Policy-relevant questions are answered in 1-2 page briefs written by experts and posted in Arctic Answers. Each brief is the top of a "knowledge pyramid" supported by scientific literature organized in underlying tiers of increasing detail.
To read a brief or see the supporting literature, click on the question. PDF’s are available by clicking on “Download Brief.”
For further information on a topic or to suggest edits or updates, contact the experts listed for each question.
To suggest additional questions to be addressed on Arctic Answers or to volunteer to author a brief, contact Brendan Kelly (bpkelly [at] alaska.edu). When a proposed question is accepted for inclusion as an Arctic Answer, the author will receive a manuscript number and further instructions. Each brief will be reviewed for scientific accuracy and accessibility to readers with broad backgrounds.
Sea Ice Questions
What do we know about the future of Arctic sea-ice loss?
How is diminishing Arctic sea ice influencing lower latitude weather patterns?
Arctic Meltdown and Unruly Tropical Storms: Are They Connected?
How is diminishing Arctic sea ice influencing coastal communities?
How is diminishing sea ice influencing marine ecosystems?
How will the diminishing sea ice affect commercial fishing in the Bering Sea?
How is Climate Change Affecting Subsistence (Or Traditional) Fisheries in the High Arctic?
When will the Arctic Ocean become ice-free?
How predictable are Arctic sea ice conditions?
Developing knowledge pyramids answering questions about permafrost.
Climate Change & the Permafrost Carbon Feedback
How is permafrost degradation affecting ecosystem services?
Land Ice Questions
How is land ice changing in the Arctic & what is the influence on sea level?
How fast is the Greenland Ice Sheet melting?
How are melting Arctic sea-ice & land-ice linked to sea-level rise?
How does land motion influence sea level rise?
How will coastal communities be affected by climate change?
Can extreme Arctic climate change be avoided with cost effective mitigation?