As a result of a warming Arctic, there is an increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as marine and terrestrial heatwaves, rain-on-snow events, and intense windstorms. Such extreme weather events can trigger cascading, multidisciplinary impacts across the Arctic system. This session bridges the gap between physical mechanisms and on-the-ground realities by investigating the physical drivers of extreme events within oceanic, atmospheric, and cryospheric systems, alongside their wide spectrum of impacts. These impacts range from rapid physical shifts, such as enhanced meltwater runoff, sudden sea-ice loss, and snowpack depletion, to societal and ecological disruptions, including infrastructure damage, traffic disruptions, and threats to reindeer herding and Indigenous livelihoods.
We welcome submissions based on modeling, observations, or interdisciplinary frameworks, such as those incorporating local and Indigenous knowledge systems, that investigate extreme weather phenomena, their physical drivers, and their direct and cascading impacts on the Arctic environment, ecosystems, and local communities.