Changes in arctic climate and central U.S. weather patterns: Is there a link?

Over 70 climate and water resource professionals from around the country gathered on 10-12 November, 2015, to discuss how the significant climatic and environmental changes being observed in the Arctic may be affecting changes in mid-latitude weather. The workshop was organized around a series of plenary sessions to discuss the Arctic connection to changes in extreme weather in the mid-latitudes and the implications of these changes on the water regimes and agricultural production systems in the Midwest region. Discussion centered on how to build greater resilience in these systems, and the implications of climate change on agriculture and water management in the region. During the plenary sessions, it was indicated that research suggests a rapidly warming Arctic will favor more persistent weather patterns, leading to longer dry, hot, wet, and cold spells, day-to-day weather variability will decrease while extremes causing 'weather whiplash' will increase, and Arctic amplification will continue to augment some natural patterns to foster more extreme weather events. From an agricultural perspective, creating a greater resilience to drought and other extreme events requires a soil to supply water and nutrients throughout the life cycle of the plant, a cropping sys�tem that can withstand the stresses imposed by more variable and extreme weather, and an integration of genetics and management to offset the environ�mental impacts. Enhancing soil health will increase the capacity of the agroecosystem to be resilient. The farm bill approved by the U.S. Congress was brought up frequently in discussions during the workshop within the context of changing the focus of the legislation to recognize the importance of adapting to a changing climate and to provide support and in�centives for changing current management practices.