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The Arctic Climate System.

Article Excerpt
THE ARCTIC CLIMATE SYSTEM. By ROGER BARRY and MARK SERREZE. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2005. Cambridge Atmospheric and Space Science Series. ISBN 0-521-81418-9. xvii + 385 p., maps, b & w illus., colour plates, bib., index. Hardbound. US$130.00.

The Arctic Climate System, by Mark Serreze and Roger Barry, could not be more timely. With the International Polar Year (IPY) and the 2007 IPCC Assessments following close on the heels of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, eyes are turned to the Arctic regions with wonder and concern. Will climate change in the North play out as dramatically as is forecast? To assess what a warmer Earth will mean for sea ice, ice sheets, the hydrological cycle, and storm frequency, we need a solid understanding of the mean climate state and historical climate variability in the Arctic. What are the fundamental dynamics and characteristics of the Arctic climate system?

This text squarely addresses these questions, and I cannot imagine a better pair of authors for this task. Roger Barry, Distinguished Professor at the University of Colorado, has had a tireless research career in Arctic, atmospheric, and cryospheric science. Recent accolades include the 2006 Goldthwait Polar Medal, honouring lifetime achievement in polar research, and the 2007 Francois Emile Matthes Award of the American Association of Geographers, recognizing Barry's 50 years of contributions to cryospheric science. The Arctic Climate System will join two other Barry volumes, Mountain Weather and...