(G1) Atmospheric science
      Convener: Kaoru SATO, John WALSH

(G2) Ocean and sea ice
      Convener: Michiyo YAMAMOTO-KAWAI, Andrey PROSHUTINSKY

(G3) Hydrology, permafrost and snow cover
      Convener: Tetsuya HIYAMA, Larry HINZMAN

(G4) Ice sheets, glaciers and ice cores
      Convener: Shuhei TAKAHASHI, Maria ANANICHEVA

(G5) Terrestrial ecosystem
      Convener: Rikie SUZUKI, Walter OECHEL

(G6) Marine ecosystem
      Convener: Sei-Ichi SAITO, Sang H. LEE

(G7) Interdisciplinary modeling studies
      Convener: Toru NOZAWA, Kumiko TAKATA

 (S1)  Polar (Arctic) amplification in global warming
(Convener: Hiroshi L. TANAKA,  Vladimir ALEXEEV)

Recent rapid Arctic warming is considered to be a research frontier in the study of global warming. Arctic sea ice is melting drastically, and exceeding IPCC projections. Although ice–albedo feedback plays an important role in polar (Arctic) amplification, it must be just an amplifier of certain warming processes in the Arctic. Long-term natural (internal) variability is a candidate cause of polar amplification as well as anthropogenic forcing. The goal of the proposed special session is to pursue a complete understanding of polar amplification by exchanging our latest findings on polar amplification.

(S2)  Changes in water and carbon cycles of terrestrial ecosystem on permafrost in a warming Arctic
(Convener: Atsuko SUGIMOTO,　J. van HUISSTEDEN)

Two research projects, PAGE21 by the EU–FP7 consortium and GRENE-TEA supported by MEXT Japan, which started at almost the same time, have similar goals of employing a pan-Arctic observation network to evaluate the effects of global climate change on Arctic environments and carbon pools, and their feedback effects on the global climate. These projects perform complementary research and contribute to international observation networks, in order to understand the processes of changing terrestrial ecosystems and their global effects. This session offers a platform to present research results, and to foster cooperation relating to water and material cycles (C, N, etc.) of terrestrial ecosystems in biological, geophysical, and interactional processes, not only with regard to these projects, but for all other groups doing research under these scientific themes. 

(S3)  Changes in the Greenland ice sheet in the context of interactions with the atmosphere and the ocean
(Convener: Teruo AOKI, Konrad STEFFEN, Shin SUGIYAMA)

Recent observations have shown significant ice mass loss in the Greenland ice sheet. The warming climate is a key driver, but the processes connecting changing climate conditions with ice mass loss are rather complex. For example, warming of the ocean rather than rising air temperature is suspected to be a trigger of retreating outlet glaciers. This session invites contributions in the study of: (1) changes in the Greenland ice sheet in the past, present, and future; (2) physical processes that are driving the recent ice sheet mass loss; and (3) interactions between the ice sheet and the atmosphere and the ocean.

(S4)  International cooperation on Arctic observation and research
(Convener: Tetsuo OHATA, Volker RACHOLD)

International cooperation on research, observation, and also data archiving is essential for understanding the rapidly changing Arctic system. This session will include: (1) status reports on ongoing programs, projects, and activities on Arctic environmental research in various countries as a basis for the discussions on cooperation; and (2) presentations on the promotion of international cooperation such as IASC and the Arctic Council and related projects and initiatives, and programs of the ICSU and WMO and other international bodies relevant to the Arctic region. The session will allow time to discuss gaps and necessities regarding cooperation for better understanding the present and future state of the Arctic.

(S5)  GRENE Arctic project
(Convener: Hiroyuki ENOMOTO , Takashi YAMANOUCHI)

A new Japanese Arctic climate change research project “Rapid Change of the Arctic Climate System and its Global Influences” has begun within the framework of the GRENE (Green Network of Excellence) Program funded by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in 2011. This project involves multi-disciplinary approaches to the Arctic climate system and its influences. It also fosters close collaboration between model and observational studies, as their results complement each other: model results help to interpret observations while observations are used to constrain models and validate model outputs. This session invites presentations on the strategy of new research projects, results from new research, data archiving concerns and necessities, and related scientific activities.

The Arctic is presently monitored from space, through the atmosphere, at the earth’s surface, and down to the ocean floor. An awareness of the need for environmental monitoring is relatively new. Monitoring is understood differently, and its value is often questioned. What makes monitoring different from other observations? Monitoring activities in the Arctic and in similarly sparsely inhabited regions have additional difficulties. The session will look back in history to study the origin and development of monitoring activities, identify present and future objects to be monitored, investigate technical and social requirements for successful monitoring, and formulate what should be monitored specifically in the Arctic and by what means.