RACER Rapid assessment of CiRCum-aRCtiC eCosystem ResilienCe

The RACER method shifts Arctic conservation from focusing on current vulnerabilities to identifying 'key features'—areas of exceptional biological productivity and diversity—that act as sources of ecological strength. By analyzing these features and the drivers that fuel them, RACER predicts whether these sources of resilience will persist through the 21st century using General Circulation Models (GCMs). The guide provides a framework for mapping these features and includes pilot case studies for the Beaufort Continental Coast and Shelf (marine) and Eastern Chukotka (terrestrial) to illustrate how the tool can be used to safeguard ecosystem services and biodiversity in a rapidly warming region.

• The RACER method identifies 'key features'—specific land or sea features like mountains, wetlands, and polynyas—that exhibit exceptional productivity and diversity compared to the average for their ecoregion, serving as local sources of resilience that fortify the wider regional ecosystem.
• Ecosystem resilience in the Arctic is driven by two primary 'engines': productivity, which is the ability of food webs to capture solar energy, and biological diversity, which allows ecosystems to adapt to environmental shocks without radically altering their identity.
• RACER uses a two-part process: first, it maps current key features using satellite remote sensing, scientific literature, and expert evaluation; second, it tests the persistence of these features through 2100 using General Circulation Models (GCMs) to predict changes in climate variables.
• In the Beaufort Continental Coast and Shelf marine case study, eight key features were identified, including the Barrow Canyon and polynya, Mackenzie Canyon, and the Mackenzie Plume, with most assessed as having a medium-to-high likelihood of remaining sources of resilience through 2100.
• In the Eastern Chukotka terrestrial case study, nine key features were identified, including middle mountain ridges and intermountain valleys. While mountain ridges are expected to remain resilient due to their topography, coastal lowlands are predicted to have a low likelihood of persistence due to permafrost melt and drying.
• The tool emphasizes a functional approach to conservation, targeting the physical, climatic, and biological drivers (such as soil type, currents, and sea ice) that enable ecosystem functioning rather than focusing solely on individual species or habitats.
• The Arctic is experiencing rapid changes, with summer sea ice area decreasing by one-tenth every ten years and over 90 percent of near-surface permafrost forecast to disappear by 2100.

APA

Christie, P., & sommerkorn, M. (2012). RACER Rapid assessment of CiRCum-aRCtiC eCosystem ResilienCe. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/688/4fwihbrx76_racer_handbook.pdf

Chicago

Christie, peter, and martin sommerkorn. RACER Rapid assessment of CiRCum-aRCtiC eCosystem ResilienCe. WWF International, 2012. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/688/4fwihbrx76_racer_handbook.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Christie |first1=peter |last2=sommerkorn |first2=martin |title=RACER Rapid assessment of CiRCum-aRCtiC eCosystem ResilienCe |publisher=WWF International |date=March 2012 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/688/4fwihbrx76_racer_handbook.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{christie2012racer, author = {Christie, peter and sommerkorn, martin}, title = {{RACER Rapid assessment of CiRCum-aRCtiC eCosystem ResilienCe}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2012}, month = mar, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/688/4fwihbrx76_racer_handbook.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }