Foreword to the thematic cluster: the Arctic in Rapid Transition—marine ecosystems

Abstract

The Arctic is warming and losing sea ice. Happening at a much faster rate than previously expected, these changes are causing multiple ecosystem feedbacks in the Arctic Ocean. The Arctic in Rapid Transition (ART) initiative was developed by early-career scientists as an integrative, international, multi-disciplinary, long-term pan-Arctic network to study changes and feedbacks among the physical and biogeochemical components of the Arctic Ocean and their ultimate impacts on biological productivity on different timescales. In 2012, ART jointly organized with the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists their second science workshop-Overcoming Challenges of Observation to Model Integration in Marine Ecosystem Response to Sea Ice Transitions-at the Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, in Sopot. This workshop aimed to identify linkages and feedbacks between atmosphere ice ocean forcing and biogeochemical processes, which are critical for ecosystem function, land-ocean interactions and productive capacity of the Arctic Ocean. This special thematic cluster of Polar Research brings together seven papers that grew out of workgroup discussions. Papers examine the climate change impacts on various ecosystem elements, providing important insights on the marine ecological and biogeochemical processes on various timescales. They also highlight priority areas for future research. FU - International Arctic Science Committee; Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation; Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences; Polish Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research; International Arctic Research Center; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Laval Takuvik Joint Laboratory; Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine ResearchHelmholtz Association; Fisheries and Oceans Canada FX - This thematic cluster is an output of the first joint ART and Association of Polar Early Career Scientists Science Workshop, in Sopot, Poland, 23-26 October 2012. This cross-cutting initiative was generously supported by the International Arctic Science Committee, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, the Polish Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research, the International Arctic Research Center, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Laval Takuvik Joint Laboratory, the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. NR - 16 PU - CO-ACTION PUBLISHING PI - JARFALLA PA - RIPVAGEN 7, JARFALLA, SE-175 64, SWEDEN