Workshop on Climatic Change for Alaskan High School Youth - Involving the Next Generation

June 22, 2006
IARC 401

International Arctic Research Center
University of Alaska Fairbanks

In Alaska, we no longer discuss climate change using words such as "possible" or "potential". There is ample evidence of impacts from a changing climate in Alaska, primarily due to the predominance of snow, ice and permafrost. Here, the presence or absence of frozen ground or water dominates the local ecology, hydrology, physical characteristics and surface energy balance. As the soil or ice progresses through thawing, threshold changes occur that may initiate a cascade of events resulting in substantial changes to the regional character. Many of the challenges that we are currently encountering will not be resolved by today's scientists and engineers. We need to entrain a new generation of researchers who are broadly trained in numerous disciplines, allowing them to develop the solutions that our society needs to remain healthy and productive. This workshop is being conducted to encourage the next generation of researchers to accept the challenge of developing accurate predictions of future climate and developing adequate adaptation strategies.

The purpose of this workshop is to allow high school students to examine how a warming climate will impact the terrestrial and marine systems and consequent impacts to local infrastructure. Much of the discussion will focus upon the influence of permafrost to elucidate further influence through feedback processes. This workshop will include a local field trip around the Fairbanks area to observe and photograph evidence of permafrost degradation. Workshop attendees will participate in field observations of the interdependence among the dynamic thermal and hydrological processes to help develop a more complete understanding of how changes associated with a warming climate may interact with many components of the Arctic ecosystem.

Agenda

Organizers

Larry Hinzman - UAF/IARC - lhinzman@iarc.uaf.edu
Deborah Williams - Alaska Conservation Solutions - dlwilliams@gci.net
Elena Sparrow - UAF/IARC - ffebs@uaf.edu