An Integrated Assessment of the Impacts of Climate Variability on the Alaskan North Slope Coastal Region

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The research project examines ways to utilize climate information gained by the scientific community in conjunction with the traditional knowledge held by people native to the Arctic as a determinate for making decisions in response to changing climate conditions in the far north. A range of scenarios for changing climate conditions such as decreased sea ice, changing frequency of extreme weather events, storm surges, and other environmental factors will be used to predict the probability of variable environmental conditions that could lead to decisions in the local communities about management of resources, marine transportation options, and coastal construction. Local stakeholder groups will be used to identify how socioeconomic decision-making might be done in response to various probabilities for changing climate on a variety of time scales. An interdisciplinary education project will integrate natural and social sciences with specific application to arctic climate and socioeconomic issues. The project will contribute to the Human dimensions of the Arctic system (HARC) initiative of the Arctic System Science Program.