News Archive

On 27 September 2017, SEARCH convened a panel of Arctic researchers at AAAS Headquarters in Washington D.C. to discuss the global implications of a thawing Arctic with the media. A recording of that discussion is now available for anyone who was unable to attend the live event.

A recording is now available of the ARCUS D.C. Arctic Research seminar/webinar featuring Dr. Betsy Baker, Executive Director for the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB). The presentation discusses NPRB's support for fisheries and integrated ecosystem information needs in the Arctic, Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska.

Connect to the Arctic! Join us for an upcoming PolarConnect event with teacher Lisa Seff and the research team studying Upwelling and Ecology in the Beaufort Sea on Thursday, 14 September 2017 at 5:00am Alaska Daylight Savings Time. This event will be broadcast live aboard the Research Vessel Sikuliaq somewhere in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska. Register today!

PolarTREC is currently accepting applications from teachers and informal educators for a field-based research experience in the polar regions. For 2018-2019, we will be accepting applications from both U.S. informal science educators as well as formal U.S. classroom teachers (teaching in grades 6-12). Applications will be to participate in field research learning experiences during the 2018 (usually Arctic) or 2018-19 (usually Antarctic) field seasons. The Teacher application deadline is Monday, 2 October 2017.

The August 2017 issue of Witness Community Highlights is now available. This online publication, a companion to the regular publications of Witness the Arctic, highlights Arctic research efforts and other timely items of interest to our readers. This issue includes two articles: news about U.S. Naval Academy participation in NASA’s IceBridge operation during spring 2017 and news about the inaugural Fulbright Arctic Initiative program of 2015-2017 and the launch of the second Fulbright Arctic Initiative, which will run from spring 2018 through fall 2019.

The August report for the 2017 Sea Ice Outlook (SIO) is now available online. The goal of the SIO is to improve Arctic sea ice prediction on seasonal time-scales. The organizers thank the groups that contributed to the 2017 June, July, and August reports. For August, 37 contributions for pan-Arctic extent predictions were received with the median Arctic Outlook value for September 2017 sea ice extent of 4.5 million square kilometers. Nine of the 37 also contributed Alaska regional extent predictions and 10 also contributed for Antarctica. Additionally, two contributions for Antarctica only and two descriptive regional contributions were received. The August report includes analysis of the contributions, discussion of projected sea ice probability, first ice-free days, current sea ice and atmospheric conditions, Alaska regional ice extent, and discussion and analysis of the Antarctic contributions.

Connect to the Arctic! Join us for an upcoming event with teacher Ruth Rodriguez live from Utqiaġvik (Barrow), Alaska on 8 August at 9:00am AKDT (10:00am PDT, 11:00am MDT, 12:00pm CDT, 1:00pm EDT).

Researcher Vanessa Lougheed will join Ruth to discuss the projects being run by University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) students as part of the Research Opportunities in the Arctic for Minorities (ROAM2) program. You can read more about Ruth’s adventures in the Arctic on their expedition webpage Please join us!

Join us for a PolarConnect Event with PolarTREC teacher Lee Teevan and the Research Team studying 'Jellyfish in the Bering Sea' on Thursday, 3 August 2017 at 9:00am AKDT (10am PDT, 11am MDT, 12pm CDT, 1pm EDT).

This is a real-time event with Virginia teacher Lee Teevan aboard the research vessel Oceanus. She is with the 'Jellyfish in the Bering Sea Research Team’. Their research objective is to estimate the age structure and age-specific abundances of the predominant jellyfish in the Bering Sea, Chrysaora melanaster, in order to understand how their population size changes with time. You can read more about Lee's expedition, as well as read her journals and see her photos on the expedition webpage.

Join us for a PolarConnect Event with PolarTREC teacher Rebecca Harris and the research team studying Arctic Glacial Lakes on Thursday 24 August 2017 at 7:00am AKDT (8am PDT, 9am MDT, 10am CDT, 11am EDT).

This is a real-time event with Utah teacher Rebecca Harris and the Arctic Glacial Lakes Research Team looking at the natural variability of hydrology and sediment transport in Arctic glacial lake systems. Rebecca will discuss their field season near Lake Peters, what they sampled and observed, and what it is like to live in a remote field camp. You can read more about Rebecca's expedition, Arctic Glacial Lakes, as well as read her journals and see her photos on the expedition webpage.

This event is free and hosted through the PolarTREC PolarConnect program. Participants will have a chance the learn from the scientists, ask questions, and chat with others during the presentation.

The Sea Ice Prediction Network (SIPN) announces the call for contributions for the 2017 Sea Ice Outlook August report based on May, June, and July data. The Sea Ice Outlook provides an open process for those interested in Arctic sea ice to share ideas. The monthly reports contain a variety of perspectives from advanced numerical models to qualitative perspectives from citizen scientists. Detailed guidelines for a new submission process of pan-Arctic, Alaska regional outlooks, and pan-Antarctic contributions, as well as submitting figures and gridded data for other regional contributions, are available online.

Submission deadline: 6:00 p.m. (AKDT) on Friday, 11 August 2017.

The July 2017 issue of Witness Community Highlights is now available. This online publication is a companion to the regular publications of Witness the Arctic and developed to highlight one or two Arctic research efforts and other timely items of interest to our readers. The July issue includes an article recognizing the recent awards and achievements of PolarTREC teachers and an article about the earliest charts of Arctic sea ice from the voyages of Captain Cook.

SEARCH Leads and Action Team members have convened a number of sessions for the 2017 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting taking place 11-15 December 2017. Please visit our SEARCH at AGU webpage to see what they have planned and to find an opportunity to connect with our researchers and program leads while they are in New Orleans.

PolarTREC is currently accepting applications from Researchers for teacher research experiences. Researchers are invited to submit an application to host a PolarTREC teacher in the 2018 arctic and/or the 2018-2019 Antarctic field seasons. The application deadline has been extended to Monday, 2 October 2017.

The Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) guides the work of SEARCH's action teams and working groups. Committee members representing diverse disciplines volunteer their time to help SEARCH facilitate synthesis and communicate the results broadly. Uma Bhatt (University of Alaska Fairbanks), Bob Bindschalder (NASA retired), and Breck Bowden (University of Vermont) have completed their service, and we greatly appreciate their thoughtful service.

Four new members have been appointed to three-year terms beginning in September 2017.

Dr. Kevin Griffin, professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Chair of the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology at Columbia University is a terrestrial ecologist with expertise in plant physiology and landscape carbon balance.

Dr. Gifford Miller is a professor and former Chair in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado. He is a paleoclimatologist, a GSA and AGU Fellow, and has worked in the Arctic for most of his long career.

Dr. Irina Overeem is a Research Scientist at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado. Her research focuses on river and coastal systems and their response to changing environmental factors. She develops numerical models to explore sediment transport processes and geomorphological change.

Dr. Sandy Starkweather is at the University of Colorado, Boulder where she is employed by NOAA as the Executive Director, of the U.S. Arctic Observing Network. Previously, she was in Washington, DC on a detail as a Program Manager in NOAA’s Arctic Research Program. Her training is in atmospheric science and engineering, and she brings practical experience in both academic and applied research.

"The breadth and depth of expertise of the SEARCH SSC attests to the great strength of the Arctic research community. Kevin, Giff, Irina, and Sandy will further strengthen a great team, and I am honored to work with them," reports Executive Director Brendan Kelly.

The July report for the 2017 Sea Ice Outlook (SIO) is now available online. The goal of the SIO is to improve Arctic sea ice prediction on seasonal time-scales. The organizers thank the groups that contributed to the 2017 June and July reports. For July, 36 contributions for pan-Arctic extent predictions were received with the median Arctic Outlook value for September 2017 sea ice extent of 4.5 million square kilometers. Eight contributed Alaska regional extent predictions, 12 contributed for Antarctica, and there were two informal contributions. The July report includes analysis of the contributions, discussion of projected sea ice probability, first ice-free days, current sea ice and atmospheric conditions, Alaska regional ice extent, and discussion of the Antarctic contributions.

During the week of July 10-14, 2017, over half of the SEARCH Land Ice Action Team (LIAT) presented at the WCRP/IOC Conference on Regional Sea Level Changes and Coastal Impacts. The LIAT is now using the interactions they had with stakeholders at the conference to co-produce actionable information for improved coastal management decision support.

Exploring the idea that the HBO hit TV series "Game of Thrones" is an epic parable about environmental change, E&E News reporter Arianna Skibell turned to SEARCH's Executive Director for his insight on what a warming Arctic means for the rest of the planet.

A meeting report of the International Workshop to Reconcile Methane Budgets in the Northern Permafrost Region has been published in Eos. The meeting was organized by SEARCH and held in Seattle, WA during 7-9 March 2017. More than 40 participants convened to develop a road map toward resolving the discrepancy in estimates of methane emissions in the northern permafrost region. The SEARCH Permafrost Action Team will track resulting products and publications.

The Sea Ice Prediction Network (SIPN) announces the call for contributions for the 2017 Sea Ice Outlook July report based on May and June data. The Sea Ice Outlook provides an open process for those interested in Arctic sea ice to share ideas. The monthly reports contain a variety of perspectives from advanced numerical models to qualitative perspectives from citizen scientists. Detailed guidelines for a new submission process of pan-Arctic, Alaska regional outlooks, and pan-Antarctic contributions, as well as submitting figures and gridded data for other regional contributions, are available online.

Submission deadline: 6:00 p.m. (AKDT) on Thursday, 13 July 2017.

On 25 July, SEARCH's Executive Director Brendan Kelly joined ACCAP to discuss SEARCH's Arctic Answers initiative and the role it plays in accelerating cross-disciplinary research and making scientific understanding more accessible to policy makers and other stakeholders.

The June report for the 2017 Sea Ice Outlook (SIO) is now available online. The goal of the SIO is to improve Arctic sea ice prediction on seasonal time-scales. The organizers thank the groups that contributed to the 2017 June report; 33 contributions that include pan-Arctic predictions, 2 additional contributions with a regional focus, and 7 Antarctic forecasts. The June report includes analysis of the contributions, discussion of projected sea ice probability and first ice-free days; current sea ice and atmospheric conditions; and regional ice conditions.

Registration is now open for the ARCUS D.C. Arctic Research seminar/webinar featuring Dr. Sandra Starkweather, Executive Director for the US Arctic Observing Network. The presentation will discuss the capabilities of the new US AON initiative and how they are being mobilized. The event will be held Friday, 21 July from 12:00-1:00pm EDT. Registration is required for both the live event, held at the ARCUS D.C. office, and the online webinar.

The Spring 2017 issue of Witness the Arctic is now published online. This issue includes summaries on: SEARCH program activities; the Sea Ice for Walrus Outlook; the Sea Ice Prediction Network; a study of water security in rural Alaska; Anchorage Arctic Research Day; the IARPC 5-year Research Plan; the USARC Report on Goals and Objectives for Arctic Research 2017-2018, the National Academies review of a the Draft Climate Science Special Report; an international suicide prevention initiative; a highlight of ARCUS member organization, ABR, Inc.; and comments from ARCUS board members and ARCUS Executive Director, Robert Rich.

The Sea Ice for Walrus Outlook (SIWO) provides information on spring sea ice, weather, and walrus to support safety and food security for Alaska Native subsistence hunters and coastal communities. The final outlook of the 11-week 2017 season was published on Friday, 9 June following unusually early sea ice retreat. Local observers in Wales, Shishmaref, Nome, Gambell, and Savoonga provided weekly observations and photos. SIWO is managed by ARCUS and produced with information from local observers, the National Weather Service, and other sources.

On Tuesday June 20th, join us for a PolarTREC live event with teacher Steve Kirsche and the research team from Summit Station, Greenland. It will take place at 8:00 AM AKDT [9AM PDT, 10AM MDT, 11AM CDT, 12PM EDT]. This event will focus a research project based out of Summit Station in Greenland. The team is looking at the firn (granular snow, especially on the upper part of a glacier, where it has not yet been compressed into ice) to get a better interpretation of paleoclimate from air that becomes trapped within the firn. More information and journals related to this expedition and the science can be found here.