The Arctic, the bellwether for climate change, appears to be warming at a rate twice that of the planet as a whole. One of the main reasons is that as the sea ice melts, it impacts the reflectivity (“albedo”) of the surface and accelerates the warming. The impact of this warming is likely to be profound, including a loss of habitat for a wide range of species reliant on the nature of the ocean/sea ice interface, and changes to ocean circulation and climate.



   The Arctic environment increasingly captures the interests and imagination of the scientific community.  It is also a rapidly changing environment that is home to native peoples in North America, Asia, Greenland, and Scandinavia.  While the scientific community is adept at communication within its ranks, and the same may be said of native people in the Arctic, there is a need for better communication with the global population to the south.

   The beauty of the Arctic, its precious and fragile nature, its critical role in maintaining a stable climate for the planet, and the rapid rate of change that is occurring there must all be conveyed to the general public. Here, through digital story telling, we put a human face on science, life, societies, and the natural world in the Arctic.

Paul Shepson & Peter Lourie



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