Many of those dollars go to studies on the Arctic's climate, fisheries, and wildlife. Dr. Neal Lane, the head of NSF, says the agency has a special interest in Alaska and the Arctic. I mean, we don't have a Texas program. We don't have a Nevada program. Well, I think we all really know the answer to that.
Arctic research has compelling interest and importance well beyond the Arctic region.
The globe is increasingly one region of the universe. So what goes on in the Arctic has a lot to do with people elsewhere around the globe and vise versa. Lane says the Arctic's oceans and atmosphere are especially critical to scientists' understanding of global issues such as climate warming. We don't know how large, that's why the research is going on. Specific examples are impacts on fisheries, resources such as oil and gas, maritime transportation, possible sea-level rises along coasts around the world.