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Monitoring Change in the Arctic

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Satellite-based Applications on Climate Change

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Abstract

Modeling studies have shown that the Arctic is one of the most sensitive regions on Earth to global climate change due primarily to the positive feedback between surface temperature, surface albedo, and ice extent. Because in situ measurements in this harsh environment are costly, satellites are a critical source of information for monitoring and evaluating changes in the Arctic climate system. Satellite data can be used to measure polar winds, clouds, sea ice, snow cover, and glaciers. Applications of space-based imager and sounder data have shown that over the last three decades, the Arctic has warmed and become cloudier in spring and summer, but cooled and become less cloudy in winter. Arctic sea ice has declined substantially and at a greater rate than that predicted by most climate models. Snow cover has decreased in many areas, and vegetation growth has increased at high latitudes. Satellite products have also been used to demonstrate the complex feedbacks between clouds and sea ice, providing insight into the possible future state of Arctic climate.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Arctic Research Office, NASA, and the National Science Foundation. David Santek and Richard Dworak contributed to the research on polar winds. Walt Meier and Don Cline provided input on sea ice and snow cover, respectively. The views, opinions, and findings contained in this report are those of the author(s) and should not be construed as an official National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or US government position, policy, or decision.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Satellite Applications and Research, NESDIS, NOAA, Madison, WI, USA

    Jeffrey R. Key

  2. Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA

    Xuanji Wang & Yinghui Liu

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  1. Jeffrey R. Key
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  2. Xuanji Wang
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  3. Yinghui Liu
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Correspondence to Jeffrey R. Key .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Environmental Science and Technology, George Mason University, Fairfax, 22030, USA

    John Qu

  2. Administration, NOAA/NESDIS, Center for Satellite Application and Res, National Oceanic & Atmospheric, Auth Road 5200, Camp Springs, 20746, Maryland, USA

    Alfred Powell

  3. , Climate and Water Programme, World Meteorological Organization, 7bis, Avenue de la Paix, Geneva, 1211, Switzerland

    M.V.K. Sivakumar

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Key, J.R., Wang, X., Liu, Y. (2013). Monitoring Change in the Arctic. In: Qu, J., Powell, A., Sivakumar, M. (eds) Satellite-based Applications on Climate Change. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5872-8_9

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