Study of Environmental Arctic Change
SEARCH is an interagency effort to understand the nature, extent, and future development of the system-scale change presently seen in the Arctic. These changes are occurring across terrestrial, oceanic, atmospheric and human systems, including:
- increased air temperatures over most of the Arctic;
- changing ocean circulation and rising coastal sea level;
- reduced sea ice cover; and
- thawing permafrost.
The core aim of SEARCH is to understand the recent and ongoing complex of interrelated pan-arctic changes. These changes are affecting ecosystems, living resources, and the human population, and are impacting local and global economic activities.