SEARCH - The Study of Environmental Arctic Change

SEARCH is a U.S. interagency system-scale, cross-disciplinary, long-term arctic research program that spans arctic terrestrial, oceanic, atmospheric, and social systems. 

SEARCH implementation activities are grouped by three objectives: 

Observing Change, Understanding Change, and Responding to Change. 

SEARCH is connected to the international scientific community through key activities involving arctic change. 

SEARCH science questions include:

1. How can we best characterize the composition, scales, and persistence of the recent complex of changes? 

2. Are the climatic components of the Arctic Change consistent with natural variability, or are they anthropogenic? 

3. What are the critical interactions among ocean, ice, land, and atmosphere as they relate to Arctic Change? 

4. How are global climate and Arctic Change coupled? 

5. How does Arctic Change interact with biogeochemical cycles? 

6. What changes in populations, biodiversity, key species, and living resources are associated with Arctic Change? 

7. What are likely effects of Arctic Change on the health and well being of arctic residents? 

8. How can we characterize the adaptive responses of arctic communities? 

9. How might Arctic Change affect people outside the Arctic?

More information on SEARCH can be found at the SEARCH Project Office at ARCUS here.