Overall Goal

The Thematic Network consists of research, research infrastructure and education activities aimed at resolving sustainability questions in the circumpolar Arctic - boreal regions:

  • to understand the Earth system and the influence of environmental and societal changes in pristine and industrialized of the Arctic - boreal environments
  • to determine the processes relevant to climate change, demographic development and use of energy resources in the Arctic - boreal regions
  • to develop the new data sets and archives with continuous, comprehensive data flows in a joint manner
  • to implement the validated and harmonized data products in models of appropriate spatial and temporal scales and topical focus
  • to educate the next generation of multidisciplinary experts and scientists capable of finding tools for solving grand challenges
  • to increase public awareness of climate change impacts in the circumpolar arctic-boreal regions

Main Activities

  • providing opportunities to take part of a scientific assessment; for example J. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics PEEX Special Issue,
  • providing contacts to the Northern Eurasian in situ observations stations enabling joint measurement campaigns and contribution to the development of the measurement concepts in a frame of European environmental ESFRIs and GEOSS Cold Regions is situ component.
  • organizing of special courses, winter/summer schools, workshops and conferences
  • providing partnerships for educating next generation of multidisciplinary PhDs

Current and Planned Activities

Courses in 2018:

Sea Ice Ecology, Nuuk, Greenland, February 2018:

The aim of the course is to give the students insight into and understanding of the most important physical, optical and chemical factors relevant for sea ice ecosystems and give them an understanding of sea ice as an ecosystem with its own specific matter and energy transport pathways. The course takes place in Nuuk and run in February. The course is arranged by Aarhus University and awards 5 ECTS.

Climate Forcing, Effects and Adaptations in the Arctic, Nuuk/Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, February-April 2018:

The objective of the course is for the students to obtain knowledge and understanding of the climate forcing and effects in the Arctic. They will obtain understanding of the sensitivity of the cryosphere (snow, ice and permafrost) to the climate change and the effects on the living conditions in the Arctic. Furthermore they will gain perception of the most important effects on the ecosystems and climate activated feedback processes and an understanding of how the natural environment changes and how this affect the society. The course takes place in Nuuk starting in end February and end in start April. The course is arranged by Aarhus University and awards 10 ECTS.

Lise Lotte Sorensen can be contacted for more information on the courses.

Furthermore, the TN is currently involved in:

  • The 3rd PEEX Science Conference & The 7th PEEX Meeting, held in Moscow, Russia, 19-22 September 2017.
  • IIASA Workshop at the PEEX Conference on Systems Analysis for the Arctic, 22 September, 09:00-15:00. The aim of the workshop is to present systems analysis case studies applicable to the Arctic (invited presentations), and to discuss joint work on the Arctic within the workshop thematic framework. The Workshop is integrated to the PEEX Conference with session/s and presentations during the conference introducing the Workshop topic, and is open to all conference participants. 

Stay up to date with the Arctic Boreal Hub:

Education contact:

University of Helsinki:
Antti Lauri
Taina Ruuskanen
Pauli Paasonen

Communications contact:

University of Helsinki:
Stephany Mazon

Administration contact:

University of Helsinki:
Alla Borisova