Climate Impacts Research Centre

The CIRC research is focused on increasing the knowledge about Arctic and alpine climate ecosystems, for better understanding of climate related impacts on subarctic and arctic environments, both in terrestrial (land based) and aquatic ecosystems.

Within the field of arctic ecology CIRC researchers conduct projects about how the tree line is affected by climate change; how reindeers influence Fell vegetation, and the spread of fish species in lakes and watercourses – historically as well as in the light of recent climate change.

In biogeochemistry researchers study watercourses in northern areas, as well as effects of thawing permafrost in the tundra and other alpine environments, with regard to emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere and export of carbon to coastal areas.

King Carl XVI Gustaf Professorship in Environmental Science 2017/18 was awarded to John Anderson, professor in physical geography and paleolimnology at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, who will be visiting professor at CIRC these two years.[1][2]

Since 2002 CIRC also gives education, like courses in Arctic ecology, Arctic geoecology and Fell ecology, and a postgraduate program. CIRC is also connected to the international cooperative network University of the Arctic.

CIRC was founded in 1996 and now (2017) employs some 50 researchers; professors, assistant professors, post docs, doctoral students and visiting professors. Most CIRC researchers are also affiliated to Arcum, Arctic Research Centre at Umeå University.[7]

CIRC's first science director was Reiner Giesler, professor in terrestrial ecology, who in 2015 was followed by Jan Karlsson, professor in physical geography with a specialization in aquatic biogeochemistry.[8]

• Swedish Polar Research Secretariat

• CIRC web site – www.arcticcirc.net
• Swedish Infrastructure for Ecosystem Science – SITES