Thu. May 30, 2019 1:45 PM - 3:15 PM 303 (3F)

convener:Yoshifumi Nogi(National Institute of Polar Research), Takuji Nakamura(National Institute of Polar Research), Atsuko Sugimoto(Arctic Research Center, Hokkaido University), Shin Sugiyama(Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University), Chairperson:Tetsuo Sueyoshi(National Institute of Polar Research), Yoshifumi Nogi(National Institute of Polar Research)

This session will be a forum to discuss the scientific program and the framework of the future integrated multidisciplinary study focused on the polar regions, and to consider how a large-scale science plan for Polar Science should be formulated. One of the focus of the discussion will be on the importance in the Master Plan 2020, which will be announced by the Science Council of Japan.
The changes in the polar regions are essential for future projection of the Earth system. The Antarctic and Greenland ice sheet holds most of the ice and is the largest freshwater reservoir on the Earth, which is equivalent to about 70 m height of sea level. Moreover, dense seawater is produced in the polar regions and formed bottom water that drives the thermohaline circulation. Changes in the thermohaline circulation are considered to be a large impact on the global environment. Therefore, the polar regions are the key components that control global climate and sea level changes. However, the polar regions are still poorly unknown components in the Earth system and the systematic various field of scientific observations is required. From such background, the convener believes that polar science is one of the important topics which should be proposed to the Master Plan 2020.