Scaling StudieS in arctic SyStem Science and Policy SuPPort a call-to-reSearch a rePort from the u.S. arctic reSearch commiSSion

a call-to-reSearch a rePort from the u.S. arctic reSearch commiSSion coVer PhotoS toP left to bottom right | belugas in the bering Sea seen during the april 2006 u.S. fish and Wildlife Service (uSfWS) Walrus Survey (photo by uSfWS/brad benter). | Polar Sea and Louis S. St. Laurent at end of arctic ocean crossing, north of Svalbard (photo by Knut Aagaard). | Sampling across ice field on the Arctic ocean (photo by Knut aagaard). | Sunset (photo by leopoldo llinas). | Sitting on top of submarine after breaking through the ice (photo by bernard coakley). bacKground | iceberg in the Svalbard islands, norway (iStockphoto). commission's principal duties are: (1) to establish the national policy, priorities, and goals necessary to construct a federal program plan for basic and applied scientific research with respect to the Arctic, including natural resources and materials, physical, biological and health sciences, and social and behavioral sciences; (2) to promote arctic research, to recommend arctic research policy, and to communicate research and policy recommendations to the President and the congress; (3) to work with the national Science foundation as the lead agency responsible for implementing the arctic research policy and to support cooperation and collaboration throughout the federal government; (4) to give guidance to the interagency arctic research Policy committee to develop national Arctic research projects and a five-year plan to implement those projects; and (5) to interact with arctic residents, international arctic research programs and organizations, and local institutions, including regional governments to obtain the broadest possible view of arctic research needs. a call-to-reSearch a rePort from the u.S. arctic reSearch commiSSion edited by charleS J. VöröSmarty, a. daVid mcguire, and John e. hobbie acKnoWledgementS the content of this report relied on input from a broad spectrum of experts who contributed substantial time and personal energy into its preparation. the u.S. arctic research commission greatly appreciates the efforts of the following collaborators: *Charles Vörösmarty, the city college of new york/cuny