Tipping Elements, Irreversibility and Abrupt Change: Permafrost

This discussion series aims to advance the knowledge about tipping elements, irreversibility, and abrupt changes in the Earth system. It supports efforts to increase consistency in treatment of tipping elements in the scientific community, develop a research agenda, and design joint experiments and ideas for a Tipping Element Model Intercomparison Project (TipMip).

This discussion series is a joint activity of the Analysis, Integration, and Modeling of the Earth System (AIMES) global research project of Future Earth, the Earth Commission Working Group 1 Earth and Human Systems Intercomparison Modelling Project (EHSMIP) under the Global Commons Alliance and the Safe Landing Climates Light House Activity of World Climate Research Program (WCRP).

This event in the series focuses on permafrost.

The events (60-90min each) will be held monthly and are open to the public.

• Introduction and objectives of the webinar – Victor Brovkin (5min)
• An update on permafrost tipping (tbc) – Hanne Hvidtfeld Christiansen (20min)
• Model insight on permafrost change (tbc) -Gustaf Hugelius (20min)
• Questions and discussion (20min)

Speaker Information

Professor Hanne Hvidtfeld Christiansen, The University Centre in Svalbard

Dr. Hanne H. Christiansen is Professor in physical geography.

Her main research topic is periglacial geomorphology with focus on permafrost and its climatic controls.

She is the coordinator of the ‘Permafrost Observatory Project: A Contribution to the Thermal State of Permafrost in Norway and Svalbard’ (TSP Norway) IPY research project.

Gustaf Hugelius, Stockholm University

Dr Hugelius is Senior Lecturer, Department of Physical Geography at Stockholm University. He is Vice Director of the Bolin Centre of Climate Research and so-leads the research unit Landscape, Environment and Geomatics.