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The Pacific Arctic Region: An Introduction

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The Pacific Arctic Region

Abstract

The Pacific Arctic region (PAR) is experiencing atmospheric changes, rapid seasonal sea ice retreat, seawater warming, regional ocean acidification, along with other environmental changes and biological responses in lower to upper trophic organisms. Both physical and biogeochemical modeling indicate the potential for step-function changes to the overall ecosystem, both under current and in the projected conditions. This volume of synthesis papers was coordinated within the Pacific Arctic Group (PAG), a network of international partners undertaking and facilitating collaborative research in the Pacific influenced Arctic seas and basin. It also serves as a product of activities from the 2007–2008 International Polar Year. The topics range from atmospheric and physical sciences to chemical processing and biological response to changing environmental conditions. Physical and biogeochemical modeling results highlight the need for continued data collection together with interdisciplinary modeling activities to track and forecast the changing ecosystem of the Pacific Arctic in response to climate change.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the co-authors of this special synthesis activity for their time and effort in developing the scientific products for this volume. We especially thank Dr. John Calder for his continuous support of the Pacific Arctic Group synthesis activities through the Arctic Research Program of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In addition, we thank our international colleagues in the PAG for their continued collaboration in research activities and the support of their managers. We thank Lee Cooper for his editorial efforts on the dedication and introductory chapter. Financial support related to this special synthesis volume was provided to JM Grebmeier (NOAA grant # NA09OAR4310092) and W Maslowski by the DOE Regional and Global Climate Modeling and NSF Office of Polar Programs.

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Correspondence to Jacqueline M. Grebmeier .

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Grebmeier, J.M., Maslowski, W. (2014). The Pacific Arctic Region: An Introduction. In: Grebmeier, J., Maslowski, W. (eds) The Pacific Arctic Region. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8863-2_1

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