Coastal erosion due to thawing permafrost and increased wave action threatens several arctic communities, including Shishmaref, Alaska. Photo © Native Village of Shishmaref.
Courtesy of Luci Eningowuk

Welcome to SEARCH

A system-scale, cross-disciplinary, long-term arctic research program

What's New?

From March 17–20, series of three workshops was held to advance planning and implementation of an integrated Arctic Observation System that is responsive to the critical scientific issues of environmental arctic change. {more}

Update:

Presentations from the Integration Workshops are now available.

What's SEARCH?

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.

Currently nearly 70 projects are funded as SEARCH activities by U.S. agencies. Many more SEARCH-related projects are supported through other programs.

More information about SEARCH science, program planning, meetings, and resources are available through the links to the left.