The scientific scope of the Marine Working Group (MWG) shall include but not be limited to any marine natural science or engineering research. The geographic scope of the Marine Working Group shall be the Arctic Ocean and the Subarctic Seas.
Scientific Foci
- Predicting and understanding rapid changes to the Ocean system
- Understanding biological and and ecosystem processes in the Arctic and sub-arctic seas
- Understanding sea ice structure dynamics and the Arctic system
- Understanding geochemical processes in the Arctic and sub-arctic seas
- Enhancing and improving access to the paleo record of the Arctic Ocean through scientific drilling
Cross-cutting
The following three general themes were identified by the Marine WG as important cross-cutting issues which should be addressed by most, if not all, the IASC Working Groups:
- How will the diminishing ice cover affect the carbon cycle in the Arctic and what are the impacts?
- How does the variability of different components of the Arctic system impact the heat and momentum exchanges between ocean, ice, atmosphere and space in a changing climate?
- How will changes in the hydrological cycle impact various components of the Arctic system?
Work Plan
The MWG Work Plan concisely articulates (with scientifically-driven high-level specifics, not programmatic detail) how they will achieve IASC’s vision over 5 years. This plan is meant to help Arctic scientists get involved in IASC activities, and it is expected that it will evolve in the coming years as the MWG continues with its work.
