Russian dilemma for global arctic science.

Area of Science:

• Climate Science
• Arctic Research
• Geopolitics

Background:

• Polar regions, especially the Arctic, are critical for understanding global climate change.
• The Arctic contains half of the Arctic and much of the world's permafrost zone within Russian territory.
• Geopolitical tensions have disrupted scientific collaboration between Russia and Western countries, creating data gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the urgency of resuming scientific collaboration and data flow from Russia for global Arctic science.
• To emphasize the need for continued efforts to foster peer-to-peer connections and institutional cooperation.
• To address the challenges posed by the increasing disconnection of the Arctic.

Main Methods:

• The study is a perspective piece, arguing for the necessity of international scientific collaboration.
• It reviews the impact of geopolitical tensions on Arctic research data sharing.
• It emphasizes the importance of addressing data gaps for accurate climate change predictions.

Main Results:

• Isolation due to geopolitical tensions is causing significant data gaps in Arctic research.
• These data gaps hinder accurate predictions of climate change impacts on natural and societal systems.
• The urgency is amplified by the preparations for the fifth International Polar Year.

Conclusions:

• Resuming practical knowledge exchange and research data flow from Russia is essential for global Arctic science.
• Despite sanctions, fostering peer-to-peer connections and institutional cooperation is vital.
• Addressing these challenges is crucial to tackle the grand challenges of global climate change.