The Paleoclimates of Arctic Lakes and Estuaries (PALE): goals and rationale of an international research program

Abstract

Paleoclimates of Arctic Lakes and Estuaries (PALE) is an initiative of the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs (OPP) ‘Arctic System Science’ global change program. PALE aims at developing an international, integrated study to analyze lake and estuarine cores, with the view of evaluating the causes and consequences of arctic climate change over the last 2000, the last 20 000, and the last 150 000 years of earth history. Research emphasizes modern calibration of proxy climatic indicators with strong chronological control. Data collection and description will be guided by, and will guide, a parallel program with the GENESIS Atmospheric Global Circulation Model (AGCM), with a view of assessing the critical boundary conditions in the arctic system and the location of regions especially sensitive to changes in climate on the different time-scales of interest. Research under the PALE directives commenced in 1991; ongoing research involves a series of co-operative programs in arctic lands, especially Alaska, arctic Canada, arctic Russia, and Iceland.