Developing Arctic modelling and observing capabilities for long-term environmental studies (DAMOCLES)

Background

DAMOCLES is an integrated ice-atmosphere-ocean monitoring and forecasting system designed for observing, understanding and quantifying climate changes in the Arctic.  DAMOCLES is specifically concerned with the potential for a significantly reduced sea ice cover, and the impacts this might have on the environment and on human activities, both regionally and globally. 

DOMACLES aims to observe, understand and model the role of the Arctic Climate system in the disappearance of the Arctic Perennial Sea-Ice and the regional-to-global impacts of that extreme climate event on climatic variability (AO/NAO), the hydrologic cycle, the Meriditional Overturning Circulation (MOC), indigenous people, marine ecosystems, weather patterns (storms track), northern sea routes and marine transportation, oil and gas production, large-scale industrialisation versus resilience and sustainability and to access the socio-economic consequences for Europe of such an extreme climate event.

Objectives

DAMOCLES main objectives are observing, understanding and quantifiying climate changes in the Arctic.          

This will be achieved by:

• Synoptic observations of the Arctic Ocean Sea-Ice Pack.
• Synoptic observations of atmospheric key processes occurring in the Arctic Ocean.
• Synoptic observations of the Arctic Ocean circulation and key processes.
• Integration and assimilation of observations with large-scale models.

Policy development

• DAMOCLES will strengthen the scientific and socio-economic assessments, tools and management practices for the future orientation for sustainable development:
• DAMOCLES will provide a cost-cutting dimension between Sustainable development and Transport priorities by specifically including Impact studies.
• DAMOCLES will contribute to strengthening scientific and technological capabilities needed to understand climate change and thus preserve the ecosystems and biodiversity in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions.
• DAMOCLES will contribute significantly to the objectives of the European Environmental Technologies Action Plan and the European Strategy for Environment and Health by reinforcing competitiveness.
• DAMOCLES will be a main vector for developing international cooperation, in particular with USA, Russia, Canada, Japan and China in order to achieve common strategies on global changes.

Cefas contribution

To jointly investigate the time-varying processes by which the signals of Arctic change are transferred through the sub-Arctic seas to lower latitudes where they have their main societal and climatic impact.  This involves:

• Providing the first continuing measure of gross and net freshwater flux for comparisons with regional changes in wind and ocean circulation.

Partners

This project involves 45 partners from 11 European countries and the Russian Federation.