Fostering collaboration between NOAA, the University of Alaska, and others doing research in Alaska and its associated Arctic regions

Arctic Climate Impact Assessment

An international project under the auspices of the Arctic Council and the International Arctic Science Committee, the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) was tasked with evaluating and synthesizing knowledge on climate variability, climate change, and increased ultraviolet radiation and their consequences in the arctic regions. The results of the assessment were released in November 2004 at the ACIA International Scientific Symposium in Reykjavik, Iceland, and published in a summary report (Impacts of a Warming Arctic) followed by a 1042-page ACIA scientific report. An ACIA Policy Document was prepared by the Arctic Council and presented at the Fourth Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting, Reykjavik, 24 November 2004.

An ACIA Secretariat was established at the University of Alaska Fairbanks to help in the implementation of the project. It was operated by CIFAR staff and provided scientific leadership, organization for planning and assessment meetings and coordination for publishing the assessment. Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

More information about ACIA may be found at www.acia.uaf.edu.