The Role of the Arctic in the Global Change process
Large uncertainties in the response of the arctic climate system to global climate change arise through poorly quantified feedbacks and thresholds associated with the albedo, the thermohaline circulation (THC), and the uptake of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by the ocean. Since climate models differ in their projections of future change in the pressure fields and hence their associated winds, much uncertainty remains in terms of potential changes in stratification, mixing, and ocean circulation. The Arctic THC is a critical component of the Atlantic THC. The latest assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change considers a reduction in the Atlantic THC likely, while a complete shutdown is considered unlikely but not impossible. If the Arctic THC is reduced, it will affect the global THC and thus the long-term development of the global climate system. Reduction in the global THC may also result in a lower oceanic heat flux to the Arctic. If the THC is reduced, local regions of the Arctic are likely to undergo cooling rather than warming, and the location of ocean fronts may change. This session welcomes papers focusing on all kinds of climate processes in the Arctic that are important for the Global climate.
The Role of the Arctic in the Global Change process