Center for Ice-Free Arctic Research (CIFAR)

CIFAR brings together experts in oceanography, glaciology, coastal ecology, and limnology to explore the impacts of melting ice and increased freshwater influx in the Arctic.

The most characteristic feature of the Arctic is ice, but summers with no sea ice are now expected in most of the Arctic Ocean within a decade. The ocean is also rapidly freshening due to melting of sea ice and glaciers, increased precipitation and run-off from the land. This is certain to cause major changes in marine ecosystems and massively alter global climate, sea level, and ocean circulation. Yet, we have severe deficits in our understanding of freshening that limit our ability to comprehend and predict rapid climate changes.

The center examines how these changes influence oceanic physical and chemical properties, marine ecosystems, and regional currents. By integrating advanced infrastructure, field data, satellite observations, and modeling, CIFAR aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how freshwater input, ice loss, and biogeochemical shifts are reshaping the coastal Arctic Ocean – with far-reaching implications for regions further south.