ACME - Arctic Cryosphere Change and Coastal Marine Ecosystems
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Summary The Arctic cryosphere is changing rapidly due to increased runoff from land, changing sea-ice regime and the degradation of the circumpolar permafrost zone. Fjords and other nearshore areas form a productive zone that is vital for both Arctic biodiversity and local communities, rendering the understanding of Arctic coastal ecosystem change from a long-term perspective crucial.The ACME working group provides a community platform to critically assess and refine available coastal marine proxies that can be used to reconstruct cryosphere changes and their multifaceted ecosystem impacts. ACME seeks to promote a leap forward in the accuracy of paleo reconstructions that are central for deciphering cryosphere-biosphere interactions in the Arctic region at relevant timescales.Sign up to the ACME mailing list here.
Goals - To build a community-refined database that contains a network of proxies commonly used for sea ice, primary production, and meltwater runoff reconstructions in Arctic coastal and fjord environments.
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Synthesis |
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July 2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
The Arctic cryosphere is changing rapidly due to recent climate change. Accelerated melt of the Greenland ice sheet, increased runoff from Arctic glaciers, diminishing sea-ice extent and volume, and degradation of permafrost all have profound impacts on the coastal environments of the North.
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Fig. 1: Glaciated marine coastal environments are sentinels for climate change. |
The fjords and other nearshore areas form a productive zone that is vital for both arctic species and local communities. Increased runoff from land (bringing sediments, nutrients, and organic matter to the ocean), and the declining sea-ice cover affect biogeochemical cycling, primary production, biodiversity and key ecosystem services.
A major challenge facing arctic marine sciences today is the paucity of reference ecological data from which to interpret these changes. Many marine proxies are currently used for reconstructing past ocean conditions (sea-ice concentrations, sea-surface temperatures, changes in ocean circulation), but the multi-faceted nature of coastal ecosystem change necessitates tighter cooperation between proxy specialists and critical analytical, numerical and ecological consideration.
Aims
The aim of this working group is to assess and refine available marine proxies that can be used to reconstruct past cryosphere changes and their ecosystem impacts. A particular focus will be placed on the techniques and the quality of data, and on the establishment of new protocols to enable more reliable reconstructions, through close dialogue with numerical ecologists and environmental monitoring community.
ACME will assemble researchers from across the global circumpolar community (including developing countries), and from a wide variety of backgrounds and career stages. In addition to concrete products, ACME will encourage participation of early career scientists and their training in order to advance future data integrity and quality control.
Survey 2019
ACME is collecting community perspectives on the current state and future directions of arctic coastal paleoceanography via an online survey open between 17 October and 15 November 2019. ACME strongly encourages community members and paleoceanographers of all career stages and backgrounds to respond to the short questionnaire. The results of the survey will provide a basis for outlining priority research questions and directions, and give an overview of spatial, methodological, and ecological knowledge gaps identified by the community. The questionnaire is anonymous and will take about 10 minutes to complete: https://elomake.helsinki.fi/lomakkeet/100775/lomake.html
Learn more and participate
Subscribe to the ACME mailing list here or contact a member of the Steering group here.
Follow the group on Twitter.