Launch websiteArctic Climate and Environments
The 1ACE Project
1ACE aims to understand natural and anthropogenic changes in the biosphere and climate of the Arctic and northern circumpolar regions, using a combination of modelling tools and observations, which draw on expertise, data, equipment and infrastructure uniquely available at the WUN nodes.
Why focus on the Arctic?
- The Arctic is uniquely exposed to climate change because of powerful positive feedbacks between sea-surface conditions, ecosystems and the atmosphere. Only in the Arctic is it possible to examine all the factors involved in determining climate change
- The Arctic is already experiencing rapid changes (e.g. vegetation, sea ice)
- The Arctic has experienced large and rapid changes in the recent geological past (e.g. vegetation change)
Why another Arctic initiative?
- Existing organisations either set agendas internationally or fund nationally - there are no frameworks to support a coherent international research programme
- Substantive progress in understanding the complex interrelated climate systems active in the Arctic will require a breadth and depth of resources not present in a single country let alone a single university
- Geographical and historical interests mean that expertise, data and infrastructure is distributed across many countries
What distinguishes 1ACE?
- It is not a programme or agenda-setting initiative → definite & concrete research project demanding interactions
- It is not limited involvement activity → multi-national (particularly linking US-Europe-China, but with remit to involve the best)
- Expertise → together the WUN nodes have the critical mass to carry out such a project → synergy
What is the 1ACE strategy?
- A coherent multi- and inter-disciplinary programmes based in centres of excellence
- To use IT mediated approaches to support sustained collaboration at a distance
- To link interdisciplinary academic communities across themes within foci
- To benefit from bringing modellers and observationalists together
- To bring together disparate information & resources located in many countries
- To incorporate modern process understanding
- To test in the past before applying to the future