Rain on Snow and Extreme Precipitation Events across the Arctic and their Impacts on Social-Ecological Systems

The Arctic Rain on Snow Study seeks to better understand the distribution, severity, and changes in the frequency of rain on snow events and melt-refreeze events in the Arctic and their impacts, with a focus on hunting and in particular, reindeer herding livelihoods.
When rain falls on an existing cover of snow, followed by cold temperatures, or falls as freezing rain, it can leave a hard crust. There is growing evidence that such events are becoming more common in the rapidly warming Arctic, and it is increasingly recognized that they can have pronounced impacts on Arctic wildlife, domesticated reindeer, and human activities, like travel.