Frontiers in understanding climate change and polar ecosystems : report of a workshop / Committee for the Workshop on Frontiers in Understanding Climate Change and Polar Ecosystems, Polar Research Board, Division of Earth and Life Studies, National Research Council of the National Academies.

Includes bibliographical references.

"The polar regions are experiencing rapid changes in climate. These changes are causing observable ecological impacts of various types and degrees of severity at all ecosystem levels, including society. Even larger changes and more significant impacts are anticipated. As species respond to changing environments over time, their interactions with the physical world and other organisms can also change. This chain of interactions can trigger cascades of impacts throughout entire ecosystems. Evaluating the interrelated physical, chemical, biological, and societal components of polar ecosystems is essential to understanding their vulnerability and resilience to climate forcing. The Polar Research Board (PRB) organized a workshop to address these issues. Experts gathered from a variety of disciplines with knowledge of both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Participants were challenged to consider what is currently known about climate change and polar ecosystems and to identify the next big questions in the field. A set of interdisciplinary "frontier questions" emerged from the workshop discussions as important topics to be addressed in the coming decades. To begin to address these questions, workshop participants discussed the need for holistic, interdisciplinary systems approach to understanding polar ecosystem responses to climate change. As an outcome of the workshop, participants brainstormed methods and technologies that are crucial to advance the understanding of polar ecosystems and to promote the next generation of polar research. These include new and emerging technologies, sustained long-term observations, data synthesis and management, and data dissemination and outreach."--Publisher's website.

Print version record.

1. Introduction: Workshop themes; Plenary presentations: recent insights in polar ecosystem science -- 2. Frontier Questions In Climate Change And Polar Ecosystems: Will a rapidly shrinking cryosphere tip polar ecosystems into new states?; What are the key polar ecosystem processes that will be the "First Responders" to climate forcing?; What are the bi-directional gateways and feedbacks between the poles and the global climate system?; How is climate change altering biodiversity in Polar regions and what will be the regional and global impacts?; How will increases in human activities intensify ecosystem impacts in the Polar regions? -- 3. Methods And Technologies To Address The Frontier Questions: Emerging technologies; Sustained long-term observations; Data synthesis and management; Science-to-society interface: data dissemination and outreach -- 4. Final Thoughts -- Appendixes: A. Workshop agenda & statement of task; B. Plenary abstracts; C. Participants; D. Biographical sketches of committee members.

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