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SCAR Group of Specialists on Global Change and the Antarctic - GLOCHANT

Studies in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are critically important to our understanding of global climate and environmental variability. Several current issues, such as the continuing depletion of stratospheric ozone, the partial disintegration of ice-shelves, and uncertainties in Antarctic ice-sheet mass-balance and potential impact on sea-level, highlight the importance of the region. Regional properties and processes have important global consequences, from atmospheric composition to ocean circulation. In addition, the region is also susceptible to change in our global environment, potentially giving rise to strong feedbacks which could accelerate climatic change. Models of global climate predict the greatest changes at high latitudes. Evidence for the region's involvement in the global environmental system are captured in natural archives such as ice and sediment. Records retrieved from these archives reveal the frequency and magnitude of natural climate variability over long timescales, prior to the few decades of direct observation.

GLOCHANT now includes nine projects that cover physical studies on the ocean-ice-atmosphere system, palaeoenvironmental studies, and ecological studies on impacts and biogeochemistry. The SCAR global change programme has an ongoing interaction with the World Climate Research Programme and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme. This relationship promotes Antarctic global change studies, and relates these to other regional and global studies.

For further information about GLOCHANT contact the Convenor of the Group or visit the GLOCHANT website.

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For current information please see the information pages of the Standing Scientifc Groups on Geosciences, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences

Members of the GLOCHANT Group of Specialists

Acting Convenor

Dr Ad H L Huiskes
Netherlands Institute of Ecology -NIOO-CEMO
Department of Littoral Vegetation
PO Box 140
4400 AC Yerseke
Tel:+31 113 577456
Fax: +31 113 573616
E-mail:a.huiskes@nioo.knaw.nl [huiskes@nioo.knaw.nl]