Beyond the shore: sea-ice change and lake ecosystems in the Arctic

The land and the sea are quintessentially tied together via the global hydrological cycle and atmospheric circulation patterns, yet significant disconnect persists in both research and management of land and marine ecosystems. Future intensification of the hydrological cycle in the Arctic and the increased interaction of the sea surface with the atmosphere will further enhance ecosystem interaction across the land-sea boundaries. The overarching objective of this project is to develop an understanding of the natural, long-term coupling of arctic sea-ice cover and lake ecosystem functioning on adjacent land in complementary spatial scales. The project will explore the atmospheric mechanism of this link by reconstructing moisture balance trends and probing their linkages to the quantity and quality of production.