Comparing recent changes in the Arctic and the Third Pole: linking science and policy

ABSTRACT

The rapid evolution of science compels renewal of a knowledge-based policy, particularly in cold regions. In the Arctic and Himalayas, which have undergone a significant climate change, there is a disconnect between scientific knowledge and the practices of policy. The rising air temperatures, decreasing ice and snow, increasing precipitation and plastic waste pollutants and the Atlantification of the Arctic Ocean by receiving warmer and saltier water from the Atlantic Ocean call for scientific research questions to strengthen the linkage between science and policy. The Arctic amplification can have remote impacts on other parts of the globe through oceanic and atmospheric teleconnections. Hence, researchers need to push the frontiers of scientific discoveries through multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches in the Arctic Ocean along with connections to the Third Pole – Himalayas. The overall objectives of this paper are to explore how a comparison of the Arctic and the Third Pole is valuable for understanding the Arctic and global biogeophysical processes in this epoch of anthropogenic climate change; provide a strong linkage between the Arctic scientific research and its relevance to society; and help advance a more sustainable future for the Arctic, the Third Pole and the globe.

KEYWORDS:

• The Arctic ocean
• the Third pole
• sea ice
• glaciers
• Himalayas
• policy

Acknowledgments

This publication was initiated during the interdisciplinary PhD and Post-doc winter school The Arctic Ocean: atmosphere, ice ocean interactions implications for future climate and human activities hosted by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, India. We would like to acknowledge the mentorship of Ola M. Johannessen (winter school Co-Chairman), Anton Korosov, Einar Olasson, Lasse Pettersson (winter school coordinator), Nuncio Murukesh (winter school coordinator) and Scott Stephensen for their help and guidance during the 2018 International Arctic Winter School held at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Goa, India. Many thanks to Ravichandran (winter school Co-Chairman), director of the centre and S. Rajan and Rasik Ravindra for their valuable time to help improve the manuscript. This is NCPOR Contribution number J-29/2022-23.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India; Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center (NERSC): [Grant Number RCN#261743]; Nansen Scientific Society, Bergen, Norway: [Grant Number 29].