1. Arctic Climate Change Presented by: Ben Chou and Kelly Cunningham

2. Global Temperature Anomalies Data Source: NASA GISS GHCN, 2006 Dec-Jan-Feb 2001-2005Jun-Jul-Aug 2001-2005

3. Greenland Summer Melt Source: Comiso and Parkinson, 2004 Summer melt increased by 17% from 1992-2002; SLR from continental melting: 5.9 +/- 1.6 cm

4. Arctic Sea Ice 19792005 Source: Walker, 2006 Total decrease summer sea ice: 20-50%, 1.3 mil km 2 Summer: 8-10%/decade; Winter: 6-7%/decade

5. Ice-Albedo Feedback Source: Comiso and Parkinson, 2004 Ice-Albedo Animation

6. Arctic Permafrost Retreat 31 cm/yr Stores 1/3 of global soil carbon Models predict loss of 50% by 2050; 90% by 2100 Source: Lawrence and Slater, 2006

7. “Take Home” Messages Arctic: a global indicator for climate change: 1) Melting of Greenland and Arctic glaciers will induce sea level rise and could weaken or disrupt THC 2) Retreat of snow and sea-ice reduces planetary albedo, and melting of permafrost releases GHGs – both exacerbate global warming 3)The sensitive dynamics of its ecosystem have contributed to accelerated warming in the Arctic