Arctic Climate Change: Environmental Systems and Impacts

Rick Thoman Jr. serves as a Climate Specialist at the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP) within the International Arctic Research Center, where he has established himself as Alaska's trusted source for climate information after more than 40 years in weather and climate across private, public, and academic sectors. His impact extends through multiple communication channels, including weekly radio spots across Alaska communities, newspaper columns, and social media platforms where he shares critical climate and weather information. His expertise has garnered widespread recognition, with his insights appearing in hundreds of news stories across 20 Alaskan communities, all U.S. states, and 42 countries worldwide. Through various platforms including the Alaska and Arctic Climate Newsletter on Substack, Mastodon posts about Alaska climate and Indigenous cultures, and dedicated Facebook groups, he reaches thousands of followers with tailored weather and climate information. Beyond media engagement, he conducts numerous presentations and webinars annually, including keynotes at major conferences such as the Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference and Alaska Forum on Environment. His dedication to climate science communication earned him recognition from NOAA after his 30-year career with the National Weather Service, highlighting his continued efforts to improve climate services in Alaska.

Dr. John Walsh serves as Chief Scientist at the International Arctic Research Center and holds the position of President's Professor of Global Change at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he has established himself as one of the most authoritative experts in modern Arctic climate change. His scholarly impact includes over 300 peer-reviewed publications, and he has authored significant portions of major climate reports including the Arctic Report Card, State of the Climate, National Climate Assessment, and IPCC assessments. His expertise spans Arctic climate, weather patterns, climate change adaptation, and sea ice dynamics, with particular focus on climate modeling and addressing regional vulnerabilities. His exceptional contributions to Arctic science have earned him prestigious recognitions including the 2022 Mohn Prize, the 2016 International Arctic Science Committee Medal, and the 2009 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award

Dr. Tom Ballinger serves as a Research Assistant Professor at the International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he has established himself as a leading expert in Arctic weather and climate dynamics. His research portfolio focuses on high-latitude atmospheric circulation patterns and their impacts on Alaska and Greenland's climate systems, with particular emphasis on interactions between Arctic sea ice and the atmosphere at local to large scales. After completing his PhD from Kent State University in 2015, he has contributed significantly to Arctic climate science, as evidenced by his role in major climate assessments including the State of the Climate report, where his expertise helps document unprecedented changes in Arctic surface temperatures and atmospheric patterns. His work intersects with glacial ice-atmosphere processes, and he actively studies the relationship between Arctic amplification and midlatitude severe winter weather. As a recognized scholar in his field, his research has garnered over 2,000 citations, highlighting his substantial contributions to understanding Arctic change and its broader implications for global climate systems.

Don Moore serves as the Director of the Alaska Environmental Science and Service Integration Center (AESIC) at NOAA's National Weather Service Alaska Region, where he leads crucial initiatives to integrate environmental science and weather services across Alaska's diverse communities. His role encompasses overseeing the transformation of weather information delivery systems and strengthening stakeholder engagement, particularly focusing on rural and Native Alaskan communities' unique needs. Under his leadership, AESIC has modernized weather service delivery methods while maintaining essential services, successfully adapting traditional weather broadcasts to contemporary digital formats and ensuring that weather information remains accessible and actionable for decision-making in remote areas. His expertise in environmental science and weather services has been instrumental in developing innovative approaches to community engagement and service delivery, helping bridge the gap between complex meteorological data and practical community needs across Alaska's vast and varied landscape.

Dr. William (Bill) Simpson serves as Professor of Chemistry at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Geophysical Institute, where he leads groundbreaking research in Arctic radical chemistry and atmospheric processes. His work through the Simpson Research Laboratory employs advanced spectroscopic instruments and laser-based technologies to investigate how radical chemistry affects Arctic pollutants, including organics and mercury, in a rapidly changing Arctic environment. After earning his B.A. from Swarthmore College and Ph.D. from Stanford University, he has established himself as a leading expert in snow chemistry and Arctic atmospheric research, with significant contributions to understanding halogen chemistry, snow physics, and Arctic pollution. As the principal investigator of the ALPACA project, he investigates pollution processes under extreme Arctic conditions, particularly focusing on how Arctic cities like Fairbanks manage severe wintertime pollution challenges. His research has proven crucial for understanding the fate of pollutants in the Arctic environment, especially regarding fine particulate matter and its health implications, while his innovative use of laser-based and passive optical absorption technologies has advanced our understanding of trace gases and reactive radicals in Arctic environments.