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The Arctic Amplification and Its Impact: A Synthesis through Satellite Observations

Authors :
Igor Esau
Lasse H. Pettersson
Mathilde Cancet
Bertrand Chapron
Alexander Chernokulsky
Craig Donlon
Oleg Sizov
Andrei Soromotin
Johnny A. Johannesen
Source :
Remote Sensing, Vol 15, Iss 5, p 1354 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

Arctic climate change has already resulted in amplified and accelerated regional warming, or the Arctic amplification. Satellite observations have captured this climate phenomenon in its development and in sufficient spatial details. As such, these observations have been—and still are—indispensable for monitoring of the amplification in this remote and inhospitable region, which is sparsely covered with ground observations. This study synthesizes the key contributions of satellite observations into an understanding and characterization of the amplification. The study reveals that the satellites were able to capture a number of important environmental transitions in the region that both precede and follow the emergence of the apparent amplification. Among those transitions, we find a rapid decline in the multiyear sea ice and subsequent changes in the surface radiation balance. Satellites have witnessed the impact of the amplification on phytoplankton and vegetation productivity as well as on human activity and infrastructure. Satellite missions of the European Space Agency (ESA) are increasingly contributing to amplification monitoring and assessment. The ESA Climate Change Initiative has become an essential provider of long-term climatic-quality remote-sensing data products for essential climate variables. Still, such synthesis has found that additional efforts are needed to improve cross-sensor calibrations and retrieval algorithms and to reduce uncertainties. As the amplification is set to continue into the 21st century, a new generation of satellite instruments with improved revisiting time and spectral and spatial resolutions are in high demand in both research and stakeholders’ communities.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20724292
Volume :
15
Issue :
5
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Remote Sensing
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.856ba0c1d34a4ed1a48ce7a62eeea3ce
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15051354