Sigma Xi Public Talk
The New Arctic
Presented by Mark Serreze, Director of the University of Colorado National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) and Professor in the Department of Geography
Summers with an ice free Arctic Ocean are likely to become reality within this century. Arctic permafrost is warming and is thawing in some areas. The Greenland Ice Sheet is losing mass, contributing to sea level rise. Sea ice loss contributing to strong rises in Arctic air temperature, termed Arctic amplification, is starting to influence land areas. Continued loss of ice cover is likely to influence patterns of atmospheric circulation and precipitation not just within the Arctic, but possibly into middle latitudes; there is controversial evidence that this is already occurring. There is growing concern that permafrost thaw will lead to a substantial release of carbon to the atmosphere, exacerbating global warming. Finally, as the sea ice cover retreats, the Arctic becomes more accessible for marine shipping and oil and gas extraction, increasing the economic and strategic importance of the region.
5:00 pm, Thursday, February 18, 2016
Room C, UNM Conference Center
Northeast corner of Indian School and University
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A schedule of talks within the Department of Physics and Astronomy is available on the P&A web site at http://physics.unm.edu/pandaweb/events/index.php