Elvia Thompson/Etta Jane Pagani
Headquarters, Washington October 14, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-1696/1034)

NOTE TO EDITORS: N03-101

CHANGES IN ARCTIC ICE AFFECT LIFE AROUND THE GLOBE

NASA satellite observations show there has been
considerable warming of the Arctic over the last two decades
and a simultaneous retreat of Arctic sea-ice cover. The impact
of this situation goes far beyond the Arctic region. Although
far removed from the more populated areas of our home planet,
such changes in the Arctic can have significant implications
for the global climate. This is due to the prominent role
Arctic ice cover plays in ocean circulation, atmospheric
processes and the global energy balance.

NASA's Arctic ice (cryospheric) findings and potential
implications are the topic of the next Earth Science Update
Thursday, Oct. 23, at 1 p.m. EDT in NASA Headquarters' James
Webb Auditorium, 300 E Street S.W., Washington.

Panelists will include:

- Dr. Josefino Comiso, research scientist, NASA Goddard Space
Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
- Mark C. Serreze, research scientist, University of Colorado,
Boulder
- Michael Steele, oceanographer, University of Washington,
Seattle
- David H. Rind, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New
York
- Waleed Abdalati, program scientist, NASA Headquarters,
moderator

The program will be carried live on NASA Television with two-
way question-and-answer capability for reporters covering the
event from participating agency centers. NASA TV is broadcast
on AMC-9, transponder 9C, C-band, located at 85 degrees west
longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is
vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz. Audio of the
broadcast will be available on voice circuit at NASA's Kennedy
Space Center, Fla., by calling: 321/867-1220/1240/1260.

For live webcast, click the "Watch NASA TV Now!" link at:
http://www.nasa.gov

For information about NASA's Earth Science Enterprise on the
Internet, visit:
http://www.earth.nasa.gov/


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