The challenges of Arctic research Looking Beyond the International Polar Year David Hik President, International Arctic Science Committee University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 10 th Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region 5-7 September 2012, Akureyri
A few words about IASC Influence of International Polar Year (IPY) Engaging Global Science with Local Communities in the Arctic Opportunities for the Next Decade
International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) a non-governmental, international scientific organization established in 1990 by the eight Arctic countries; IASC encourages and facilitates cooperation in all aspects of Arctic research, in all countries engaged in Arctic research and in all areas of the Arctic region; promoting and supporting leading-edge multi-disciplinary research to foster a greater scientific understanding of the Arctic region and its role in the Earth system.
IASC Partner Organizations
International Polar Year (IPY) • IPY 2007-2008 was an intense, internationally coordinated campaign of research intended to initiate a new era in polar science http://www.arcticportal.org/ipy-joint-committee
International Polar Year 2007-2008 ….uniquely positioned the polar 228 projects science community to address 50,000 participants important societal issues… 63 nations Change Global Status Connections New Frontiers Human Dimensions Vantage Points
Characteristics of IPY Projects Urgent, Significant International Builds Partnerships Connections IPY PROJECT Preserve, Education, Share Data Outreach Expand Polar Community
International Polar Year 2007-2008 ….results are still being compiled and communicated… IPY Summary Report published in May 2011 (720 pages, 250 contributing authors) • Implementing IPY • Early Science Results • Observing Systems and Data Management • Education and Outreach • Legacy http://www.arcticportal.org/ipy-joint-committee
International Polar Year 2007-2008 ….IPY inspired and supported collaboration across diverse communities of practice. ”Perhaps IPY was our ‘dreamtime’, when the sciences danced with humanities, when the research community embraced education for the future of the Arctic and Antarctica.” page 591 (Patti Virtue, University of Tasmania) ‘
The IPY Legacies • Scientific legacy: observational systems and networks; technologies; baseline data sets; understanding of the Earth System. • Collaborative Legacy: enhanced collaboration and joint funding; information sharing. • Human Legacy: next generation of researchers and leaders; involvement of Arctic residents; public awareness and interest. How can we sustain International Polar Research and Cooperation?
Research in the Arctic region is uniquely positioned to be a leader in new Earth System Sustainability programs: • Sustain interdisciplinary observational networks • Ensure data preservation, exchange, availability and effective use • Better models for predicting future climate • Facilitate active and equal engagement of Indigenous People • Engage the next generation of scientists • Strengthen partnerships with main stakeholders • Integrate education and outreach
Forecasting Improve the usefulness of forecasts of future environmental conditions and their consequences for people A1B (by 2090-2099)
Observed Tree and Shrub Expansion State of the Arctic Report
1987 Observed Tree and Shrub Expansion 2009 State of the Arctic Report
Observing Develop, enhance, and integrate the observation systems needed to manage global and regional environmental change Observing and Monitoring Underpins Services
Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks The goal of SAON is to enhance Arctic-wide observing activities by facilitating partnerships and synergies among existing observing and data networks, and promoting sharing and synthesis of data and information. www.arcticobserving.org SAON jointly sponsored by Arctic Council
SAON addresses the need to sustain and enhance our collective capacity to acquire, retain and use knowledge Arctic Operational Community-based Research Observing Observing; Observing Local & Traditional Observing (international and Knowledge national) Arctic Global Pool of Collective Knowledge/Wisdom Observing Scientific Data Forecasting Decision- Policy- Research Products & Prediction Making Making & Education Arctic and Global Value-added Services & Societal Benefits
Community-Based Monitoring • Emphasis on ensuring inclusion of community based monitoring and local/traditional knowledge activities; • Collaboration with indigenous peoples organizations in the Arctic.
Confining Determine how to anticipate, recognize, avoid and manage disruptive global environmental change Ice Sheets likely the dominant contributor to sea level rise in the next Century
Greenland Surface Melt Total melt area of the Greenland ice sheet from passive microwave satellite data updated from Steffen et al., 2008
This summer? Approximately 97% of the ice sheet surface had thawed by July 12, 2012 Nicolo E. DiGirolamo, SSAI/NASA GSFC, and Jesse Allen, NASA
Satellite gravity measurements Greenland - weighing the whole ice sheet summer/winter cycle Antarctica Velicogna, 2010
The impact of a one metre sea-level rise (displaced people in Asia) Altitude above current sea level 72 million people 20 million people 3 million 9 million people people
Responding Determine what institutional, economic and behavioral changes can enable effective steps toward global sustainability
Innovating Encourage innovation in developing technological, policy, and social responses to achieve global sustainability Closer integration of Natural and Social Sciences…. New sensors…provide simultaneous biological and physical measurements; satellites for measurement and communications...
Closer integration of Natural and Social Sciences…. Interdisciplinary engagement with communities From “Science from above” to “Science in the community”
“Leaders of the community of Old Crow had the vision to engage with researchers collaboratively to identify the effects and consequences of climate warming on their traditional territory, although convergence of community interest, researcher expertise, and funding opportunity cannot be overemphasized.”
The Future of Polar Science: IPY Legacy – a new decadal initiative? International Polar Research Activity IPI (WMO, AC + others) ? Observing Systems IPY ICSU Grand Challenges Data Access ICSU & WMO Scientific Cooperation Next Generation 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2004 Major IPY Conf. Major Arctic Conf. Major Antarctic Conf.
? ? IPY Polar Decade??? We need something else!!! Concept Note Steering Group: Co-Chairs of the Workshop D. Hik, J.-G. Winther, Vice: O. Hov, Secretary: V. Ryabinin AMAP APECS EPB-ESF IASC IASSA ICSU UNESCO/IOC SCAR WMO UArctic UNEP
A sustained ‘International Polar Initiative’ address the emerging challenges identified within the IPY; optimizing and better coordinating existing resources and facilities; developing mechanisms for concerted investments in areas where activities are lacking. deliver better, more reliable scientific information for risk management and policy-making and other societal relevant activities in the Polar Regions. http://www.iasc.info/files/IPI_Concept2012.pdf Feedback and Comments Welcome!
Arctic Research is about people: --- The People who do the research … and The People for whom the research is done
You are here Thank You Takk
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