Observations and Predictions for Arctic Sea-Ice Use: Perspectives from Coastal Alaska
Time: 12:00pm to 1:00pm (EST)
The ARCUS Arctic Research Seminar Series brings some of the leading Arctic researchers to Washington, D.C. to share in person and via webinar the latest findings and what they mean for decision-making. The seminars are open, and will be of interest to Federal agency officials, Congressional staff, NGOs, associations, researchers, and the public.
Presentation Title:
Observations and Predictions for Arctic Sea-Ice Use: Perspectives from Coastal Alaska
Presentation Abstract:
The Arctic sea-ice cover is in the midst of a major transformation, with the Pacific Arctic sector and Alaska experiencing some of the most profound changes in ice cover anywhere in the Arctic. With impacts on Arctic coastal communities and increases in maritime activities, both observations of changes underway and predictions at the scale of less than a week to several months out are of importance to the research community and those living and operating in ice-covered seas. The presentation will explore key benefits or hazards deriving from sea ice, and explore the types of information and predictions most relevant to sea ice users, with a focus on Alaska coastal environments. Specifically, use of coastal land fast ice by Indigenous communities and industry serves to illustrate the importance of stakeholder input and guidance in defining the research problem and types of observations and predictions needed. The presentation will explore how the combination of surface-based observations, Indigenous and local knowledge and remote sensing is particularly effective in addressing a hierarchy of issues of deriving from rapid changes in coastal ice environments.
Speaker Details
Dr. Hajo Eicken is Professor of Geophysics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and Director of the International Arctic Research Center at UAF. His research focuses on sea ice geophysics and the importance of sea ice in Arctic social-environmental systems. He has helped build an integrated sea-ice observatory in northern Alaska as an interface between geophysical and local knowledge of ice conditions and hazards. He heads an effort at UAF to enhance use of scientific data by stakeholders, drawing on a number of different approaches, including scenarios development and analysis. As immediate-past Chair of the Science Steering Committee of the US Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH), he has worked towards the establishment of an observing network to improve understanding and responses to rapid Arctic change.
Registration
To register please visit: https://www.arcus.org/research-seminar-series
Registration is required for the live seminar as well as the webinar. We will be using the Adobe Connect platform for the webinar. Once you register for the webinar, you will receive a confirmation email giving you the link and directions on how to join.