The Role of Sea Ice in the Climate System and Why it Matters

Sea ice grows in the polar oceans when the water surface freezes. Earth’s sea ice covers vary greatly with the seasons and between years, and over the past half century we have documented a loss of sea ice that is unmatched in thousands of years. Sea ice is an important control on Earth’s energy balance and impacts oceanic and atmospheric circulation on a global scale. It also constitutes a critical habitat for local ecosystems and affects human activities in the polar regions and beyond. In this talk, Wagner will discuss the role that sea ice plays in the global climate and the coupling between sea ice loss and global warming. He will also further explore socioeconomic and geopolitical implications of a changing Arctic.

The Weston Roundtable is made possible by a generous donation from Roy F. Weston, a highly accomplished UW-Madison alumnus. Designed to promote a robust understanding of sustainability science, engineering, and policy, these interactive lectures are co-sponsored by the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE), the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Office of Sustainability.