During the 16th meeting of the Council of University of Arctic (UArctic), the members voted to accept the membership nomination for the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences (CAMS). As the result came out, CAMS was admitted as an associate member of UArctic. This will help China greatly in participating in environment protection, waterway passage, researching in Arctic climate variability.
As one of the main tasks of the meeting, the members were going to vote to recruit new full members and associate members. This time the Council of UArctic received 12 associate member nominations and 9 of them are from Chinese universities or research institutions including CAMS, Ocean University of China, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Environmental Development Center of Ministry of Environmental Protection, Polar Research Institute of China, National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center and the First, Second and Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration.
According to Wu Bingyi, the director of the Institute of Climate System, CAMS, UArctic is an international cooperative network based in the circumpolar region, consisting of universities，colleges and other organizations with an interest in promoting education and research in the North. Currently，there are more than 130 members in UArctic from different countries, spanning 24 time zones of the northern hemisphere. (Including eight member countries of Arctic Council and non-member countries. Only states with territory in the Arctic can be members of the Council.) Associate members can participate in projects』 research and development but cannot be the leader. Also, they can attend the council’s meetings and express their ideas or suggestions only without voting rights.
Nowadays, because of the accelerating global warming and arctic sea ice’s melting, northern hemisphere countries raise their concerns about the (future) exploitation of arctic oil and gas energy, waterways passage and traffic and its effect on northern hemisphere’s climate. Therefore, applying to be an associate member of UArctic actively has become an important part for countries to participate in Arctic affairs. CAMS has been working on Arctic and Antarctic exploration and science researches for a long while. Especially, CAMS set up a Yellow River Station in Arctic which collects perennial meteorological observation data and has accumulated a great deal of observation data and research experiences. Meanwhile, CAMS has close cooperation and personnel’s academic exchanges with relevant research institutions from the US and Europe.
Wu Bingyi said that it was a great opportunity for Institute of Climate System to further increase the observation efforts put in Arctic area’s sea,ice and gas and carry out the research on Arctic sea-ice-gas interaction mechanism, numerical simulation and objective forecasting technology. Attention would be paid on ecological environment research too. He stressed that the CAMS would make contributions to China’s participation in Arctic affairs. (Jun. 14)
Reporter Wu Yue
Editor Qi Shuxin