Work Packages
WP1: Observed ocean-ice/snow-atmosphere processes: improved knowledge and existing model shortcomings
WP1 will produce integrated knowledge of how sea ice and its snow cover are coupled to oceanic, atmospheric and biogeochemical processes using ongoing and existing observations (in-situ and satellite) and existing model output.
We use a multidisciplinary approach to gain new understanding of key polar processes and evaluate their current representation in models and produce recommendations for how to improve model parameterizations (which are worked with in WP2).
Further, WP1 will also develop and improve sea ice related satellite data products.
WP2: Delivering improved ocean-ice/snow-atmosphere processes in models
WP2 will build on the improved understanding of ocean-ice-atmosphere (OIA) processes obtained from WP1 to design novel model formulations. The conceptual descriptions will be translated into mathematical models and code components of existing numerical models of various complexity, from simpler reduced-dimension representations to fully interactive climate models, which will be further evaluated in WP3.
Dedicated tasks will focus on both the physical and biogeochemical components of the coupled OIA system for both polar regions. This will include parameterizations of key polar processes affecting boundary layer dynamics like turbulent/radiative exchanges and momentum transfer through different ice types, as well as augmented descriptions of polar aerosols, aerosol precursor emissions and aerosol-cloud interactions. Improved parameterizations of light penetration and nutrient fluxes through the ocean-ice will be developed to improve the currently poor representation of metabolic responses of the biological community to polar stressors.
WP3: Polar-lower latitude interactions and teleconnections within the Earth system
WP3 will quantify processes that drive interactions and teleconnections between the lower latitudes (e.g. sub-polar, temperate and tropical regions) and the polar regions, incorporating model improvements from WP2. This is achieved through a combination of dedicated ESM and GCM (general circulation model) experiments and comprehensive analyses of recent and upcoming multi-model output (e.g. new large-ensemble datasets).
In addition, WP3 will provide recommendations and constraints for WP4 on how physically/chemically more comprehensive process descriptions can be used to produce more robust and reliable projections.
WP4: Improved projections of future polar and global climate, feedbacks and impacts
WP4 will generate revised climate projections for selected future scenarios using global climate and Earth system models exploiting improved chemical and physical descriptions developed within WP2 and guided by model experiments performed in WP3. A comparison of existing and new global climate projections will establish the effects of improved process understanding on the past and future evolution of polar and global climates. We also use new and existing projections to assess climate hazards and climate change impacts in order to improve the capability to adapt to and respond to polar and global environmental changes.
Initial results and plans to study hazards and impacts were also introduced in the first public CRiceS webinar "Impacts of climate change in polar regions: Linking sensitivities to hazards for improved understanding of climate risk", a recording is available here.
WP5: Data integration & management
A data management team will ensure that observational and model results are in appropriate formats and are following best practices and guidelines on data to be findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable, quality-checked, documented and available for project partners, as well as stakeholders, the science community and for regional/international assessments ( AMAP, IPCC, etc.).
Project data (observational synthesis, model results, codes) will be made publicly available according to the Horizon 2020 Open Research Data Pilot, utilizing EUDAT services and emerging European Open Science Cloud platforms.
WP6: Engagement, communication, project clustering
This WP is dedicated to knowledge transfer, public outreach activities, stakeholder engagement, as well as collaboration and cross-fertilization between CRiceS and research networks and other ongoing projects.
WP6 will synthesize results obtained within CRiceS to provide targeted information for stakeholders, including local and indigenous communities, the Arctic Council, The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, and policy makers.
WP7: Project management & coordination
WP7 operates internal communication, workshops and project management.
CRiceS management will promote equal opportunities and participation of underrepresented groups including gender equity, particularly in positions of leadership (50% female leadership at present) as well as opportunities for media presence/events.
