We find that, even though the additional BC emission reductions in the member states of the Arctic Council are small, the resulting reductions in Arctic BC mass burdens can be substantial, especially in the lower troposphere close to the surface. This in turn means that reducing BC emissions only in the Arctic Council member states can reduce BC deposition in the Arctic by about 30 % compared to the current legislation, which is about 60 % of what could be achieved if emissions were reduced globally. Emission reductions further south affect Arctic BC concentrations at higher altitudes and thus only have small additional effects on BC deposition in the Arctic. The direct radiative forcing scales fairly well with the total amount of BC emission reduction, independent of the location of the emission source, with a maximum direct radiative forcing in the Arctic of about −0.4 W m−2 for a global BC emission reduction. On the other hand, the Arctic effective radiative forcing due to the BC emission reductions, which accounts for aerosol–cloud interactions, is small compared to the direct aerosol radiative forcing. This happens because BC- and OC-containing particles can act as cloud condensation nuclei, which affects cloud reflectivity and lifetime and counteracts the direct radiative forcing of BC. Additionally, the effective radiative forcing is accompanied by very large uncertainties that originate from the strong natural variability of meteorology, cloud cover, and surface albedo in the Arctic. We further used the TM5-FASST model to assess the benefits of the aerosol emission reductions for human health. We found that a full implementation in all Arctic Council member and observer states could reduce the annual global number of premature deaths by 329 000 by the year 2030, which amounts to 9 % of the total global premature deaths due to particulate matter.

scholarly journals Internationalization of Vocational Education in the Arctic Council Member-States’ Universities

2020 ◽  
pp. 220-235
Author(s):  
Maria PITUKHINA ◽  
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Vocational Education ◽  
International Cooperation ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Council Member ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Member States ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The University ◽  
Quantitative Indicators

Nowadays, the potential for international cooperation in the Arctic is concentrated within the framework of such an influential international structure as the Arctic Council, where Russia is presiding over soon in 2021–2023. The article is devoted to international cooperation evaluation of 15 Arctic universities from 7 Arctic Council member-states with a student contingent of at least 3,600 people (2 in the USA, 1 in Iceland, 5 in Russia, 2 in Finland, 2 in Sweden, 2 in Norway, 1 in Canada). It seems possible to evaluate international cooperation potential between Arctic universities through the prism of 10 quantitative indicators, including the number of international students admitted to the university; number of courses taught in English; number of educational programs for international students; a number of foreign scientists invited to the university, etc. We can evaluate both academic mobility within the Arctic universities and vocational education internationalization due to accumulated statistical data.

The Arctic Council and the Search and Rescue Agreement: the case of Norway

Polar Record ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svein Vigeland Rottem
Keyword(s):  
Search And Rescue ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Member States ◽  
Key Features ◽  
Binding Agreement

ABSTRACTOn 12 May 2011 at the seventh ministerial meeting, the member states of the Arctic Council (AC) signed the Arctic SAR agreement, the first legally binding agreement negotiated under the auspices of the AC. Its objective is to strengthen search and rescue cooperation and coordination in the Arctic. The purpose of this article is to explore why an agreement on search and rescue under the auspices of the AC has been negotiated; what its key features are; and lastly, how it is and will be implemented. It is argued that the SAR agreement is more important for the AC than for Norway. It has had limited practical consequences in that country. The agreement may be politically and symbolically significant but it has neither financially nor organisationally changed Norwegian search and rescue policy.

scholarly journals ARCTIC SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DURING RUSSIAN CHAIRMANSHIP AT THE ARCTIC COUNCIL

2021 ◽  
Vol 228 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-235
Author(s):  
JULIA V. ZVORYKINA ◽  
◽  
KIRILL S. TETERYATNIKOV ◽  
DANEK А. PAVLOVSKY ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
International Law ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
World Economy ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Development Projects ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Member States ◽  
The Russian Federation

The article is meant to analyze new opportunities of the forthcoming presidency of the Russian Federation in the Arctic Council designed to implement the Arctic Development Strategy of the Russian Federation, strengthen international cooperation and give a new impetus to largescale national and international sustainable development projects in the Arctic, focused on improving the resilience of the environment and population of the Council member states. The authors considered the approaches to formulation of sustainable development priorities in international law and Russian legislation, peculiarities of sustainable development projects in the Arctic, prospective directions of Russian chairmanship in the Arctic Council taking into account postpandemic development of the world economy. Relevant proposals and recommendations on specific areas of cooperation and major projects that could be implemented in the interests of all member states of the Arctic Council are given. A proposal for Arctic Development Bank foundation has been put forward and substantiated.

Iceland: A Small Arctic State Facing Big Arctic Changes

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margrét Cela
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
The Other ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Member States ◽  
Sovereign State ◽  
Priority Area ◽  
Arctic State ◽  
A Priority ◽  
Policy Fields

Abstract Iceland is one of eight member states of the Arctic Council and claims to be the only sovereign state that is entirely located in the Arctic. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that the region has gained a priority status in Iceland’s foreign policy. The developments in the Arctic will inevitably affect the country in one way or the other. This paper is divided into three sections; the first one discusses recent internal and external developments. The second section is about three different aspects of security, traditional, human and environmental, and furthermore, discusses those types of security in Icelandic context. The last section is on Iceland’s priorities in the Arctic, which are then measured against Lassi Heininen’s policy fields or indicators, and Arctic solutions presented by Alyson Bailes. Main conclusions are that even though Iceland has been going through challenging times in the resent years, the Arctic still remains somewhat a priority area, policy wise, and the Icelandic priorities, for the most part, fit within the frameworks of Arctic solutions and the policy fields they are measured against.

scholarly journals United States Resists Efforts to Have the Arctic Council Make Climate-Related Statement

2019 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 831-833
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
United States ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Collective Decision ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Collective Decision Making ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Member States ◽  
Secretary Of State ◽  
Related Statement

The Arctic Council convened for the eleventh time in early May 2019 in Rovaniemi, Finland, for a two-day conference. On May 7, the Arctic Council released a Joint Ministerial Statement that affirmed the desire of the eight member states to work together to face upcoming challenges but made no substantive commitments and no mention of climate change. In remarks to the Council, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed wariness about collective decision making and warned against potential effects of Chinese activity in the Arctic.

scholarly journals Impact of a Strong Biomass Burning Event on the Radiative Forcing in the Arctic

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Lisok ◽  
Anna Rozwadowska ◽  
Jesper G. Pedersen ◽  
Krzysztof M. Markowicz ◽  
Christoph Ritter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Radiation Budget ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Plane Parallel ◽  
Direct Radiative Forcing ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The aim of the presented study was to investigate the impact on the radiation budget of biomass burning smoke plume transported from Alaska to high Arctic region (Ny-Alesund, Svalbard) in early July 2015. This high aerosol load event is considered exceptional in the last 25 years with mean aerosol optical depth increased by the factor of 10 in comparison to the average summer background values. We utilised in-situ data with hygroscopic growth equations as well as remote sensing measurements as inputs to radiative transfer models with an objective to estimate biases associated with (i) hygroscopicity, (ii) variability of ω profiles and (iii) plane-parallel closure of the modelled atmosphere. A chemical weather model with satellite-derived biomass burning emissions was used to interpret the transport and transformations pathways. Provided MODTRAN simulations resulted in the mean aerosol direct radiative forcing on the level of −78.9 W m−2 and −47.0 W m−2 at the surface and the top of the atmosphere respectively for the mean value of aerosol optical depth equal to 0.64 at 550 nm. It corresponded to the average clear-sky direct radiative forcing of −43.3 W m−2 estimated by radiometers and model simulations. Furthermore, model-derived aerosol direct radiative forcing efficiency reached on average −126 W m−2 / τ550 and −71 W m−2 / τ550 at the surface and at the top of the atmosphere. Estimated heating rate up to 1.8 K day−1 inside the BB plume implied vertical mixing with the turbulent kinetic energy of 0.3 m2 s−2. Ultimately, uncertainty connected with the plane-parallel atmosphere approximation altered results by about 2 W m−2.

scholarly journals Elucidating the Role of Anthropogenic Aerosols in Arctic Sea Ice Variations

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Wang ◽  
Jonathan H. Jiang ◽  
Hui Su ◽  
Yong-Sang Choi ◽  
Lei Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Arctic Sea Ice ◽  
Arctic Climate ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Particulate Pollution ◽  
Arctic Sea ◽  
Arctic Climate Change ◽  
Arctic Sea Ice Loss

AbstractObservations show that the Arctic sea ice cover has been shrinking at an unprecedented rate since the 1970s. Even though the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has been closely linked with the loss of Arctic sea ice, the role of atmospheric aerosols in past and future Arctic climate change remains elusive. Using a state-of-the-art fully coupled climate model, the authors assess the equilibrium responses of the Arctic sea ice to the different aerosol emission scenarios and investigate the pathways by which aerosols impose their influence in the Arctic. These sensitivity experiments show that the impacts of aerosol perturbations on the pace of sea ice melt effectively modulate the ocean circulation and atmospheric feedbacks. Because of the contrasting evolutions of particulate pollution in the developed and developing countries since the 1970s, the opposite aerosol forcings from different midlatitude regions are nearly canceled out in the Arctic during the boreal summer, resulting in a muted aerosol effect on the recent sea ice changes. Consequently, the greenhouse forcing alone can largely explain the observed Arctic sea ice loss up to the present. In the next few decades, the projected alleviation of particulate pollution in the Northern Hemisphere can contribute up to 20% of the total Arctic sea ice loss and 0.7°C surface warming over the Arctic. The authors’ model simulations further show that aerosol microphysical effects on the Arctic clouds are the major component in the total aerosol radiative forcing over the Arctic. Compared to the aerosol-induced energy imbalance in lower latitudes outside the Arctic, the local radiative forcing by aerosol variations within the Arctic, due to either local emissions or long-range transports, is more efficient in determining the sea ice changes and Arctic climate change.

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