This book provides the reader with an overview of the Arctic climate system, its links with the global climate system, and the pronounced environmental changes unfolding in the region. It begins with a historical perspective, addressing the early exploration of the Arctic, the growth of systematic observations, and the advent of the modern research era. This is followed by a discussion of the basic physical and climatic characteristics of the Arctic. Later chapters address atmospheric and ocean energy budgets, atmospheric circulation, the surface energy budget, the hydrologic budget, atmosphere–ocean–sea ice interactions, and regional climate regimes. Modeling is an important tool in Arctic climate research and is accorded its own chapter. Following a review of past climates (paleoclimates), the book closes with a brief assessment of uncertainties in the Arctic’s future.

Arctic science has advanced greatly since the first edition of this book was published in 2005. This is reflected in extensive updates to much of the material. Change has become such an integral part of the Arctic climate system that it can no longer be largely relegated to a single chapter. As such, this second edition weaves issues of Arctic change throughout the text. In turn, based on the first author’s use of this textbook in the classroom, some less useful or dated material has been removed, and the presentation of some topics has been changed, hopefully for the better. While this book is targeted at advanced undergraduate and graduate students, the material should be accessible to anyone with an interest in the Arctic and a basic understanding of climate science. The text contains numerous illustrations to help the reader and extensive references to research papers on specific topics.