The PARCS program (science plan) was the paleoenvironmental component of the NSF Arctic System Science program from 2000 - 2005. From the spring of 2001, PARCS had two specific research goals that are articulated in the ESH Call for proposals for FY 2003:
Modes of climatic variability within the Arctic Researchers will recover and synthesize a network of high-resolution (annual to decadal) Holocene paleoevironmental records that span at least 2,000 years and extend through the 20th century. This network will be used to address questions such as the periodicity and persistence of climatic states within the Arctic and their inter-relation with the global climate system.
Warm Arctic climates and their consequence Researchers will contribute to an understanding of a warmer Arctic by describing the state of marine, terrestrial, and biological systems during periods when the Arctic shifted toward and experienced warmer conditions in the past. Studies will focus on three well-known periods of warmer-than-present conditions: (a) intervals during the last two millennia, (b) other warm intervals of the current interglacial period (Holocene), and (c) the last interglaciation.
The results of this research can be found here:
- The Holocene Thermal Maximum
- 600 years of Arctic Summer Temperature
The ARCSS program and its components, have been transitioned to a new structure. Paleo research remains an integral part of the ARCSS science mission under the new structure. Information on the development of the new structure is available from the ARCSS website.
This website serves as a legacy site for the PARCS (and previously PALE) program. Please browse the syntheses, and data archive. We also encourage you to learn more about Arctic System Sciences.
~> tailwinds! - the parcs steering committee, smo, and dmo