UCAR

National security, economics, and a unique and fragile ecology place the Arctic high on the national agenda.

In recent decades, this region has undergone dramatic environmental change. Routine satellite monitoring shows a significant decline in total Arctic sea ice, and these changes are projected to continue. As a result, understanding and predicting future sea ice volume and other environmental changes on seasonal to annual to decadal time scales is critical to address the challenges, opportunities, and risks associated with the region. Research at U.S. universities and research labs is providing new understanding and forecasting capabilities that will help decision makers prepare for environmental change in the Arctic.

— September 2015