Arctic Council Working Group Extreme Events
Extreme events can significantly impact ecosystems, physical landscapes and arctic societies, sometimes tipping ecological balances and changing ecosystem dynamics. CAFF and INTERACT have developed a tool to inspire long-term monitoring of extreme events and their impacts on arctic ecosystems. The tool describes various extreme events, providing suggested definitions and recommend methodology for monitoring both the extreme events themselves and their potential ecosystem impacts. Guidance on monitoring extreme events is based on existing literature and expert knowledge, while ecosystem impact guidance builds on prioritized Focal Ecosystem Components (FECs) from existing CBMP monitoring plans. Explore individual extreme events below.
The tool is not an internationally agreed protocol but represents a step towards standardizing extreme event monitoring efforts. We hope the tool will evolve over time as new knowledge emerges and scientific fields develop standardized protocols.