Poster Session

26 March 2025 | 10:00 - 18:00 (MDT)

Open Session - HYBRID

Room: Glen Miller Ballroom - UMC 210 / 212

Session Description:

The ICARP IV Summit Poster Session features posters that were submitted to the various ICARP IV sessions, including both virtual and in-person posters. See the list of posters below.

For poster presenters, please find the poster instructions here.

Poster Presentations:

#30: Two-Eyed Seeing in Arctic Research: Integrating Iñupiaq Perspectives and ERA5 Reanalysis Data in Utqiaġvik, AK — Charlotte Nour Kastoun

Charlotte Nour Kastoun ¹; Meghan Schaberg ²; Laura Landrum ³; Megan Franke ²; Jim Hurrell ²
¹Cornell University; ² Colorado State University; ³ UCAR

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 30

Abstract:

Previous studies address large-scale climate impacts in the Arctic exacerbated by Arctic Amplification, most with little communication with local Indigenous communities or centering of Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK). Here, we explored a different methodology for conducting Arctic research by centering Two-Eyed Seeing, a principle in which Indigenous Knowledge and Western science serve as complementary means of understanding natural phenomena. We synthesize data from 16 interviews with Iñupiaq elders and community members in Utqiaġvik, AK, published on Project Jukebox (University of Alaska Fairbanks) to examine changes in wind strength and direction, sea ice extent, and the timing of ice freeze-up, while understanding implications for whaling and cultural health. We used hourly and monthly data from ERA5 to examine temporal changes in winds and sea ice in the region surrounding Utqiaġvik from 1970-2023. We found that ice freeze-up, which previously began in Oct, now begins in Nov-Dec. We found modest but statistically significant increases in wind speed during those months. We connected these findings with Indigenous observations of thinning ice and the disappearance of Piqaluyak (multi-year ice) and Ivuniq (pressure ridges). We find changes in wind direction and percentage of hourly wind gusts above 20mph (the community’s threshold for safety) during the spring whaling season (Mar–May). Through this work, we highlight the complementary relationship between reanalysis data and community observations of the changing climate’s effect on local sea ice and whaling, and how the two ways of knowing can be bridged to enrich our understanding of the Arctic.
#33: Climate change and soil microbial communities in Arctic Disko Islands — Natalie Hyde

Natalie Hyde ¹; Jana Voriskova ¹
¹Institute of Microbiology Czech Academy of Sciences

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 33

Abstract:

Climate Change is causing rapid shifts with terrestrial soil temperatures. This is leading to the thawing of permafrost, encroachment of shrubs on biocrusts, and increased wildfires events. Changes with a warming climate in the arctic are expected to increase precipitation in winter seasons, induce more rain on snow events, and increase the number of days spent above freezing temperatures. This causes large shifts to soil microbial community structure and function. Rates of soil nutrient turnover, decomposition and enzymatic activity are expected to increase with warming, causing changes to biogeochemical cycles and carbon cycles in the arctic. I am a masters student working under the Czech institute of microbiology in collaboration with the University of Copenhagen to understand how microbial communities are adapting in response to increased temperatures and snowpack under experimental warming sites on Disko Island in Greenland. The project uses genomics and molecular techniques to study shifts in genetic expression of soil bacteria and fungal communities using metatranscriptomics, metagenomics, and enzymatic assays, to assess questions of how microbial communities in the arctic tundra are changing as a driver of soil warming and increased precipitation events. This work has incentives for agriculutral practices to help researches understand which vegetative species is the least vulnerbale towards future climate induced events, and which pathogenic microbes pose the most risk for crop establishment; while also useful for biotechnology and industry given the ability to use microbial communities as a proxy for understanding genetic adaptations and tolerance to extreme environmental stressors.
#47: Assessing urbanization trends and surface heat island dynamics in selected Arctic cities — Liliia Hebryn Baidy

Liliia Hebryn Baidy ¹; Gareth Rees ¹
¹Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: #47

Abstract:

The rising global temperatures and uncontrolled heat waves, largely driven by human activities over the past fifty years, are particularly pronounced in the Arctic a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification. Urbanization in Arctic settlements intensifies the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, where cities generate and retain more heat than rural areas. This has significant environmental and societal implications, including increased greenhouse gas emissions and threats to ecosystems. Our research analyses and compares the spatiotemporal distribution of surface urban heat islands (SUHI) in selected Arctic cities: Tromsø (Norway), Kiruna (Sweden), and Rovaniemi (Finland). We leverage multi-spectral remote sensing data from Landsat, MODIS, and Planet Scope satellites to investigate land surface temperature (LST) trends across diverse land use/land cover (LULC) types over four decades (1984-2024) to determine whether urbanization has influenced regional temperature increases. Additionally, incorporating climate data from the CRU TS dataset reveals broader air temperature trends, providing further insight into climate change. We aim to enhance LST analysis by improving the spatial resolution of maps, using high-resolution imagery to better delineate landscapes. Integrating digital elevation models will also improve temperature accuracy. These findings are critical for understanding the environmental impacts of urban expansion in climate-sensitive Arctic zones. Examining the interaction between urban growth and ecosystems will provide valuable data to inform climate adaptation strategies for Arctic cities. This research highlights the utility of remote sensing for environmental monitoring and urban planning in regions facing rapid climate and anthropogenic changes.
#50: Arctic Winter Heatwaves: An Ever Increasing Phenomenon Challenging the Arctic Environment and Local Communities — Andrea Spolaor

Andrea Spolaor ¹; Roberto Salzano ²; Elena Barbaro ³; Catherine Larose ⁴; Alfonso Saiz-Lopez ⁵; Feiyue Wang ⁶; Ward van Pelt ⁷; Federico Scoto ³; Roberta Pirazzini ⁸; et al.
¹Istituto di Scienze Polari - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISP-CNR); ² Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research - National Research Council; ³ Institute of Polar Sciences - National Research Council; ⁴ Centre national de la recherche scientifique; ⁵ Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; ⁶ University of Manitoba; ⁷ University of Uppsala; ⁸ Finnish Metereological institute

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 50

Abstract:

Rising temperatures are leading to an increase in the frequency of extreme events, when anomalous temperature and rain precipitation occur. Winter heatwaves, sometimes characterized by persistent warm and humid air masses, result in prolonged periods of unusually high temperatures and are often associated with "rain-on-snow" (ROS) events. These phenomena present a significant challenge to the Arctic ecosystem and its inhabitants, impacting environmental, ecological, and socioeconomic aspects. Despite their sporadic nature, winter heatwaves affect both coastal and inland areas of the Arctic, influencing the cryosphere and snow-free terrestrial ecosystems. They alter the snow-albedo feedback, accelerate the hydrological cycle, activate snow and ice microbial communities, increase heat transfer to permafrost, and cause the early remobilization of contaminants deposited during winter. Furthermore, they modify atmospheric dynamics and composition, creating complex interactions within the Arctic climate system. Understanding the effects of these extreme events throughout the snow accumulation and melting periods is crucial for assessing their impact on the winter Arctic environment. Research priorities include the definition of different Arctic Winter Extreme events and associate them to their impact on the Cryosphere. This challenge implies standardization and harmonization of datasets and algorithms aimed at enhancing climate models. Additional effort is required for integrating the knowledge about the source and composition of air masses, about the precipitation phase changes, and their impact on cryosphere dynamics, hydrology, and biogeochemical cycles. Knowledge co-production with Indigenous communities, is the key strategy developing effective adaptation strategies and mitigating the consequences of these extreme events.
#56: Assessment for the potential emergence of microbiological risks in an Arctic ecosystem undergoing dynamic change — Hyunkyo Seo

Hyunkyo Seo ¹
¹Korea Polar Research Institute

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 56

Abstract:

The Arctic Environment is rapidly changing with global warming so that sea-ice decreases and permafrost thaws. The potential risks by harmful microbes that emerge from the permafrost thaw can threaten the human, (crop) plant and animal health not only in the Arctic but in non-Arctic areas. Especially, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has brought up concerns about the potential emergence of new pandemics that could be caused by unknown pathogens to affect human health. In light of this, Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries launched the project titled “Assessment for the potential emergence of the microbiological risks in an Arctic ecosystem undergoing dynamic change” in 2020 and the second phase of the project is underway.

This project aims to contribute to Arctic Sustainability and Welfare through understanding the potential outbreak of harmful microorganisms and their mechanisms based on ‘One Health approach’ concept at local, national, regional, and global levels. That is (1) to set a risk-management system by developing the rapid detection methods for harmful microorganisms and (2) to do risk assessment & preparedness through comprehending the distribution and activation mechanism in the circum-Arctic region.

Through this project, KOPRI seeks to contribute to Arctic health issues and join the Arctic Council SDWG’s main program ‘One ArcticOne Health’ by providing and sharing research results. We also intend to strengthen and expand our collaborations with Arctic research groups involved in One Health research to contribute to both Arctic and Global health issues.
#58: A new all-year round CO2 fluxes multi-instrumental observatory in the High Arctic Tundra — Mariasilvia Giamberini

Mariasilvia Giamberini ¹; Ilaria Baneschi ¹; Letizia Costanza ¹; Simona Gennaro ¹; Matteo Lelli ¹; Jasmine Natalini ¹; Brunella Raco ¹; Gianna Vivaldo ¹; Antonello Provenzale ¹
¹Institute of Geoscience and Earth Resources - National Research Council of Italy

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 58

Abstract:

Arctic amplification is causing rapid changes in the tundra carbon cycle, which may lead to transforming the tundra from a carbon sink into a carbon source. The all-year-long CO2 cycle monitoring is challenging due to remoteness, winter weather conditions and lack of infrastructures. Nevertheless, all-year data are extremely precious, as winter emissions are the "great unknown" of the Arctic carbon cycle (Natali S, Nature, 2019). Most studies focus on the short summer season, making it difficult to provide an accurate tundra carbon budget. To address this, we have fully exploited the facilities offered by the permanent Ny Ålesund research station in the Svalbard Archipelago (NO) and we established a comprehensive observatory to measure CO2 fluxes at different scales and all-year-round, using various instruments such as portable flux chambers, Eddy Covariance and an array of below and above ground sensors to measure winter CO2 fluxes from the snowpack; this latter is particularly aimed at intercepting wind-burst emissions, when the Eddy Covariance fails due to the absence of vertical turbulence. Additionally, all set ups are complemented by meteorological stations. All data are made available following the FAIR principles through the Italian Arctic Data Centre, the Svalbard Integrated Observing System SIOS and a CNR Virtual Research Environment, also hosting a modelling environment. Our challenging goal is to develop an integrated open virtual laboratory for modeling Arctic CO2 fluxes at multiple scales and serving as seed for a pan-Arctic network of similar observatories, possibly including other observation platforms as airborne remote-sensing.
#61: Bridging Reproductive Health Gaps in the Northwest Territories: Empowering Families Through Culturally Grounded Education and Care — Treiva Plamadon

Janat Ibrahimi ¹; Treiva Plamondon ²
¹University of Alberta; ² Northern Birthwork Collective

Format: Poster virtual

Poster number: 61

Abstract:

Families in communities throughout the Circumpolar North, including the Northwest Territories in Canada, face significant challenges in accessing essential reproductive healthcare. Many are forced to leave their home communities during pregnancy and childbirth, traveling long distances to receive care. This displacement not only causes emotional, financial, and logistical burdens but also disconnects families from their land and cultural support systems. There is a clear need for accessible, culturally relevant reproductive health education that allows people to remain in their communities while preparing for these critical life events.

Northern Birthwork Collective is an organization that currently addresses gaps in spiritual, logistical, and emotional needs of birthing people through doula care that conventional health services do not provide in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Northern Birthwork Collective seeks to extend their reproductive knowledge beyond Yellowknife to address reproductive health gaps in other communities in the Northwest Territories by delivering in-person, culturally respectful, reproductive health education that is grounded in Indigenous Traditional knowledge.

The project will employ a community based participatory approach through partnerships with local reproductive health care service providers such as Healthy Famil throughout the Northwest Territories and midwifery clinics in Hay River and Fort Smith. Through collaboration with Indigenous midwives, Elders, and reproductive health care service providers, Northern Birthwork Collective will develop and employ workshops that will empower childbearing individuals and families with the knowledge they need to navigate their reproductive health journeys, covering a broad range of topics, including sexual health, prenatal care, labor, postpartum recovery, infant feeding, and mental wellness.
#67: Permafrost Pathways: Connecting science, people, and policy to advance understanding of the local to global impacts of permafrost thaw and develop just and equitable responses — Brendan Rogers

Brendan Rogers ¹; Susan Natali ¹; John Holdren ²; Kyle Arndt ¹; Valeria Briones ¹; Chu-Chun Chang ¹; Patrcia Cochran ³; Jackie Dean ¹; Greg Fiske ¹; et al.
¹Woodwell Climate Research Center; ² Harvard University, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; ³ Alaska Native Science Commission

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 67

Abstract:

The permafrost region is warming between two and four times the global rate, with temperatures already greater than 2°C above preindustrial levels. Rapid warming is intensifying wildfires and thawing permafrost, both of which are transforming northern ecosystems and creating hazardous conditions that are forcing arctic communities to make difficult and urgent adaptation decisions. These changes can also impact global climate through carbon feedbacks, and thus there is an urgent need to reduce the uncertainties that observational and modeling gaps create in understanding the current and future state of permafrost feedbacks. Despite this need, most climate policy planning does not even reflect current scientific understanding of future emissions from a warming Arctic.

Here we present our objectives, progress to date, and opportunities for collaboration as part of the Permafrost Pathways project. Our multi-disciplinary approach includes strategic expansion of carbon flux monitoring sites across the permafrost zone; remote sensing of landscape disturbances associated with permafrost thaw; development of a model-data assimilation system to project permafrost carbon-climate feedbacks; informing fire management for carbon protection and Indigenous sovereignty; modeling and remote sensing at spatial and temporal scales relevant for adaptation planning; supporting Arctic climate resilience including through the co-creation of just and equitable, Indigenous-led adaptation plans that respect tribal sovereignty; and fostering partnerships with local leaders and national policymakers to incorporate permafrost thaw and emissions into climate adaptation and mitigation policy.
#73: Perspective from ArCS II ocean research program for the next stage — Eiji Watanabe

Eiji Watanabe ¹
¹JAMSTEC

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 73

Abstract:

The second phase of the Arctic Challenge for Sustainability (ArCS II) project was launched in June 2020 and will end in March 2025. The Ocean Research Program of this project was engaged in research on Arctic marine environments and production of corresponding public datasets. Sub-program 1 was established to clarify ocean heat/freshwater transport and biogeochemical cycles in seasonal and multi-year sea ice zones. Sub-program 2 focused on assessment of the vulnerability and resilience of marine ecosystems in response to rapid sea ice retreat. Sub-program 3 examined air–sea interactions related to sea ice and waves. The expected outcomes included refinement of Earth System Models, advancement of ecosystem-based fishery management, and development of safer maritime navigation. My presentation compiles the major findings from this programs, together with brief summaries on the research cruises, sea ice field campaigns, and modeling experiments conducted through various international collaborations. The ArCS II research programs are categorized into discrete fields of the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere, and land, although cross-program collaborations are encouraged. Based on such situations, the third phase of this project (ArCS III) promoting more integrated analyses of the water and carbon cycles will also be briefly introduced. The scientific achievements of our research activities hopefully support deeper understanding of the effects of climate change and provide information for socioeconomic benefit.
#86: Key Risks from permafrost thaw – a comparative, trans- and interdisciplinary risk assessment — Alexandra Meyer

Susanna Gartler ¹; Johanna Scheer ²; Alexandra Meyer ¹
¹University of Vienna, Austrian Polar Research Institute; ² Umea University

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 86

Abstract:

Permafrost degradation has global climate implications and affects local livelihoods. This study presents an inter- and transdisciplinary analysis of permafrost thaw risks in Arctic coastal areas. Permafrost thaw impacts on socio-ecological systems remain understudied, in the Arctic, which is undergoing rapid societal changes amidst geopolitical tensions. This necessitates understanding permafrost thaw implications for its communities. Our goal is to contribute to climate-related hazard assessments, vulnerability, resilience, and adaptation research in the Arctic. The "Nunataryuk" project, conducted a six-year study (2019-2023) across sites in Svalbard, Greenland, Canada, and Yakutiya. We employed a mixed-methods approach, involving local experts and diverse (Indigenous) populations. Our research employs a comparative, multidisciplinary synthesis to analyze permafrost thaw risks, drawing from diverse disciplines and Indigenous knowledge. We define risk holistically, rooted in stakeholder perceptions, encompassing physical processes, hazards, and socio-ecological consequences. Risks are dynamic, influenced by socio-economic, political, and environmental contexts. Our risk analysis identified five key hazards in relation to permafrost thaw: 1) infrastructure failure, 2) mobility and supply disruption, 3) water quality decline, 4) food security challenges, and 5) increased exposure to diseases and contaminants. These hazards impact ecosystems, societies, economies, governance, and community wellbeing. Complex interconnections between these hazards are illustrated in a comprehensive risk graphic, which includes possible adaptation actions. Permafrost thaw significantly affects Arctic coastal communities. Our transdisciplinary approach provides insights into key risks and adaptation practices offering a framework for future research and emphasizing the need for proactive measures in the face of uncertainties.
#87: Extreme events in arctic terrestrial ecosystems: rapid events changing rapidly — Gareth Phoenix

Gareth Phoenix ¹
¹University of Sheffield

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 87

Abstract:

Arctic ecosystems are experiencing extreme climatic, biotic and physical disturbance events that can cause substantial loss of plant biomass and productivity, sometimes at scales of > 1000 km2. These “browning events” are key contributors to the spatial and temporal complexity of Arctic greening and vegetation dynamics. Here the main extreme browning events in Arctic ecosystems are compared, including their impacts and rates of recovery, and likely future changes in frequency and distribution. Commonalities in impacts across these highly contrasting event types are also considered.

While extreme browning events can cause high levels of plant damage (up to 100% mortality), ecosystems also have substantial capacity for recovery, with biomass largely re-established within five years for many events. Furthermore, despite the substantial loss of leaf area of dominant species, compensatory mechanisms such as increased productivity of undamaged subordinate species lessen the impacts on carbon sequestration. The common responses apply most to climatic and biotic events, but much less so for physical events including fire and abrupt permafrost thaw, due to the greater removal of vegetation. Some events also provide conditions for greater productivity (greening) in the longer-term. Projected changes in the causes of browning events currently suggest many types of event will become more frequent, with events of tundra fire and abrupt permafrost thaw expected to be the greatest contributors to future browning. Overall, browning events may have increasingly important consequences for biodiversity and feedback to climate.
#88: Impacts of Logistically Constrained High Latitude, Low Altitude Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Scenarios — Lauren Wheeler

Lauren Wheeler ¹; Benjamin Wagman ¹; Wake Smith ²
¹Sandia National Laboratories; ² Yale University, Harvard Kennedy School

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 88

Abstract:

Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) has shown potential to mitigate some of the worst effects of climate change in the Arctic by reducing temperatures, preserving Northern Hemisphere sea ice, reducing Greenland Ice Sheet melt, and reducing permafrost loss. However, logistical constraints, such as aircraft capabilities and delivery timelines, have not been included in many simulations of SAI and should be considered to understand the potential impacts. Building from Wheeler et al. (2024), we present high latitude, low altitude SAI scenarios designed with logistical constraints. Using aircraft deployment parameters, estimates of aircraft delivery timelines, we calculate an annual injection rate which is then simulated in the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM). The scenarios focus exclusively on the logistics of the aircraft platform and its production and delivery timelines. We do not include considerations for program authorization and termination, or governance structures. The findings demonstrate the effects of incorporating logistical deployment constraints in the design of SAI scenarios to ensure strong scientific understanding of Polar SAI, the regional and global effects, and facilitate understanding of the risks and benefits.
#99: TaiPI Data Repository: An Asia-based polar data infrastructure built for open science — Ilham Adi Panuntun

Ilham Adi Panuntun ¹; Whyjay Zheng ¹; Chuen-Fa Ni ²
¹Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research, National Central University, Taiwan, Taiwan Polar Institute, National Central University, Taiwan; ² Taiwan Polar Institute, National Central University, Taiwan, Graduate Institute of Applied Geology, National Central University, Taiwan

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 99

Abstract:

The Arctic warming has attracted global attention since we do not have much time to understand, predict, and mitigate the subsequent challenges to our societal and ecological systems. Taiwan Polar Institute (TaiPI) was founded in 2023 with a mission to provide resources and infrastructure for the Earth science community in Taiwan towards contributions to timely polar research. To reach this goal, TaiPI plans to host a data repository at the end of 2024 with initial data sets focusing on the Arctic glaciers. The TaiPI repository is designed with the FAIR practices to speed up scientific data sharing and collaboration. It assigns a DOI to each data set and offers multiple data access options, including an interactive map interface and bulk downloading. We employ different data formats and structures best compatible with the reported spatial information and cloud environment. We perform the quality check for each submission to ensure its metadata provides sufficient context for data reuse. The TaiPI repository aims to reduce the access threshold and expedite the exchange and exploration of scientific data. In the coming years, we will continue to host research output performed by the TaiPI and international partners, with technical advances such as an API-based data query and access for cross-disciplinary purposes.
#106: Chemical, biogeochemical, and physical drivers of the coupled polar atmosphere and climate: a planning workshop for the 5th International Polar Year 2032-33 - Synthesis and outcomes — Markus Frey

Markus Frey ¹; Hélène Angot ²; Stefanie Arndt ³; Steve Arnold ⁴; Petra Heil ⁵; Kathy Law ⁶; Lisa Miller ⁷; Georgia Sotiropoulou ⁸; Nadja Steiner ⁹; Letizia Tedesco
¹British Antarctic Survey UKRI-NERC; ² Institute of Environmental Geosciences (IGE), Université Grenoble Alpes; ³ Alfred Wegener Institut; ⁴ Institute for Climate & Atmospheric Science, University of Leeds; ⁵ Australian Antarctic Division; ⁶ Laboratoire Atmosphères et Observations Spatiales (LATMOS) - CNRS; ⁷ Institute of Ocean Sciences, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO); ⁸ University of Athens; ⁹ Institute of Ocean Sciences, Fisheries and Ocean Canada (DFO); ¹⁰ Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 106

Abstract:

The international initiatives CATCH, PACES, BEPSII, ASPeCt and QUiesCENT held a joint workshop in November 2024 bringing together scientists and stakeholders with an interest in atmosphere-ice-ocean research focussing on chemical, biogeochemical and physical processes in the Arctic and Antarctic and links to climate change. Also considered were cold regions which are seasonally or permanently covered by snow and ice, notably the Third Pole. Keynotes on selected topics were used to create awareness of the inter-disciplinary nature and coupled system view needed to address IPY5 research challenges. Presentations on current and planned international (pre-)IPY5 initiatives were followed by brainstorming sessions to identify ‘big picture’ science questions, research priorities and implementation pathways for research activities in field, laboratory and modelling before and during the 5th International Polar Year (IPY) 2032-2033. A workshop synthesis in form of a white paper will be used to shape IPY5 funding calls, underpin grant applications, and influence the planning of polar research cruises, field campaigns and new long-term measurement capabilities. Here we present a summary of the workshop and steps forward, including outlines of potential IPY5 research programmes focused on the coupled polar atmosphere and climate.
#122: High-resolution classified vegetation map of evolving ice-wedge-polygon terrain, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska — Olivia Hobgood

Olivia Hobgood ¹; Donald Walker ¹; Martha Raynolds ¹; Amy Breen ¹; Julia White ¹
¹University of Alaska Fairbanks

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 122

Abstract:

Many Arctic regions are experiencing rapid changes due to ice-wedge degradation and the formation of new thermokarst ponds. Because vegetation is a stationary, above-ground reflection of many factors, such as air temperature, precipitation, hydrology, animal activity, and soil chemistry, mapping vegetation is a useful method for investigating the multiple facets of landscape evolution. Although modern pan-Arctic vegetation maps exist, few have mapped vegetation to the ice-wedge polygon scale, and none have mapped the unique non-acidic vegetation at Prudhoe Bay to this scale. We present a vegetation map of a 5.7-km2 area near Deadhorse, Alaska, created using an automated machine-learning classifier trained on field data. The source imagery is an 8-band, 0.46-m resolution WorldView-02 image taken in July 2022; due to the high source resolution, the classified map shows how vegetation varies across polygonal landscape features, such as troughs, centers, and rims. At a broader scale, the map shows how vegetation composition changes between areas with different thaw-lake histories and relative ice richness. Through extrapolation of field data, the map provides insights into how factors such as biomass, snow depth, and carbon flux vary across a changing landscape. We present the advantages and limitations of this efficient, repeatable approach to landscape monitoring.
#130: Political Ecology perspective on Arctic climate change — Ishfaq Hussain Malik

Ishfaq Hussain Malik ¹; James Ford ¹
¹University of Leeds, UK

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 130

Abstract:

Political ecology examines the intricate relationship between power dynamics, socioeconomic inequalities, and historical contexts in driving and shaping environmental changes and outcomes. We explain why political ecology framework and methods are important for understanding Arctic changes as they examine how historical and contemporary power dynamics influence climate change impacts and adaptation among Indigenous Peoples and call for decolonising research methods. This paper examines the political ecology of climate change in the Canadian Arctic, with a specific focus on Inuit in the Nunatsiavut region of Labrador. Cimate change impacts in Nunatsiavut are deeply intertwined with the legacies of colonialism, global capitalism, and market forces, creating significant barriers to adaptation and leading to unequal outcomes among community members. While some can leverage resources and opportunities to adapt, others face significant socioeconomic challenges. This study argues that climate change in the Arctic cannot be fully understood without considering these broader socio-economic-political contexts. By focussing on the experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Nunatsiavut, the paper illustrates how colonial histories, governance structures, ongoing economic exploitation, and socioeconomic factors exacerbate vulnerabilities to climate change and adaptation challenges. The cost of living and the affordability of technology for hunting and travelling are crucial aspects in understanding climate change adaptation. These dynamics result in uneven adaptation capacities, where some community members can leverage resources and opportunities to adapt while others are left behind. The study emphasises the need for more equitable and inclusive adaptation strategies that address these structural factors, ensuring that adaptation efforts are just and sustainable.
#133: Warming temperatures increase river migration and mobilization of mercury stored in permafrost — M. Isabel Smith

M. Isabel Smith ¹; Yutian Ke ²; Emily Geyman ³; Jocelyn Reahl ⁴; Madison Douglas ⁵; Emily Seelen ⁶; John Magyar ⁷; Kieran Dunne ⁸; Edda Mutter ⁹; Woodward Fischer ¹⁰; Michael Lamb ¹¹; A. Joshua West ¹²
¹University of Southern California; ² California Institute of Technology; ³ California Institute of Technology; ⁴ University of Colorado Boulder, California Institute of Technology; ⁵ Califorina Institute of Technology, University of Califorina Berkeley; ⁶ University of Southern California, University of Alaska Fairbanks; ⁷ California Institute of Technology; ⁸ Delft University of Technology, California Institute of Technology; ⁹ Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council; ¹⁰ California Institute of Technology; ¹¹ California Institute of Technology; ¹² University of Southern Califorina

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 133

Abstract:

Due to long range transport, atmospheric deposition events, and preservation of organic matter, large amounts of mercury are stored in permafrost soils. As the Arctic is experiencing warming rates four times faster than the rest of the planet, permafrost destabilization threatens to release the large amounts of mercury that have accumulated over millennia. While this mercury poses considerable threats to the ecosystems and human health, Arctic mercury stocks remain poorly constrained due to under sampling of Arctic soils. Moreover, the extent to which mercury stored in permafrost will be liberated as permafrost thaws remains unknown.

While there are several processes through which permafrost is lost, this work focuses on river erosion, which can quickly deliver large amounts of mercury-laden sediment along river corridors. Here, we present a new dataset of mercury measurements in riverbank and floodplain sediments and employ a mass balance approach to evaluate the role of river migration on erosional and depositional mercury sediment fluxes in the Yukon River Basin of Alaska. We find that river migration rates play an important role on how much sediment-bound mercury is eroded and reburied. Additionally, we find that thawing permafrost can increase rates of riverbank erosion, which could potentially increase the export of mercury to river water and into the global ocean if the mercury fluxes from the eroded old terrain systematically exceeds the mercury fluxes into the newly-deposited sediments along river corridors.
#142: Ice-ocean interplay in the central Canadian Arctic Archipelago area during the final deglacial-Holocene transition — Mingwei Shi

Mingwei Shi ¹; Xiaotong Xiao ²; Ruediger Stein ³; Johanna Hingst ⁴; Wenshen Xiao ⁵; Duanping Shi ⁶; Kirsten Fahl ⁷; Simone Kasemann ⁸; Meixun Zhao ⁹
¹Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China, Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China; ² Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China, Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China; ³ Faculty of Geosciences and Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Germany, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China; ⁴ Faculty of Geosciences and Center for Marine Environmental Sciences,University of Bremen, Germany; ⁵ State Key Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; ⁶ State Key Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; ⁷ Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany; ⁸ Faculty of Geoscience and Centre for Marine Environmental Science, University of Bremen, Germany; ⁹ Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 142

Abstract:

The ice sheet reconstruction during the last glacial-interglacial transition provides valuable insights into the rapid global climate changes in future warming scenario. The Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) experienced a rapid ice sheet retreat during the late stage of the last deglaciation, and eventually reconnected the Arctic-Atlantic passages. However, considerable uncertainty remains regarding the dynamics, processes and controlling mechanisms of ice sheet-sea ice-ocean interplays during the crucial final deglacial-Holocene transition. Here we present well-dated and high-resolution records (including sedimentological, geochemical and radiogenic isotopic data) from the central CAA reflecting the rapid fluctuations in ice sheet-ocean interactions during the final deglaciation-Holocene transition.</a> Our results suggest the centennial variability of ice sheet/sea-ice/open water productivity during the final stage of deglaciation (~11.2-10.4 ka BP), followed by the amelioration from perennial sea-ice cover (~10.4-10.0 ka BP) to seasonal sea-ice cover (~10.0-8.8 ka BP). Two events of ice sheet decay at the final stage of the last deglaciation were identified by abrupt changes in ice-rafted debris deposition and the marine productivity. We suggest that the oscillated penetration of warm Atlantic water contributed to ice sheet instability and further promoted the deglacial process, before the inflow of Arctic surface water became the dominant factor shaping the sea surface characteristics after the final ice sheets disintegration. Our findings underline the influence of rapid climate change on ice sheet and sea-ice variabilities during the final stage of the deglaciation, and highlight the potential influence of ocean currents/water masses on the ice sheet melting process.
#143: Arctic Science Diplomacy and the Non-Arctic States: Opportunities and Challenges — Ebru Caymaz

Ebru Caymaz ¹
¹Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University

Format: Poster virtual

Poster number: #143

Abstract:

The significance of polar research is a multi-dimensional issue encompassed by conflicting perspectives since the nexus between politics and science is also complex. While environmental emergencies related to carbon emission, the expansion of maritime activities, and rapid melting have evoked resilience concerns in the polar regions, the resilience of Arctic science diplomacy has become more essential than ever due to the recent geopolitical tensions. Herein, the growing presence of non-Arctic states may assist in restoring constructive relationships in the Arctic through their mediatorship roles. Therefore, by focusing on the Turkish case, this study aims to present the future projections of Arctic science diplomacy from the perspective of non-Arctic states.
#145: The long-term changes in the mass balance of glaciers at Kaffiøyra area, Svalbard, Arctic — Ireneusz Sobota

Ireneusz Sobota ¹; Kamil Czarnecki ¹; Marcin Nowak ¹
¹Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Polar Research Center

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 145

Abstract:

The main objective of the present work was to assess the nature of the temporal variability and the spatial distribution of the mass balance of glaciers. Most of the research consisted of direct field measurements carried out in 1996–2024, and the investigated changes were mainly related to the mass balance on the Waldemarbreen and the Irenebreen, valley glaciers located in Kaffiøyra, a coastal lowland in northwestern Spitsbergen. To identify the changes in the glaciated area of the studied region, a detailed analysis of the degree of changes in the glaciers' surface area and recession was carried out, starting with the period of their maximum extent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Individual components of the mass balance were measured using standard glaciological methods, supplemented by geodetic and remote sensing methods and satellite imagery.

The recession of the glaciers in the Kaffiøyra area during the analysis period results from a negative trend in the mass balance and dynamics of the Svalbard glaciers. The rapid and substantial changes in the mass balance of glaciers occurring in recent years are also reflected in a growing rate of surface area shrinkage. From the maximum advance to 2024, the glaciers in this area decreased by about 50% on average. The decreasing glacial mass is a phenomenon which began decades ago, but it has become most evident in recent years. The investigations of the glacier's mass balance in the Kaffiøyra region are especially important, being some of longest mass balance records available regarding Svalbard.
#149: Co-creation of a trauma-informed methodological framework for circumpolar maternal and child health research — Kaeleigh Brown

Kaeleigh Brown ¹
¹University of Alberta

Format: Poster virtual

Poster number: 149

Abstract:

Introduction – Traumatic experiences are prevalent, and trauma theory posits that traumatic experiences can influence mental and physical health. It is assumed that adopting a trauma-informed approach will have a positive effect on service users and participants. Trauma-informed research is a newly evolving concept, and there is a dearth of guidelines and frameworks for researchers, especially within Indigenous and northern health contexts. I will describe an approach to co-creating circumpolar maternal and child health trauma-informed principles and framework with Indigenous women living in circumpolar regions.

Methods – An iterative process will incorporate various data sources into the principles and framework, including Indigenous values and knowledges. Initial development will refer to the existing primary and grey literature. An exploratory focus group, consisting of circumpolar and Indigenous researchers, knowledge holders, and clinicians will then discuss trauma and trauma-informed care. The findings will be analyzed and presented to a trauma-informed working group, and a living document of principles created. Indigenous women in the NWT and Nunavut, participating in focus groups within a larger study, will co-create guidelines to govern the group sessions. Based on the guidelines, a final framework will be co-developed by the working group, participants, and other stakeholders.

Discussion – I will present a multi-faceted approach to methodological framework development, including co-development with Indigenous women and research participants. This work will add to existing scholarship on trauma-informed principles and frameworks, as well as framework development.
#150: Verification of high-resolution satellite-derived data by dendrochronological ground-based research - a new approach in the study of Arctic dwarf shrubs — Piotr Owczarek

Piotr Owczarek ¹; Magdalena Opała-Owczarek ²; Jacek Ślopek ³; Mohit Phulara ⁴; Ewa Łupikasza ⁵; Wojciech Szymański ⁶; Michał Węgrzyn ⁷; Bartosz Korabiewski ⁸
¹University of Wroclaw, Institute of Geography and Regional Development, Pl. Uniwersytecki 1, 50-137 Wroclaw; ² Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice; ³ Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wroclaw; ⁴ Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice; ⁵ Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice; ⁶ Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University; ⁷ Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University; ⁸ Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wroclaw

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 150

Abstract:

There is a lack of comprehensive and complementary studies in which satellite-derived data is verified by dendrochronological ground-based research. This is a key gap in the knowledge of the greening and browning of Arctic tundra. Therefore, detailed ground-based analyses, in conjunction with satellite-derived research, are crucial for the proper understanding of trends in plant productivity. The objective of this research is to examine the consistency, or potential for over- or underestimation, between NDVI data and tundra productivity as derived from direct dendrochronological research. The research area is located in Svalbard in four test plots. 10 detailed morphologically diverse research sites were selected in each plot to sample Salix polaris and Dryas octopetala. The dendrochronological analysis was compared with data from Sentinel-2 obtained for the period 2010 - 2022.The results show that the relationship between the growth-ring width of dwarf shrubs and the value of NDVI is not obvious. The values of the year-to-year index in relation to the dendrochronological measurements are underestimated or overestimated. This suggests that many factors influence NDVI, including regional hydrometeorological conditions and local conditions down to a microtopographic scale. For instance, mosses, which dominate the vegetation at high latitudes, affect NDVI measurements to various extents depending on their moisture content. This may significantly influence satellite measurements and often affects the incorrect interpretation of vegetation indices.

Acknowledgments: The research was founded by a Polish National Science Centre project no. UMO-2021/41/B/ST10/03381
#156: Quantifying changes resulting from recent climate warming to water bodies, surficial landforms, and vegetation in ice-wedge-polygon landscapes, Deadhorse, Alaska — Hannah Chapman-Dutton

Hannah Chapman-Dutton ¹; Briana McNeal ¹; Donald Walker ¹
¹University of Alaska Fairbanks

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 156

Abstract:

Arctic thaw-lake landscapes are made up of thaw lakes, drained lake basins (DLBs), and residual surfaces (areas that have not been subjected to thaw-lake processes). On residual surfaces and DLBs with well-developed low-centered ice wedge polygons, the quickly warming climate is driving formation of ice-wedge thermokarst ponds and transitional polygon morphologies and plant communities. Using high-resolution aerial imagery from 1987/88, and 2020, as well as digital surface models and accuracy points, we produced detailed (1:500 scale) maps of the surficial geology, surface features, and vegetation of five transects that represent a surface-age gradient near Deadhorse, Alaska. We then calculated the change in polygon rim, trough, and basin area as well as vegetation type from 1987/88 to 2020 to present a story of trough widening, rim degradation, and basin draining in ice-wedge polygon landscapes. Preliminary results from one transect in an older lake basin shows a 6% increase in trough area, a 14% decrease in rim area, and a 47% decrease in basin area over 32 years as troughs have widened, polygon rims have eroded, and low-centered polygons basins have drained. Percentage cover of moist, wet, and aquatic vegetation types changed from 14%/28%/1% in 1988 to 15%/7%/5% in 2020. Results from the full sequence of landscapes will be presented at the conference. This work can better inform our understanding of the polygonal life cycle across different evolving landscapes and could lead the way to predicting ice content from changes in vegetation types determined from aerial imagery and remote-sensing products.
#158: Kitikmeot bryophyte biodiversity: filling the sampling gap — Erin Cox

Erin Cox ¹; Daphnée Sansregret ²; Ian Hogg ³; Catherine La Farge ⁴
¹Polar Knowledge Canada, University of Alberta; ² Université Laval; ³ Polar Knowledge Canada; ⁴ University of Alberta

Format: Poster virtual

Poster number: 158

Abstract:

The Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut is in a pivotal transition zone between the boreal tree line and Low Arctic, where rapid climate related changes are occurring. This region has been historically unrepresented in plant collections in the Canadian Arctic, particularly for bryophytes. As a prominent component of the Arctic tundra, changes in bryophyte diversity and cover can have a multitude of ecosystem consequences.

Bryophyte sampling was performed on Victoria Island during the summers of 2018-2021 and elsewhere in the Kitikmeot near Kugaaruk (Pelly Bay), Uqsuqtuuq (Gjoa Haven), and Taloyoak (Spence Bay) in 2024. Floristic habitat sampling (FHS) was utilized to attempt maximum capture of species diversity within short time periods.

Collections on Victoria Island have revealed 73 new taxa previously unrecorded for the island including one undescribed species. Additional records from literature (18) and herbarium records (6) not collected in the study bring the current total for Victoria Island to 138 taxa. Despite a similar geology, there was high beta diversity among sites on Victoria Island indicating limited sharing of taxa, likely explained by microhabitat variation. The more recent sampling elsewhere in the Kitikmeot has already produced at least 20 new records of bryophytes for each community.

The fieldwork data generated begins to fill a crucial sampling gap and enhances both herbaria (Canadian High Arctic Research Station Herbarium, CHARS, Cambridge Bay, Nunavut) and genetic records (International Barcode of Life, iBOL). These records provide valuable baseline data for future studies and ongoing monitoring of climate-driven changes.
#166: Delayed impacts of Arctic sea-ice loss on Eurasian severe cold winters — Yeon-Soo Jang

Yeon-Soo Jang ¹; Jong-Seong Kug ²; Sang-Yoon Jun ³; Seok-Woo Son ²; Seung-Ki Min ⁴; Minho Kwon ¹
¹Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology; ² Seoul National University; ³ Korea Polar Research Institute; ⁴ Pohang University of Science and Technology

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 166

Abstract:

This study suggests a possible mechanism of how the Arctic sea-ice loss can influence the mid-latitude climate in the Eurasian continent. It is shown that the low sea-ice concentration over the Barents-Kara-Laptev Seas in autumn typically leads to cold Eurasian in winters. It is demonstrated that the Arctic-tomidlatitude connection depends on the state of late autumn atmospheric circulation. When the autumn sea-ice reduction is accompanied by anticyclonic circulation over northern Eurasia, Eurasia becomes anomalously cold in the early winter. However, when cyclonic circulation is dominant, Eurasian cold anomalies appear in the late winter. This seasonally delayed response is further found to be related to the wind-driven sea-ice drift that causes warm anomalies over the Barents-Kara Seas in the following winter. These observational results are confirmed by model simulations, indicating that the recent Eurasian cold winters could be linked to their forced response to the Arctic sea-ice loss.
#173: Role of snowfall rate on the recent decadal loss of sea ice in the Arctic during summer seasons — Arnab Mukherjee

Arnab Mukherjee ¹
¹National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), GOvernment of India

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 173

Abstract:

In this study, the role of snowfall rate on the decadal decrease of sea-ice concentration (SIC) and increase of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) during the summer seasons of Arctic (June–September) has been performed using a global sea-ice coupled model and satellite observations. The model successfully simulates decadal weakening of SIC and the increase of SST between the decades of 2011–2020 and 2001–2010 in the Arctic during summer seasons.

A sensitivity experiment was performed after removing the snowfall atmospheric forcing in the model to understand the role of snowfall rate on the long-term variability of SIC and SST in the Arctic. It has been observed that after removing the snowfall rate in the model as a forcing, Arctic warming (loss of sea ice) is increased by the order of 5 - 10 %. Also, after removing snowfall forces in the model, sea ice thickness (SIT) in the Arctic significantly reduced. This implies that snowfall is a barrier between the atmosphere and ocean interaction processes. The strong decrease in the snowfall rate in the recent decade in the Arctic strengthens Arctic warming. Also, the maximum impact of snowfall rate on sea ice has been observed in the western Arctic compared to the eastern, which includes the Chukchi and Beaufort Sea regions. This study implies that continuous observations of snowfall rate and SIT using ground-based satellite observations are necessary to study long term trends of Arctic warming and sea ice loss.
#174: Enhancing arctic dataset quality and accessibility: integration with ERDDAP and advanced QA methods using statistical techniques and machine learning — Alice Cavaliere

Alice Cavaliere ¹; Claudia Frangipani ¹; Angelo Lupi ¹; Mauro Mazzola ¹; Simone Pulimeno ¹; Chiara Ripa ¹; Alberto Salvati ¹; Giulio Verazzo ¹; Vito Vitale ¹
¹Italian Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council of Italy (ISP-CNR)

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 174

Abstract:

This presentation will focus on datasets collected in the Svalbard Archipelago and their integration into the ERDDAP system of the Italian Arctic Data Center. By aligning with FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable), this integration enhances accessibility, optimizes data processing, and ensures the delivery of high-quality, standardized datasets for Arctic research. We will specifically focus on the Climate Change Tower and Ozone datasets. Our discussion will highlight advanced quality assurance (QA) methods, showcasing statistical techniques designed to detect anomalies, outliers, and missing data. Additionally, we will present applications of how machine learning can improve automatic methodology, boosting the consistency and efficiency of QA across large datasets. The QA-assured datasets will be utilized to derive higher-level products, which will be presented using visualization tools developed in conjunction with a virtual research environment. This automation enables researchers to focus on in-depth analysis while ensuring the reliability and robustness of the datasets. These advancements are crucial for global climate change studies and contribute significantly to enhancing our understanding of Arctic environmental dynamics.
#186: Microplastic emergency and the associated plastisphere in freshwater habitats of the Arctic — Maurizio Azzaro

Angelina Lo Giudice ¹; Maurizio Azzaro ¹
¹Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ISP), Messina, Italy

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 186

Abstract:

Microplastic pollution is of great environmental concern. Microplastics have been found all over the Earth, which is indicative for the important threat they constitute. Yet, while the ocean is object of major interest, the data available in the literature about microplastic pollution in the freshwaters, including those of the Earth’s poles, are limited to few reports, questioning the transport patterns through which microplastics reach these remote areas. Microplastics can indeed be ingested by animals and can physically damage their digestive tracts, as well as escalate the trophic levels down to indigenous people. Microplastics can also alter microbial community biodiversity and functions by serving as surfaces onto which microbes (including pathogens) can grow and develop (plastisphere), and can ehance icemelting when trapped in glaciers. Plastic-attached microbes could be also capable of degrading plastic polymers, thus altering the buoyancy of polymers and the toxicity of plastics. In turn, the ability to degrade plastics by cold-adapted microorganisms could lead to an environmental-friendly solution in mitigating plastic pollution in cold environments. In this context, an international in-person trans-disciplinary workshop, held in Messina (Italy) and involving about 30 scientists, was endorsed by the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and received funding by the Italian Arctic Research Program (PRA) for its organization. The workshop allowed gaining relevant information to take actions in thwarting plastic pollution in Arctic freshwaters (e.g., snow, glaciers, lakes and rivers), along with a focus on the plastisphere. Here, the outcomes of the workshop shared with ICARP IV for implementation are reported.
#190: Linking vegetation change in permanent plots to regional ecosystem change in Arctic Alaska — Robert Hollister

Robert Hollister ¹; Sarah Elmendorf ²; Jeremy May ³; Katlyn Betway-May ⁴; Steven Oberbauer ⁵; Craig Tweedie ⁶; Jeffrey Welker ⁷; Sergio Vargas ⁸; Katie Young ⁹; Karl F Huemmrich ¹⁰
¹Biology Department, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan, USA; ² Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado; ³ Biology and Environmental Science, Marietta College; ⁴ USDA Forest Service, Research and Development, Río Piedras, PR, USA Forest Service, Research and Development, Río Piedras, PR, USA; ⁵ Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University; ⁶ Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso; ⁷ Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage; ⁸ Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso; ⁹ Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso; ¹⁰ Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 190

Abstract:

Documenting vegetation change on long-term permanent plots provides the detailed information necessary to understand ecosystem changes occurring across the landscape. Here we show the change in plant cover, measured at the top of the canopy, across multiple sites in Arctic Alaska and show how the change in plant cover and plant height correlates with NDVI measured near the surface and from space. Plant height has consistently increased and the cover of shrubs and graminoids have increased, but the magnitude varies greatly across regions and by moisture groups within a region. The diversity of response within a region helps explain the NDVI measured from space. The mechanistic studies co-located also help predict future change. These observations are an essential component of international efforts aimed at understanding ecosystem change across the tundra.
#199: Argo-Poland floats under the Arctic ice — Waldemar Walczowski

Waldemar Walczowski ¹; Małgorzata Merchel ¹; Piotr Wieczorek ¹
¹Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 199

Abstract:

Argo floats have revolutionized global oceanography. However, their use in the Arctic is challenging due to the risk of losing them under the ice. Since 2009, the Argo-Poland consortium has deployed 29 floats in the Arctic. Each year, floats are launched along the 75°N parallel, with one placed in the eastern branch of the West Spitsbergen Current and the other in its western branch. The eastern float typically crosses the Fram Strait and drifts under the ice. Nevertheless, floats that enter the Arctic Ocean are not always lost. Data collected by floats during their under-ice profiling is often received later. Floats submerged under the ice in the fall resurface the following summer. The float WMO3902112, deployed in 2020, survived for four years and operated in the Laptev Sea in autumn 2024.

Due to the lack of satellite positioning under the ice, the float’s trajectory is interpolated during preliminary data processing. Argo-Poland estimates float positions using bathymetric data. Once the floats pass the Fram Strait, they drift along the continental slope, where profile depths rarely exceed 2000 meters, facilitating location estimates.

The collected data is invaluable. The profiles provide crucial insights into changes in the Atlantic Water column as it moves eastward. The heat content of the water column is particularly significant, as its exchange with surrounding water masses influences Arctic sea ice melt. These data are compared with measurements from moorings and vessels. Thus, Argo is becoming an important component of the Integrated Arctic Ocean Observing System.
#201: Small rodent disturbance impact on Arctic graminoid forage quality — Matt Sponheimer

Gerardo Celis ¹; Kari Anne Bråthen ²; Dorothee Ehrich ³; Oliver Paine ⁴; Matt Sponheimer ⁵; Mary Heskel ⁶; Peter Ungar ⁷
¹University of Arkansas; ² The Arctic University of Norway; ³ The Arctic University of Norway; ⁴ Sand Diego State University; ⁵ University of Colorado at Boulder; ⁶ Macalester College; ⁷ University of Arkansas

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 201

Abstract:

Arctic rodents influence tundra plant communities by altering species diversity, structure, and nutrient dynamics. These dynamics are intensified during rodent population peaks. Grasses and sedges are well known to defend themselves in response to rodent grazing by increasing silica and/or phenolics. However, changes in plant tissue digestibility may also play a role in deterring rodents or impacting their survival. This study presents a first look at the impacts of rodent herbivory on crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of three of the most common graminoid species (Calamagrostis sp., Carex nigra and Deschampsia cespitosa) in the tundra meadows of the Varanger Peninsula, Norway. We created 32 experimental plots representing both rodent-disturbed and adjacent, undisturbed graminoid patches. During a rodent population peak, we found significant differences due to intensified rodent activity, with more disturbed plots showing higher ADF (28.5%) values than less disturbed ones (26.6%), controlling for plant species. We also found differences between species, with Carex nigra having the lowest fiber content (24.3% ADF) and highest protein content (18.2% CP) – making it the most palatable species. These results show that rodent activity can potentially alter plant food quality, suggesting that increased fiber content may be a defensive adaptation against herbivory.
#209: Utilization of Fine-Scale Mapping to Quantify Landscape, Permafrost and Vegetation Evolution in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska — Briana McNeal

Briana McNeal ¹; Donald Walker ¹; Olivia Hobgood ¹; Helga Bültmann ²; Jozef Šibík ³; Martha Raynolds ¹; Amy Breen ¹; Jana Peirce ¹; Hannah Chapman-Dutton ¹
¹University of Alaska Fairbanks; ² University of Münster; ³ Slovak Academy of Science

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: #209

Abstract:

Ice-rich permafrost landscapes are a key feature in Arctic ecosystems that are increasingly susceptible to change with climate warming due to their ice content. In coastal tundra regions, these ice-rich systems often appear as polygonal matrices formed through ice wedge development. These landscapes also give rise to ice-cored mounds known as pingos. This study aims to quantify the small-scale changes occurring in these polygonal landscapes and on pingos through the use of fine-scale mapping. Change was analyzed over a period of 32 years using orthomosaic and aerial imagery from 1987, 1988, and 2020 alongside digital surface models and accuracy assessment points obtained in the field. A 350 x 300 m section located in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, was mapped for the two time periods using photo interpretation and ArcGIS Pro 3.3.1 elevation surface geoprocessing tools. The area of interest is contained within a drained thaw lake basin with a well-developed polygonal network and steep-sided pingo. The changes in vegetation, surficial features, and surficial feature elements were compared between the two time periods. The preliminary analysis reveals a decrease in low-centered polygons and very wet vegetation of 86% and 56%, respectively, from 1988 along with an 18% increase in trough width. Significant changes in pingo drainage features were also observed. The knowledge of these fine-scale changes can be used to predict future ecosystem changes in these vulnerable Arctic ecosystems. This study can also help to inform future work that aims to utilize remote sensing to map Arctic landscapes in greater detail.
#214: Exploring ICESat-2 derived coastal elevation data for erosion quantification in the Arctic — Rafael Bendo Paulino

Rafael Bendo Paulino ¹; Andre De Lima ¹; Celso Ferreira ¹; Tyler Miesse ¹; Thomas Ravens ²; Paul Houser ¹; William Najjar ²; Ries Tviet ²
¹George Mason University; ² University of Alaska Anchorage

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 214

Abstract:

High-latitude regions are highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, where the increases in temperature at twice the global average result in decreasing sea ice, sea-level rise, and permafrost thawing. Consequently, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather conditions can potentially cause unprecedented flooding and erosion on the coast, significantly impacting coastal communities. The NASA Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat-2) provides a great opportunity to assist in monitoring and assessing natural disasters over space and time in remote polar coastal regions. However, the utilization of ICESAT-2 for monitoring and quantifying coastal erosion and landscape changes in the Arctic is still scarce in the literature. In this context, this research seeks to validate ICESat-2 elevation data for tracking coastal erosion and shoreline retreat in the Arctic. A framework that integrates ICESat-2 data, and available Arctic elevation datasets provided by federal and state agencies was developed to better quantify and understand the inherent uncertainties in utilizing the satellite data for shoreline monitoring. Thus, supporting a greater understanding of fundamental processes impacting Arctic coastal erosion, and investigating potential impacts of climate change on coastal erosion in the Arctic. These findings enhance the capacity to quantify and monitor changes in Arctic coastal erosion, including coastal bluff retreat, barrier island erosion, and permafrost collapse.
#219: Frontiers in storm surge and wave climate: exploring Alaska’s changing coastal hazards — Tyler Miesse

Tyler Miesse ¹; Rafael Bendo ¹; Andre de Lima ¹; Celso Ferreira ¹; Thomas Ravens ²
¹George Mason University; ² University of Alaska Anchorage

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 219

Abstract:

The Arctic region is experiencing significant changes due to climate change, most notably the decline in sea ice, which affects ocean dynamics and intensifies coastal hazards. This study utilizes numerical models to simulate interactions between the ocean, land, sea ice, and atmosphere, focusing on the period from 1979 to 2023. Using the coupled Advanced CIRCulation (ADCIRC) and Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) models, we simulate the flooding and waves generated by extratropical and arctic polar cyclones in the Arctic. Data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis (ERA5), including sea ice concentration and atmospheric forcing were utilized to support these simulations, which investigate annual conditions in the Alaskan Arctic. Our research identifies trends in cyclones that place Alaskan coastal communities at risk of moderate and major flood stages. This analysis enables us to assess the potential risks based on the main characteristics of cyclones affecting Alaska. Additionally, these results generate a 44-year database of storm surges and significant wave heights in Alaska. The findings offer critical insights into the frequency and intensity of coastal inundation, revealing the flood exposure of coastal communities in Western and Northern Alaska. Thus, our work enhances our understanding of coastal vulnerabilities on mitigation strategies in response to ongoing climatic changes.
#226: Permafrost Grown: Supporting Sustainable Permafrost-agroecosystems by Co-producing Knowledge with Alaskan farmers — Melissa Ward Jones

Melissa Ward Jones ¹; Glenna Gannon ²; Tobias Schwoerer ³; Benjamin Jones ¹; Mikhail Kanevskiy ¹; Yuri Shur ¹; Benjamin Gaglioti ¹; Nicholas Parlato ³; Chien-Lu Ping ²; Daniel Stitch ²; Amber Agnew ²; Phillip Wilson ¹
¹Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks; ² Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension, University of Alaska Fairbanks; ³ International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 226

Abstract:

A warming Arctic is benefitting the northern expansion of agriculture. Arable land area within the discontinuous permafrost zone is expected to increase with potential to grow globally important crops. A warming Arctic is also driving the rapid degradation of near-surface permafrost which impacts interconnected ecosystems, communities, economies, and industry sectors. The challenges introduced by degrading ice-rich permafrost can lead to shifts in cultivation practices and in some cases field abandonment. Understanding the interactions between permafrost and agriculture has received little attention to date. Permafrost Grown is co-producing knowledge between Alaskan farmers and a transdisciplinary research team from the University of Alaska Fairbanks to advance our understanding of the interactions and feedbacks between permafrost and agriculture.

This presentation will give an overview of recent project activities with a focus on co-production activities including a two-day workshop held in April 2024. The workshop included presentations by both farmer-collaborators and members of the research team and was centered around discussions and activities based on the principals of two-way-learning. One activity was a permafrost-degradation scenario game where farmers had to develop an imaginary farm and respond to permafrost degradation scenarios over six growing seasons. Another exercise looked into the decisions farmers make when considering the purchase of new farmland based on lot characteristics indicating uncertainty regarding the presence/absence of permafrost.

Together with researchers and farmer-collaborators, the project is developing management strategies and a best practice guide for farmers cultivating on permafrost-affected soils. The project results will contribute to sustainable agricultural development practices in high latitude areas.
#227: Mapping Indigenous-Owned Alaska Native Regional Corporations’ Economic Influence in the Alaskan Tourism Industry — Vincent Pellegrino

Vincent Pellegrino ¹
¹George Washington University

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 227

Abstract:

Alaska has always attracted people from lower latitudes seeking to explore “The Great Land”, and in recent years its tourism industry has been growing after a strong rebound from COVID-19 related travel shutdowns as many seek their “last chance” to visit glaciers and spot wildlife before they disappear due to our warming climate. As tourism booms in Alaska, it is important to consider who is profiting from the revenue tourism is bringing to the region and its territories and waters, since many of them have traditional homelands for Indigenous Peoples. This paper seeks to address that question by looking at Alaska Native Regional Corporations and their share of ownership in the tourism industry. These corporations have the potential to be a powerful economic tool for Indigenous Alaskans, as they can use these corporations to keep the income brought from tourism in local communities. This paper seeks to use ArcGIS to create a map and directory of tourism companies currently owned by Alaska Native Regional Corporations to visualize and conceptualize the state of current Indigenous ownership. This knowledge can be used to further understand the current representation Indigenous Alaskans have in the Alaska tourism industry and to help consider possibilities to promote their socio-economic influence in the industry.
#231: Exploring the WASH Landscape in Alaska: Findings from a Scoping Review — Nathalie Thelemaque

Nathalie Thelemaque ¹; Caitlyn Butler ¹; Emily Kumpel ¹; David Fuente ²
¹University of Massachusetts Amherst; ² University of South Carolina

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 231

Abstract:

Clean and safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services are necessary for all individuals, however, climate change makes access to these services at risk. The ongoing threat of climate change especially stresses rural Alaskan communities, where more than 3,000 rural homes lack access to running water and flush toilets necessary for maintaining community health. With impending significant investment in Alaska water and sanitation infrastructure improvements, it is imperative to understand the status of WASH within the state. WASH literature in the region focuses broadly on the Arctic, minimizing focus on Alaska-specific concerns. Therefore, this study presents the results of a scoping review of scholarly and gray literature in the fields of public health, engineering, and social science that center WASH in rural Alaskan communities. The published literature examines the challenges associated with different water (e.g., hauled water, packed water) and sanitation (e.g., honey buckets, wastewater lagoons) services in various parts of the state through the lenses of public health, sociotechnical systems, water quality, and sustainability. However, the literature focuses more on water than sanitation, limiting our understanding of hygiene associated with wastewater services in the state. This research identifies areas for further examination in water system affordability, standards for infrastructure development, and improving support for unserved communities. Practically, this work allows relevant stakeholders to comprehensively interpret the standing of WASH infrastructure in Alaska to inform improved infrastructure planning and development.
#232: Using the Community Artic Transportation Accessibility Model (CATAM) to Evaluate Future Challenges to Terrestrial Accessibility — Emma Haggerty

Emma Haggerty ¹; Dmitry Streletskiy ¹
¹The George Washington University

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 232

Abstract:

This research expands on the methodology of the Community Arctic Transportation Accessibility Model (CATAM) to identify vulnerabilities in permanent roads and railroads as well as seasonal winter and ice roads under rapidly changing climatic conditions. CATAM uses the latest CMIP6 data from NCAR’s Community Earth System Model (CESM) to examine these future transportation hazards under moderate (SSP245) and fossil-intensive (SSP585) climate scenarios. The study area of this analysis encompasses the Arctic states, including the US (Alaska), Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, which reveal a projected decline in land-based accessibility by mid-century. Regions and routes highlighted by the outcomes of this work provide valuable insights for the development of reliable and sustainable transportation infrastructure in the Arctic.
#242: Climate Change Impacts on South Greenland Coastal Communities through Indigenous Perspectives — Jaeheon Kim

Jaeheon Kim ¹; Erik Kielsen ²; Suuluaraq Motzfeldt ³; Kiley Daley ⁴; Jasmine Saros ⁴; Keith Evans ⁴
¹Gulf of Maine Research Institute, University of Maine; ² Innovation South Greenland; ³ Qeqqata Kommunia, Innovation South Greenland; ⁴ University of Maine

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 242

Abstract:

The Arctic is warming at a rate 4 times faster than the global average, and is particularly vulnerable to climate change effects. South Greenland faces many of the same climate change impacts as other arctic coastal systems, which challenge local economies, food availability, and indigenous way of life. In collaboration with indigenous research partners at Innovation South Greenland including local guides, sheep farmers, hunters, and fishers, we conducted six semi-structured interviews with hunters and fishermen of various backgrounds from two key locations in South Greenland, Narsaq and Qaqortoq during the summer of 2023. This exploratory study aimed to examine the impacts of climate change on fishing and hunting in regard to self-sufficiency, which we define as “the ability to sustain oneself and livelihood, including but not limited to the ability to earn income, the ability to access food, and the ability to practice culture.” Preliminary results show that regulations and Danish colonization were some of the biggest barriers to climate change adaptations by hunters and fishermen. Food, market, and opportunity accessibility was also identified as interests for further development. Education was identified as a crucial tool for increasing resilience. Reciprocity and inclusion of indigenous voices, as well as use of local resources and services when conducting research on indigenous land were identified as key steps in knowledge co-production.

This research highlights various steps toward co-production of indigenous knowledge across multiple cultural and international barriers. We hope that this research can contribute to the future co-production of indigenous knowledge and research.
#245: Impacts of Salmon Declines and Dietary Changes on Mercury Exposure in Alaska Native Communities — M. Isabel Smith

M. Isabel Smith ¹; Anna Godduhn ²; Marie Lowe ³; John Magyar ⁴; Edda Mutter ²; Emily Seelen ⁵; A. Joshua West ¹
¹University of Southern California; ² Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council; ³ University of Alaska Anchorage; ⁴ California Institute of Technology; ⁵ University of Alaska Fairbanks

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 245

Abstract:

Due to the warmer water temperatures driven by climate change, the Yukon River has seen declines in the salmon population. Commercial fishing on the Yukon for chinook salmon ceased in 2007, and chum salmon fishing has been scarce. However in recent years, salmon runs have been so poor that even subsistence fishing has been banned since 2019. Historically, Alaska Native communities rely heavily on subsistence fishing and eat large amounts of salmon. However due to poor salmon runs, these communities are having to turn to alternative fish species and food sources.

These shifts in diet may raise concerns pertaining to human health and mercury (Hg) exposure. While all forms of mercury are harmful to humans, methylmercury (MeHg) has the ability to bioaccumulate in the body. The main source of human MeHg exposure is through diet, most commonly fish consumption. Studies have found that some Indigenous communities have disproportionately elevated blood Hg levels correlated to dietary exposure. As Alaska Native communities shift away from salmon to other species of fish or even processed foods, we may see changes in their Hg exposure. To better understand these effects, this work explores potential scenarios for changes in dietary Hg load, informed by data on fish consumption and Hg contents in the Yukon Basin.
#251: Mercury Dynamics in Different Permafrost Systems: Insights from Fieldwork in the Canadian Subarctic and Greenland — Beatriz Malcata Martins

Beatriz Malcata Martins ¹; Holger Hintelmann ²; Martin Pilote ³; Diogo Folhas ⁴; Rodrigo Dias ⁵; João Canário ⁶; Torben R. Christensen ⁷
¹Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences and Department of Chemical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Center for Northern Studies (CEN), Université Laval; ² Water Quality Centre, Trent University; ³ Environment and Climate Change Canada, Aquatic Contaminants Research Division; ⁴ Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Center for Northern Studies (CEN), Université Laval; ⁵ Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Instituto Superior Técnico; ⁶ Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Center for Northern Studies (CEN), Université Laval; ⁷ Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Unit, Oulu University

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 251

Abstract:

The Arctic and Subarctic contain vast permafrost areas that can store several contaminants, including mercury (Hg). These regions are categorized based on permafrost coverage: continuous (90-100%), discontinuous (50-90%), sporadic (10-50%), and isolated (<10%). As permafrost thaws, it releases stored Hg into the ecosystems. Furthermore, thawing creates thermokarst lakes, where Hg can be transformed into methylmercury (MMHg). MMHg is bioavailable and can enter aquatic food webs. This process threatens local ecosystems, as MMHg bioaccumulates in fish and other organisms, potentially affecting wildlife and human populations that rely on these ecosystems for food. Climate change accelerates permafrost thaw, amplifying Hg release in these regions.
In this study, thermokarst lakes were sampled across three permafrost regions: sporadic permafrost in Kuujjuarapik (Canada), discontinuous permafrost in Kangiqsualujjuaq (Canada), and continuous permafrost in Zackenberg (Greenland). Sediment samples were collected from two lakes per site in the summers of 2022-2023. Total Hg and MMHg concentrations were analyzed and incubation experiments using isotope enriched Hg were conducted to measure methylation rates. Kangiqsualujjuaq lakes exhibited the highest THg concentrations (40–84 ng/g), while Zackenberg had the lowest (12–20 ng/g). Despite having lower THg, the lake with the highest concentration of MMHg (2 ng/g) was sampled in Zackenberg, which suggests a high microbial activity or high availability of inorganic Hg. In fact, this lake methylated 13% of added Hg within 6 hours, which is the highest methylation potential observed in this study. Important factors influencing the methylation potential might be related to permafrost coverage and age of the lake.
#253: Arctic Ocean 2050: new research for a sustainable ocean management — Jørgen Berge

Jørgen Berge ¹; Tor Eldevik ²; Maria Fossheim ³; Tore Furevik ⁴; Nalan Koç ⁵; Øyvind Paasche ⁶; Davor Vidas ⁷; Yasemin Bodur ¹
¹UiT The Arctic University of Norway; ² University of Bergen; ³ Institute of Marine Research; ⁴ National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center; ⁵ Norwegian Polar Institute; ⁶ Norwegian Research Centre; ⁷ Fridjof Nansen Institute

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 253

Abstract:

The Arctic Ocean undergoes severe climate change-induced transformations, and political as well as commercial interest in the region are increasing. These changes bear challenges which need to be addressed by a sustainably managed Arctic Ocean. The new research project Polhavet 2050 – Arctic Ocean 2050 (AO50) unites 18 Norwegian research institutions for the coming decade to address the knowledge gaps that emerge with a transforming Arctic Ocean. By studying the Arctic Ocean as one interconnected system, AO50 aims to set the baseline for the development and implementation of strong management principles and policies in the region. For achieving this aim, international collaboration is essential, and the synthesis of data, models, and knowledge covering the entire Arctic Ocean and adjacent shelf seas together with international partners will be a key focus of the project.

AO50 is organized along five research themes (global drivers and feedback, the changing Arctic Ocean, abrupt changes and extreme events, humans and a blue Arctic Ocean, advances in modelling and observing), unified in an overall synthesis theme (Arctic Ocean pathways). A common focus across all five axes are the physical environment, biogeochemistry, biology and governance. By contributing to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development during the forthcoming International Polar Year 2032-2033, the project will provide a foundation for a long-term international research effort. As such, AO50 will generate baselines for a sustainable management for environmental protection, socio-economic development and international collaboration in the region.
#261: Blue rings in juniper wood as ecological indicators of post-volcanic cooling events recorded in Arctic shrubs — Magdalena Opała-Owczarek

Magdalena Opała-Owczarek ¹; Ulf Buntgen ²; Piotr Owczarek ³
¹University of Silesia; ² University of Cambridge; ³ University of Wrocław

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 261

Abstract:

Climate reconstructions in the Arctic are largely based on ice-core records; non-glaciated areas are less well represented. Arctic dendrochronology can fill the gaps between short meteorology series and proxies with lower time resolution, such as ice cores and lake sediment. Studies of the dynamics of plant annual rings can answer questions about how tundra ecosystems may have been altered by climate change over the past few centuries. Owing to their limited age, they are not suitable for reconstructing the climate of the past. Here, for the first time, we compile a continuous time series from 1526 to 2023, the longest dendrochronological record for the Arctic. The new dendrochronological record reflects the temperature conditions of the Greenlandic and Icelandic terrestrial ecosystem during the last half millennium and shows the warming and cooling phases since the Little Ice Age in the non-glaciated areas. The very difficult cross-dating was further verified by using less lignified cell walls, known as blue rings, as time markers first time observed in Greenland and Iceland. The highest frequency of BR structures was recorded in the years when the Laki (1783-1784) and Tambora (1815) eruptions occurred. We highlight the beneficial aspect of using the BRs feature as an added value for dendroecology - as an indicator of summer cooling, but also as pointer years to improve cross-dating, often challenging in the case of juniper wood.

The research was funded by a Polish National Science Centre project no. UMO-2019/35/D/ST10/03137.
#263: Linking Arctic Rain on Snow Events with Atmospheric Rivers — Mark Serreze

Mark Serreze ¹; Jessica Voveris ²
¹University of Colorado Boulder; ² Aur Force Weather

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 263

Abstract:

Arctic rain-on-snow (ROS) events can have significant impacts on Arctic wildlife and socioeconomic systems. This study addresses the meteorology of Arctic ROS events from two case studies, with comparisons with other known significant cases. The first event, occurring near Nuuk, Greenland, generated significant impacts, including slush avalanches. The second, less severe, event occurred within the community of Iqaluit, Nunavut. Atmospheric blocking played a leading role in ROS initiation for these and other events, with atmospheric rivers – narrow bands of high water vapor transport, typically originating from the tropics and subtropics – having both direct and indirect effects. Cyclone induced low-level jets and resultant ‘warm noses’ of higher air temperatures and moisture transport are other key features in ROS generation. To our knowledge, our study is the first to visualize how the varying strength and manifestation of these coupled features contribute to differences in the severity of Arctic ROS events. The meteorological drivers identified here find support from other studies on Arctic ROS events and are similar to weather features associated with Arctic precipitation events of extreme magnitude.
#264: The Raster CAVM – hard-copy and digital versions to support current and future research applications — Martha Raynolds

Martha Raynolds ¹; Donald Walker ¹
¹University of Alaska Fairbanks

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 264

Abstract:

A raster version of the Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map (CAVM) was created in 2019, building on the success of the 2003 vector CAVM. The raster version uses the same Arctic extent as originally defined by the CAVM and the same circumpolar legend based on plant physiognomy. The raster format, based on analysis of 1-km AVHRR data, is compatible with remote sensing data, making it easier to use for analysis and modeling.

The CAVM provides a base map for many studies, and its boundaries are the most common delineation used to define the Arctic. The Raster version has been used for mapping studies, modeling, and for extrapolating local or regional findings to larger areas.

There are aspects of the CAVM that could be improved on. The treeline boundaries and the ice boundaries could be updated using recent mapping. The 1-km resolution makes a very manageable dataset size, but many studies are now working at finer resolutions. We expect the CAVM will continue to be useful at the circumpolar scale. We also expect that the legend, with its easily understood units and its hierarchical nature, will continue to provide a framework for other arctic vegetation maps.

We have a new hard-copy version of the Raster CAVM, which displays the map on the front and details about the map and the legend units on the back. Photographs illustrate landscape views and characteristic plants of the units. We hope this beautiful map will inspire new avenues of Arctic research.
#265: Reading maps, reading extraction businesses — Gudrun Havsteen-Mikkelsen

Gudrun Havsteen-Mikkelsen ¹
¹Polar Research Design

Format: Poster virtual

Poster number: 265

Abstract:

Licenses and geological maps are active agents used to territorialize zones in the Arctic. The extractive industries use this agency within maps to develop and expand the mining sector.

In Emanuela Casti’s critiques on cartography and her semiotic analysis, she argues that that maps are agents with performative aesthetics and realities. According to Casti, maps can generate and amplify political tensions through acts of symbolic control, material control, and finally domination of meaning in contrast to simply storing information.

I would like to stress Casti’s publication Reality as representation - The semiotics of cartography and the generation of meaning (Bergamo: Bergamo University Press, 2000) and the article “Towards a Theory of Interpretation: Cartographic Semiosis” (in cartographica, vol. 40, issue 3, October 2005: 1-16) as sources of inspiration and reference.

From maps being intended as a mediation of territory, to maps being active agents that invite processes of resource extraction it demonstrates that maps indicate the potential for mining businesses. This enhances the double role of maps. On the one hand, maps are intended to transfer knowledge of territory, while on the other hand, are also active agents that invite processes of resource extraction, claiming territories and at the right moment open for investments. However, the paradox of mapping resources, is that it often, if not certainly, leaves the social and environmental issues in the periphery.
#267: Connecting Observing Gaps to Societal Impacts: A Gaps Assessment on Coastal Inundation Hazard Mitigation and Risk Management in the Alaskan Arctic — Taylor Rijos

Taylor Rijos ¹; Sandra Starkweather ²; Hazel Shapiro ³
¹Cornell University, NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory; ² Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences; ³ US Arctic Observing Network

Format: Poster virtual

Poster number: 267

Abstract:

The Arctic is experiencing accelerated climate-driven environmental changes, including extreme heat and ice loss. These changes affect coastal ecosystems and impact Arctic communities’ food security, infrastructure, and health. Despite the disproportionate effects of climate-driven hazards on Arctic communities, there are large coverage gaps in many observing systems in the Alaskan Arctic. The US Arctic Observing Network (AON) - a collaborative network of agencies, organizations, and communities - seeks to improve observational data collection and sharing to support resilience in the region. To identify problematic observing and data gaps, US AON has developed a methodology to systematically link the observing system and data products to applications that provide societal benefits. In 2023, US AON held 40+ dialogs with government and academic partners to identify important topics for assessment case studies focused on risks and hazards. Dialogs were analyzed using an inductive coding system in MAXQDA, a qualitative coding software. Using coastal inundation as our case study scope for assessment, we identified key organizations engaged in inundation work, their primary services and products, the effectiveness factors impacting their work, and the most critical consequences of inundation. Visualizations of coded qualitative data reveal gaps in and potential improvements of the observing systems. The gaps were connected with societal consequences of inundation, including subsistence food security, infrastructure, and travel. Framing the gaps assessment around societal benefits will help US AON identify equitable and strategic investments in data collection and observing to address coastal inundation and its consequences, improving climate resilience in the Alaskan Arctic.
#268: Leveraging Data Assimilation for Accurate Sea Ice State Prediction-Sea Ice Albedo as an Alternative Observational Framework — Joseph Rotondo

Joseph Rotondo ¹; Molly Weiringa ¹; Cecilia Bitz ¹; Robin Clancy ²; Steven Cavallo ²
¹University of Washington; ² University of Oklahoma

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 268

Abstract:

The Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average (Rantanen et al., 2022). This accelerated warming is evident in the rapid decline of sea ice, which not only serves as a critical indicator of climate change but also drives further warming through the ice albedo feedback loop. The decline in Arctic sea ice has far-reaching implications, including impacts on geopolitics, industrial development, and biodiversity. Accurately predicting future Arctic sea ice states is therefore a critical objective within the sea ice modeling community.

A perfect model experiment within Icepack, a one-dimensional single-column ice model, has been conducted to explore the potential of data assimilation in improving predictions of mean sea ice state by incorporating sea ice albedo. In this study, one ensemble member is designated as truth, and the sea ice characteristics from this truth member is assimilated into all other ensemble members. Data assimilation was performed using the Data Assimilation Research Testbed, which employs the Ensemble Adjustment Kalman Filter to directly solve the forward problem.

This approach was used to evaluate the significance of remote sensing for future ice albedo observations. The study found that albedo critically enhances predictions of future sea ice states when compared to commonly assimilated variables such as sea ice concentration and thickness. As a result, increasing the frequency and spatial distribution of albedo observations in the Arctic is essential. Enhanced observation networks will provide more accurate data, leading to better forecasting and a deeper understanding of sea ice dynamics in a changing climate.
#275: Transforming Snow and Sea Ice Data for Machine Learning: Developing an AI-Ready Process — Joseph Rotondo, Sky Gale, & Geraint Webb

Joseph Rotondo ¹; Sky Gale ¹; Geraint Webb ¹
¹University of Washington

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 275

Abstract:

This project focuses on creating "AI-ready" snow and sea ice datasets, which involves transforming raw observational or model-derived data into structured, machine-readable formats suitable for use in machine learning (ML) models ranging from random forests to neural networks. The process starts with data collection from various sources, including satellite imagery, in-situ measurements, and climate models, often in diverse formats and spatial/temporal resolutions. The next critical step is data preprocessing, which includes cleaning, normalization, and interpolation to handle missing values and unify resolutions.

Spatial data often requires resampling or regridding to align with a desired scale, while temporal data may need aggregation or smoothing to balance detail with computational efficiency. Feature manipulation follows, where relevant variables like snow depth, sea ice concentration, temperature, and albedo are extracted or synthesized, creating representative inputs for the ML workflow. Transformation of categorical data into numerical features is achieved through encoding methods, such as one-hot encoding or label encoding.

Data quality assurance is a fundamental component to ensure outliers and noise are appropriately addressed without losing essential variability. Normalization or standardization is applied to keep input values consistent, facilitating better training stability and model convergence. Additionally, dimensionality reduction techniques like PCA can be used to reduce feature space complexity without significant information loss. Finally, the dataset is split into training, validation, and testing sets to ensure robust model development, evaluation, and deployment. These steps, performed meticulously, transform snow and sea ice data into a standardized, feature-rich format, maximizing their utility for future ML applications.
#278: Sermilik Reserach Station in East Greenland — Andreas Trügler

Andreas Trügler ¹; Jakob Abermann ¹; Wolfgang Schöner ¹
¹University of Graz

Format: Poster virtual

Poster number: 278

Abstract:

The University of Graz has significantly expanded the Sermilik Research Station (SRS) at Sermilik Fjord on Ammassalik Island, East Greenland. The initial establishment by the University of Copenhagen from the 1970s has now been enhanced and upgraded thanks to a generous private donation, allowing for the growth and modernization of the station.

The SRS is designed to serve as an interdisciplinary scientific hub and pivotal link between academic research and the local community, focusing on the diverse impacts of Arctic climate change. This presentation will provide an overview of our research vision for the station and discuss the alignment with Greenland's research strategy. We will provide an overview of the station's infrastructure and outline some of the ongoing and planned research activities. The station aims to support scientists and students globally, offering facilities for various disciplines, including inter- and transdisciplinary research.

Strategically located at the entrance to Sermilik Fjord, near the Mittivakkat glacier delta, the station is about 15 km from Tasiilaq, the largest town in East Greenland with approximately 2,000 residents. SRS is typically accessed by boat from Tasiilaq, which connects to Iceland via Kulusuk Airport.

The region faces significant climate change challenges, such as sea ice loss, altered fish and animal populations, intensified natural hazards, and permafrost degradation. Research carried out at SRS will particularly consider local needs and challenges and aims to build strong relationships with the local community and national as well as international networks.
#285: Reshaping Arctic Scientific Research Cooperation: A Form of Collaboration that Transcends Geopolitical Divisions — Jinjie Liu

Jinjie Liu ¹
¹Liaoning University, China

Format: Poster virtual

Poster number: 285

Abstract:

The Russia-Ukraine War and its spillover effects have complicated international cooperation, and geopolitical issues have made scientific cooperation untenable, affecting important scientific research on the Arctic. The importance of scientific cooperation in the Arctic is growing, especially now that science is an important source of international competitiveness for all countries. As the eight Arctic states have been divided into Russia and the other seven after the Russia-Ukraine War, the non-Arctic states have continued to adjust their positions on the Arctic according to their own interests, and the work of non-state actors concerned with the Arctic has experienced a pause and resumption of cooperation. Three years after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine War, what is the situation of scientific cooperation in the Arctic? Is it possible to find a form of Arctic scientific cooperation that transcends geopolitical divisions in the current situation? What mechanisms will govern Arctic scientific cooperation across geopolitical divisions? This paper analyzes the content, characteristics, and direction of current Arctic scientific cooperation based on the realities of Arctic scientific research and cooperation at different levels since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine War. The paper aims to propose a form of Arctic scientific cooperation that transcends geopolitical divisions and to explore the feasibility and implementation path of this form.
#289: State of island spruce forests after 23 years — Olga Lavrinenko

Olga Lavrinenko ¹; Igor Lavrinenko ¹; Ksenia Simonova ¹
¹Komarov Botanical Institute

Format: Poster virtual

Poster number: 289

Abstract:

Re-study (after 23 years) of relict (isolated from the Holocene) spruce (Picea obovata) islands in the Ortina River basin at N 67°54'-67°56' (Bolshezemelskaya tundra, Russia) was carried out. Mean tree height in watershed islands increased by 1.1-1.9 m (4.3-8.3 cm/year) and mean diameter – by 1.9-3.0 cm (0.41-0.65 mm/year), in river valley these values were higher – 2.8 m (12.2 cm/year) and 3.7 cm (0.8 mm/year). In 2000, spruce trees predominantly had "skirts" of well-developed lower branches. By 2023, the crown of the most trees has become conical with green branches all over the trunk. On all islands spruce has been spreading vegetatively by rooting lower branches and subsequently changing their growth from plagiotropic to orthotropic. As a result, the islands area has slightly increased. Despite the abundance of both male strobiles and female cones, no undergrowth or freestanding young spruce trees were found in the surroundings. This indicates the absence of reproduction by seed for 23 years. The northward advance of forests in watersheds is limited by the lack of quality seeds for sexual reproduction. Landscape photos show the "greening" of surrounding tundra communities. On watersheds, Betula pubescens subsp. tortuosa has actively introduced into tundra communities. In the river valley, the area and height of bushes of Juniperus sibirica, shrubby willows and especially Alnus fruticosa have increased. The current position of spruce sparse forests` northern boundary in the Ortina River valley recorded on the satellite image is at N 67°53ʹ and has not changed over the last 20 years.
#290: Vegetation of the Russian Arctic from class to associations — Olga Lavrinenko

Olga Lavrinenko ¹; Nadezhda Matveyeva ¹; Igor Lavrinenko ¹; Nadezhda Sinelnikova ²; Mikhail Telyatnikov ³
¹Komarov Botanical Institute; ² Институт биологических проблем Севера ДВО РАН; ³ Центральный Сибирской ботанический сад СО РАН

Format: Poster virtual

Poster number: 290

Abstract:

As part of a large initiative project (see Plugatar et al., 2020) to create a serial publication “Prodromus of the vegetation of Russia”, work was carried out to inventory the vegetation of the Russian Arctic to the level of associations. The checklist of syntaxa of the Russian Arctic (Matveeva and Lavrinenko, 2021) became the basis for the compilation of the Prodromus. The main Arctic classes unite: Drabo corymbosae–Papaveretea dahliani Daniöls, Elvebakk et Matveyeva in Daniöls et al. 2016 – 1 order, 6 alliances (5 of which need to be described) and 20 associations; Carici arctisibiricae–Hylocomietea alaskani Matveyeva et Lavrinenko 2023 – 3 orders, 6 alliances and 37 associations; Carici rupestris–Kobresietea bellardii Ohba 1974 – 1 order, 3 alliances and 26 associations; Loiseleurio procumbentis–Vaccinietea Eggler ex Schubert 1960 – 1 order, 4 alliances and 41 associations. For all syntaxonomic units, information on individual code, name, synonyms, diagnostic species, habitats, range, subsyntaxa, and sources of information is given. Descriptions of “arctic” orders, unions and associations are also presented in many classes of intrazonal (snowbed, mire, aquatic, halophytic, etc.) vegetation. Such a review will serve as a modern basis for characterizing the Arctic vegetation cover, mapping it, assessing species diversity, and studying its transformation under the influence of climatic and anthropogenic factors.
#291: Catalogue of biotopes of East European tundra — Igor Lavrinenko

Igor Lavrinenko ¹; Olga Lavrinenko ²; Nadezhda Matveyeva ²; Daria Karsonova ²; Vasiliy Neshataev ²; Anna Lapina ²; Ksenia Simonova ²; Natalia Tsyvkunova ²; Evgeniy Kotlyarchuk ²
¹Russian Botanical Society (RBS); ² Komarov Botanical Institure RAS

Format: Poster virtual

Poster number: 291

Abstract:

The habitats (biotopes) of the Arctic are the basis for the existence of its fauna and flora, so monitoring of their status is more effective than that of species populations (EU Habitats Directive, 1992, Natura 2000, EUNIS, CarHAB, etc.). When delineating Arctic habitats, the use of European classifications (Palaearctic Habitats, CORINE, EUNIS, etc.) is problematic due to the absence of many of them in Western Europe. We are developing a hierarchical classification of biotopes in the Russian Arctic using the example of East European tundra. It is based on the location of biotopes on the geomorphological profile and ecological features of the site. Syntaxonomic composition of vegetation used as the most important diagnostic indicator for different categories of biotopes. To diagnose habitats a typological scheme was developed, which makes it possible to identify on the map territorial units of vegetation (TUV) of different complexity and rank with preservation of information on the composition of syntaxa and spatial structure of contours. A scheme of step-by-step merging of TUV categories from phytocenosis to geobotanical area is proposed for generalisation of maps as the scale decreases (Lavrinenko, 2020). Among the most important characteristics of habitats is their resource significance for biota species and humans. Large-scale mapping of biotopes is carried out in some areas of East European tundra and categories with high resource significance and high numbers of rare and in need of protection of fauna and flora are identified. Based on these materials, a Red List of habitats is being developed.
#295: Arctic Snowpack study using SAR data and in-situ observation in Alaska — Sreelekshmi S

Sreelekshmi S ¹; Gulab Singh ¹
¹Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 295

Abstract:

This study explores the sensitivity of SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) backscatter to snow properties, emphasizing its utility in regions with complex terrain and variable weather conditions. Temporal analysis of SAR data reveals its ability to characterize snow properties where conventional co- and cross-polarization-based snow mapping methods often fail, particularly in areas with snow densities below 200 kg/m3. By integrating snow depth data of Alaska from NOAA, the study correlates temporal variations in SAR backscatter with snow characteristics such as depth and wetness, highlighting the significance of selecting optimal time periods for snow cover mapping. The study emphasizes the importance of multi-sensor data integration, particularly in challenging conditions where cloud cover hinders optical sensors' ability to accurately map snow. SAR, with its cloud-penetrating capabilities, provides reliable snow information even during adverse weather conditions, making it a valuable tool for snow studies. Furthermore, SAR's sensitivity to the dynamic nature of the snowpack, snowmelt and freeze, allows for more detailed monitoring of snow evolution over time. With changing climatic conditions, continuous snowpack monitoring during spring melt becomes critical for freshwater resource management. The study suggests that frequent SAR observations are essential for tracking snowpack changes, offering valuable insights for decision-making in water resource management. Combining SAR with optical data and climate records enhances the understanding of snow dynamics, ensuring more accurate and timely snow mapping in critical regions.
#297: Is a world with Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Data Openness Possible? Rethinking Public data ecosystems under an indigenous community perspective — Dimitrios Symeonidis

Dimitrios Symeonidis ¹
Lead Author Affiliation

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 297

Abstract:

The Arctic lies amidst several Grand Challenges. These include climate justice and the socio-cultural dimension of the digital transformation. A promising solution that resolve some of the aforementioned issues includes harnessing Public Data Ecosystems (PDEs) and utilizing them within the context of a novel paradigm, that includes collective, data and artificial intelligence. PDEs collect data from all stakeholders of the stakeholder map and, in this way, help make well-informed decisions at the local or national level. Connecting PDEs to collective and data intelligence concepts and using artificial intelligence for analysis of the findings can generate novel insights in finding the most socially inclusive and financially and environmentally sustainable solutions to deal with the foregoing challenges. Openness of data always, however, raises concerns with regards to data sovereingty. Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDS), in particular, has long been considered a challenging topic, as European colonialism has resulted in control of indigenous data collection and management. Achieving IDS includes using indigenous data in a way that results in collective well-being and self-determination of indigenous communities. Taking this challenge into account, this research paper performs a systematic literature review to understand how data sovereignty is dealt with in countries where PDE initiatives are taking place, on one hand, and on the other hand what are the key challenges with indigenous data sovereignty reported. This will be complemented by a thematic analysis of the results, to find existing and novel solutions, using the new intelligence paradigm, to ensure both data sovereignty and openness of data.
#306: Negative impact of the snow to rain transition of extreme summer precipitation events on the Greenland Ice Sheet surface mass balance — Alex Crawford

Nicole Loeb ¹; Alex Crawford ²; Julienne Stroeve ³
¹Department of Environment and Geography, Univeristy of Manitoba; ² Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba; ³ Centre for Earth Observation Science, University of Manitoba, National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado, Alfred Wegener Institute

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 306

Abstract:

Mass loss from the Greenland Ice Sheet is projected to contribute several centimeters of sea-level rise by 2100. Historically, extreme precipitation events over the Greenland Ice Sheet have been predominantly positive contributors to its surface mass balance (SMB), either adding snow or adding rain that percolates through the surface snowpack and firn layers before freezing into ice lenses. In other words, even when rain-on-snow is occurring, historical extreme precipitation events have typically led to mass gains for the Greenland Ice Sheet. Using simulations from the Regional Atmospheric Climate Model (RACMO) and a variable resolution configuration of the Community Earth System Model (VR-CESM), we show that, in a strong warming scenario (SSP5-8.5), the SMB of the Greenland Ice Sheet switches from consistently positive during summer extreme precipitation events historically to commonly negative by 2100. In southwest Greenland, the switch is more dramatic, with the SMB during extreme summer precipitation switching from always positive historically to always negative by 2100. Across Greenland, the SMB response to extreme precipitation events also becomes more variable, with the interquartile range increasing by 20% to 200% from historical by 2100. This transition coincides with a shift toward a greater fraction of extreme precipitation falling as rain, an increase in the total precipitation occurring during extremes, and an increase in runoff (and therefore mass loss) during extreme precipitation events. In short, the shift to more rain means that extreme precipitation events will no longer reliably counteract summer surface mass loss for the Greenland Ice Sheet.
#313: Revisiting Climate Drivers of Arctic Tundra Variability and Change with a View to the Future — Uma Bhatt

Uma Bhatt ¹; Donald Walker ²; Gerald Frost ³; Martha Raynolds ⁴; Christine Waigl ⁵; Matthew Macander ⁶; Howard Epstein ⁷; Jorge Pinzon ⁸; Compton Tucker ⁹; Josephino Comiso ¹⁰
¹University of Alaska Fairbanks; ² University of Alaska Fairbanks; ³ Alaska Biological Research; ⁴ University of Alaska Fairbanks; ⁵ University of Alaska Fairbanks; ⁶ Alaska Biological Research Inc; ⁷ University of Virginia; ⁸ SSAI & NASA; ⁹ NASA GSFC; ¹⁰ NASA GSFC

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 313

Abstract:

Much of the large-scale variability in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is driven by climate variations in the Arctic. Declining coastal sea ice and associated warmer temperatures were found to be significantly correlated with NDVI in a study that covered the period 1982-2008 (Bhatt et al. 2010). As the climate has continued to warm and late summer sea ice is largely absent along the Arctic coast, the relationships among sea ice, summer temperatures, and NDVI are changing at varied rates across the Arctic tundra biome. This spatially varying response to change across the Arctic necessitates an updated regional analysis of NDVI and climate drivers over tundra vegetation regionally.

This analysis will employ the NASA GIMMS-3g+ biweekly NDVI derived from circumpolar AVHRR satellite observations, which now covers more than four decades (1982-2023), ERA5 climate reanalysis, passive microwave sea ice concentration, and select local station data. The climate variables for the analysis will include seasonal air temperature, precipitation, snow water equivalent, and others. Climate and NDVI data will be analyzed for trends and interannual-to-decadal variations in the context of atmospheric teleconnections. Analysis of temperature and precipitation from CMIP6 future climate scenarios to 2100 will be conducted to anticipate what climate conditions the Arctic tundra will experience at the end of this century.

Bhatt, U.S., D.A. Walker, M.K. Raynolds, J.C. Comiso, H.E. Epstein, G.Jia, R. Gens, J.E. Pinzon, C.J. Tucker, C.E. Tweedie, and P.J. Webber, 2010: Circumpolar Arctic tundra vegetation change is linked to sea-ice decline, Earth Interactions. 14(8), 1-20.
#316: Arctic-Alpine Treeline Communities – where the forest meets tundra: Challenges of vegetation and habitat classification — Maria Sibikova

Maria Sibikova ¹; Skip Walker ²; Amy Breen ³; Helga Bueltmann ⁴; Jozef Sibik ⁵
¹Plant Science and Biodiversity Center of Slovak Academy of Sciences; ² Department of Biology and Wildlife, Alaska Geobotany Center, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, AK, USA; ³ Department of Biology and Wildlife, Alaska Geobotany Center, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, AK, USA; ⁴ University of Münster, Germany; ⁵ Plant Science and Biodiversity Center of Slovak Academy of Sciences

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 316

Abstract:

The treeline represents a crucial interface between two distinct zonal vegetation types: the boreal forest and the arctic tundra. Alongside this zonal gradient, azonal communities such as alluvial forests and scrub play an indispensable role in the ecosystem. The transition from boreal forest to arctic tundra is not abrupt but rather gradual, encompassing a wide transitional area (Viereck 1979). Understanding the fundamental mechanisms that govern northern treelines is essential for accurately predicting shifts in biomes and assessing vegetation's response to climate change (Maher et al. 2021).

Boreal forests, which delineate the northern treeline, are characterized by a diversity of plant communities, each with unique structural features, ecological requirements, and species compositions. These communities can be classified as "habitats" using various classification systems (EUNIS in Europe, EcoVeg habitat system in the United States). Additionally, they can be categorized as "syntaxonomical units" through the phytosociological classification system (Braun-Blanquet approach, e.g. Mucina et al. 2016) which has a long-standing application in Europe since the early 20th century and has also been effectively utilized in the US (e.g. Walker et al. 2018). This syntaxonomical classification relies on standardized vegetation plots, facilitating comparative analyses across continents. However, it is noteworthy that vegetation scientists often sample under optimal conditions, potentially resulting in the under-sampling of specific boreal forest variants found in transitional zones.

This study aims to consolidate current knowledge on the habitats and syntaxonomical classification of treeline forest communities in both Europe and the US, while also identifying gaps and research needs for future exploration.
#321: High-altitude alpine ecosystems: vulnerability to climate change and potential for carbon sequestration — Federica D'Alò

Federica D'Alò ¹; Olga Gavrichkova ^1,2; Carlotta Volterrani ^1,3; Maurizio Sarti ⁴; Alexandru Milcu ⁵; Sebastien Devidal ⁵; Enrico Brugnoli ¹; Angela Augusti ¹
¹Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council, Porano (TR), Italy; ² National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, Italy; ³ Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics (DAIS), Cà Foscari University of Venice, Mestre (VE), Italy; ⁴ Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; ⁵ Montpellier European Ecotron, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Montferrier-Sur-Lez, France

Format: Poster Virtual

Poster number: 321

Abstract:

High-altitude and high-latitude regions are particularly sensitive to climate change with current warming causing irreversible impacts. Climate change affects carbon cycle, altering the balance between carbon assimilation through photosynthesis and its release via respiration. High-altitude alpine ecosystems are increasingly viewed as analogous to Marginal Ice Zones (MIZ) due to similarity in species composition, sensitivity to warming and critical role in carbon dynamics. Like polar MIZ, which transition between sea ice and open ocean, high-altitude ecosystems form fragile boundaries between snow-covered and more pronounced vegetated landscapes. Both regions are experiencing rapid changes, impacting carbon dynamics. In this study, a site at 2500m was treated as an “emerging MIZ,” characterized by fluctuating snow cover and shifts in plant productivity. To investigate climate change effects on CO2 fluxes, alpine ecosystem monoliths (2500m a.s.l., Mont Blanc, Italy) were transferred to the Montpellier European Ecotron (France) for climate manipulation. Monoliths were exposed to current (~420ppm CO2) and future scenarios (~550ppm and ~800ppm CO2, according to RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively) forecasted for 2070. Ecosystem respiration (Reco) and Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) were measured, and Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) was calculated. While differences between Control and RCP 4.5 were minimal, RCP 8.5 plots showed significantly higher GPP and increased Reco. Enhanced C allocation towards the green canopy allowed the system to maintain a positive carbon balance, acting as a carbon sink. In summary, alpine ecosystems, like MIZ, are highly responsive to future climate scenarios and could play a significant role in carbon sequestration under high-emission conditions.
#325: NNA Convergence Research Cruise – Bringing the ACTION project to sea — Chris Maio

Chris Maio ¹
¹University of Alaska Fairbanks - Alaska Coastal Cooperative

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 325

Abstract:

The NNA Collaborative’s Alaska Coastal Cooperative (ACC) for Coproducing Transformative Ideas and Opportunities in the North (ACTION) seeks to contribute towards climate resilience by investing in developing an effective co-production process across its twelve community partners. The ACC’s threefold mission includes; 1) enhancing communication that elevates local research priorities, 2) co-producing applied science that contributes towards addressing these priorities, and, 3) supporting local technical capacity through innovative workforce development and education opportunities. These will be embodied in the July 2025 NNA Convergence Research cruise.

Twenty participants including Indigenous knowledge holders, scientists, and educators will go to sea aboard the R/V Sikuliaq in July of 2025. The 16-day cruise will run from Seward to Nome making stops for research operations and community workshops during visits to Chignik Bay, Atka, and Gambell. Science operations include multibeam bathymetric surveys and CTD casts, deploying 2 bottom-mounted physical oceanographic moorings and a series of wave buoys.

Aboard the ship we will intentionally create a safe and open space that is responsive to dialogues, peer mentoring, reciprocity, and informally setting an intention to integrate learning opportunities through research activities. Knowledge exchange aboard the cruise will both directly support the science mission as well as provide an informal setting that builds knowledge regarding coastal and oceanographic processes and scientific techniques. We will magnify the impacts of the cruise well-beyond its participants through a short documentary film for public outreach. We plan to conduct a similar cruise in 2026, where we will incorporate lessons learned in 2025.
#326: Modelling the winter snow pack evolution in Greenland — Kirsty Langley

Kirsty Langley ¹; Ward van Pelt ²; Arno Hammann ¹; Ida Jacobsen ³; Alexandra Messerli ¹; Karoline Nilsson ¹
¹Asiaq - Greenland Survey; ² University of Uppsala; ³ Greenland Institute of Natural Resources

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 326

Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to understand the dynamics of the snowpack in the Kangerluarsunnguaq (Kobbefjord) area of Greenland and its implications for vegetation, wildlife, and human activities. The snowpack plays a crucial role in insulating and protecting the underlying ground, affecting winter transport, recreation, and water resources upon melting. The research aims to model the evolution of the snowpack over recent and historic periods, with a focus on identifying the occurrence and thickness of ice layers.

Using a snow model developed by van Pelt et al (2019), we aim to answer the following questions : What happens in the winter snowpack over the course of a winter? When and where do ice layers form and how thick do they get? Is this occurring more frequently in recent years? How does this link to vegetation cover and type?

This is the first time this model has been applied for Greenland. The model will be tested and tuned for Greenland conditions at a well-known and data rich G-E-M site in West Greenland, Kangerluarsunnguaq (Kobbefjord), thus paving the way for its broader use. Here we present the preliminary results.

W. van Pelt et al., “A long-term dataset of climatic mass balance, snow conditions, and runoff in Svalbard (1957–2018),” Cryosph., vol. 13, no. 9, pp. 2259–2280, Sep. 2019, doi: 10.5194/tc-13-2259-2019.
#330: A Changing Arctic: Assessment of carbon and nitrogen in soil, surface water, and vegetation across stages of ice-wedge degradation and stabilization in the tundra of northern Alaska — Kelcy Kent

Kelcy Kent ¹; Howard Epstein ²; Torre Jorgenson ³; Claire Griffin ⁴; Mikhail Kanevskiy ⁵; Lindsay Grose ⁶; Anna Liljedahl ⁷; Ronald Daanen ⁸
¹Woodwell Climate Research Center, University of Virginia; ² University of Virginia; ³ Alaska Ecoscience; ⁴ Allegheny College; ⁵ University of Alaska Fairbanks; ⁶ University of Rhode Island; ⁷ Woodwell Climate Research Center; ⁸ Department of Natural Resources - Geological and Geophysical Surveys

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 330

Abstract:

Ice-wedge polygons – commonly found in Arctic tundra regions – produce high spatial variability in topography, hydrology, vegetation distribution, and biogeochemical processes at local to landscape scales. Recent warming has caused ice-wedge thaw, driving dramatic landscape changes. Water and nutrient availability can vary substantially across stages of ice-wedge degradation, impacting vegetation distribution, which can lead to further degradation or facilitate stabilization. These processes, however, are poorly understood, contributing to uncertainty in predicting future Arctic ecosystem trajectories. This study examined differences in carbon and nitrogen in the soil and surface water among stages of ice-wedge degradation and stabilization, as well as differences in plant functional group biomass and foliar N. To explore the impact of local conditions on these patterns, trends among ice-wedge stages were compared between two north Alaskan tundra sites (Jago River and Prudhoe Bay, Alaska). Field data were also used to calibrate and validate a nutrient-based Arctic vegetation model to assess the influence of ice-wedge degradation on Arctic vegetation communities and vegetative C and N stocks at coarser scales. At both sites, vegetation communities shifted from terrestrial moss, graminoid, and shrub-dominated to aquatic moss and hydrophilic sedge-dominated following degradation. There were ice-wedge stage-specific differences in soil and surface water nutrients, and differences in plant foliar N content. Modeled extrapolations suggest warming and ice-wedge degradation could significantly increase vegetation biomass due to the proliferation of aquatic moss. Increases in aquatic moss biomass could even exceed biomass loss following degradation, although this was specific to warmer, more southern Arctic locations.
#332: Spatiotemporal Variability of Carbon Fluxes in Response to Climatic Factors at a Tussock Tundra Site near Council, Alaska — Kelcy Kent

Kelcy Kent ¹; Kyle Arndt ²; Marco Montemayor ³; Patrick Murphy ²; Dani Trangmoe ²; Anna Virkkala ²; Sigrid Denegel ⁴; Margaret Torn ⁴; Susan Natali ²
¹Woodwell Climate Research Center & University of Virginia; ² Woodwell Climate Research Center; ³ UC Santa Cruz; ⁴ Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 332

Abstract:

The top three meters of Arctic permafrost harbors roughly two times the amount of carbon found in the atmosphere, making permafrost soils a vital global carbon stock. Arctic ecosystems, however, experience outsized consequences from climate warming, evidenced by large-scale shifts in ecosystem characteristics and alterations in biogeochemical processes and fluxes. Warming soils result in permafrost thaw and subsequent remobilization of organic material and nutrients from historically frozen soils, leading to increased microbial activity and increased potential for carbon loss. Whether various regions of the Arctic will remain carbon sinks or evolve into carbon sources – and how much C may be released from Arctic warming – is still poorly understood. In this study, we aim to track C fluxes using eddy covariance tower (EC) flux data (2017 – 2022) and experimental micro-warming soil chamber data (2017 – 2019) from an NGEE-Arctic (Next Generation Ecosystem Experiment) tussock tundra site near Council, Alaska (Ameriflux site US-NGC). By tracking changes in CO2 and CH4 fluxes (dominant forms of greenhouse gasses) in relation to meteorological and environmental parameters (such as air and soil temperature, soil moisture, and radiation) among different landscape positions (upland, lowland, slope) within the Council site watershed, we can glean insight into spatiotemporal variations in C fluxes across a landscape and how similar Arctic ecosystem C budgets may be changing with Arctic warming.
#334: NNA POLARIS project – Convergence of applied research and education activities in Chevak, Alaska — Chris Maio

Chris Maio ¹; Reggie Tuluk ²; Casey Ferguson ³; Cynthia Paniyak ⁴; Jack Wilde ⁵; Ryan Peterson ⁶; Susan Natali ⁷; Brian Reggiani ⁸; Davin Holen ⁹
¹University of Alaska Fairbanks - Alaska Coastal Cooperative; ² Chevak Tribal Council - Permafrost Pathways; ³ University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Coastal Cooperative; ⁴ Chevak Tribal Council IGAP; ⁵ Chevak Tribal Council; ⁶ Alaskanast Films; ⁷ Woodwell Climate Research Center; ⁸ University of Alaska Fairbanks Upward Bound - T3 Program; ⁹ University of Alaksa Sea Grant

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 334

Abstract:

The NNA POLARIS project is working with Indigenous partners in Chevak, Alaska to monitor and map areas affected by environmental hazards including erosion and flooding as well as changes in the availability and access to wild resources and their combined socioecological impacts. Here, we present on field work and education activities that began in the wake of Typhoon Merbok in the fall of 2022. Working with the Tribal Council, we have built strong relationships with community partners and parallel research and education efforts. Synergy created through working with the Tribes environmental program as well as other organizations such as Permafrost Pathways and the University of Alaska Fairbank Upward Bound demonstrate convergence science and its numerous broader outcomes.

In this component of the project, research activities have included baseline and repeat topographic surveys using real-time kinematic Global Navigation Satellite System and RTK mapping drones. These activities have been closely integrated with technical training for Tribal partners and the sharing of Indigenous knowledge and observations with western scientists. Closely coupled to the research activities are a series of educational programs with middle and high school students. This has included supporting Upward Bound opportunities through teaching about the tools, methods, and products of the research activities as well as field trips with Elder Indigenous knowledge holders. Through these collaborations and community partnerships we are forging convergent pathways that are contributing towards resilient Arctic riverine and coastal communities.
#342: Erosion assessment at an archaeological site in the Ilulissat Icefjord UNESCO World Heritage Site: U.S. and Greenland Researchers Collaborate on Heritage Preservation Amid Growing Arctic Tourism and Climate Change — Claire Benton

Claire Benton ¹; Bo Albrechtsen ²; Christina Bonsell ³; Hans Harmsen ⁴; Mikkel Myrup ⁴; Claire Shields ⁵
¹U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service; ² Avannaata Kommunia; ³ U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; ⁴ Nunatta Katersugaasivia Allagaateqarfialu (Greenland National Museum & Archives); ⁵ U.S. Department of the Interior, International Technical Assistance Programs

Format: Poster virtual

Poster number: 342

Abstract:

The Arctic environment has uniquely preserved many archaeological sites in Greenland, thanks to low temperatures and slow decomposition rates. The archaeological site of Sermermiut in western Greenland has provided evidence for human settlement dating back over 4,000 years. Over the past several decades, Sermermiut has eroded to the extent that the main settlement is now significantly impacted. As Sermermiut falls within the Ilulissat Icefjord UNESCO World Heritage Site, consideration for its management is essential to the integrity of the area, particularly regarding tourism. The United States government is expanding its partnerships with Greenland via technical assistance programs, particularly aimed at the economic development of a sustainable, heritage-focused tourism industry. To this end, a team of researchers from Greenland and the U.S. assembled to investigate coastal erosion and permafrost loss at Sermermiut in July 2024. Our interdisciplinary approach includes photogrammetry, soil science, and coastal science. Local expertise from Avannaata Kommunia and Nunatta Katersugaasivia Allagaateqarfialu (Greenland National Museum and Archives) provides archaeological, drone, and GIS expertise. The U.S.’s Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and Natural Resources Conservation Service offers tourism, marine dynamics, and soil science expertise. This team aims to provide the local community and resource managers with summaries of their findings in Greenlandic, Danish, and English. Centering the local community as the recipient of the knowledge will promote transparent and accessible dissemination of research findings. The investigation at and recommendations for Sermermiut can provide a framework for protecting archaeological heritage around Greenland and other Arctic communities.
#346: Adaptive pathways to natural hazards: embracing socio-ecological feedbacks and stressors together with eight partner communities — Tobias Schwoerer

Tobias Schwoerer ^1,2; John (Marty) Anderies ²; George Anderson ³; Matthew Balazs ¹; Shauna BurnSilver ³; Tatiana Degai ⁵; Casey Ferguson ¹; Christopher Maio ¹; Andrey Petrov ⁶; Victoria Sharakhmatova ⁶; Abigail York ³
¹University of Alaska Fairbanks; ² International Arctic Research Center; ³ Arizona State University; ⁴ Chignik Intertribal Coalition; ⁵ University of Victoria; ⁶ University of Northern Iowa

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 346

Abstract:

Climate warming, sea level rise, and extreme weather events are creating intensifying and more frequent hazards for human populations inhabiting the coast. In Alaska’s remote coastal communities, flooding and erosion are rapidly increasing due to the combined effect of sea level rise, more frequent storm surges, and increasingly powerful wave action from lack of sea ice. We present results from community-centered research on the socio-economic and psychological livelihood impacts and relocation preferences as reported by residents. Findings underline a community-level preoccupation with coastal climate threats that manifests primarily in health and livelihood impacts. In addition, the ever-increasing complexity of a strategic response to these threats creates further internal and external stressors and socio-ecological feedback on communities. We frame these findings within our newly NSF-funded ACTION project: Alaska Coastal Cooperative for Co-producing Transformative Ideas and Opportunities in the North, a community science consortium model building a community-first approach to coastal resilience. ACTION aims to scale up co-produced community-driven research and strengthen community-driven action through a network of eight partner communities.
#347: Human-connected wild lands: How social science and mobility research can assist in predicting human-mediated dispersal of vegetation and other species — Tobias Schwoerer

Tobias Schwoerer ¹; Jennifer Schmidt ²; Aaron Martin ³; Tammy Davis ⁴
¹University of Alaska Fairbanks International Arctic Research Center; ² University of Alaska Anchorage Institute of Social and Economic Research; ³ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; ⁴ Alaska Department of Fish and Wildlife

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 347

Abstract:

Wild landscapes are critical strongholds for biodiversity, yet even in the remotest parts of the globe, increasing human use and development are leading to an influx of biodiversity threats including invasive species. Natural resource management agencies, and those that rely on public lands, need a better understanding of the long-distance dispersal pathways in which invasive species are introduced to remote locations. Pathway information is essential for targeting prevention and early detection across vast landscapes, but it is often challenged by information gaps and high surveillance costs. Data-driven approaches centered around a participating public can help resource managers and biosecurity professionals to better prioritize prevention and early detection activities to minimize incipient and secondary invasions. We employed surveys with resource users to integrate and analyze multiple human-mediated dispersal networks for aquatic invasive species (AIS) across Alaska's part of the North American Boreal Forest. Through network analysis we combined floatplane and watercraft movements to provide a waterbody-specific tool for prioritizing monitoring and informing pathway-specific interventions. We will discuss available geo-spatial models for the habitat suitability and potential human-mediated distribution of Elodea spp., Alaska’s first AIS, the need for more research to better understand aquatic systems in the circumpolar North, and what participatory data can provide to better understand human-mediated stressors.
#352: Rapid summer Russian Arctic sea-ice loss enhances the risk of recent Eastern Siberian wildfires — Binhe Luo

Binhe Luo ¹; Dehai Luo ²; Cunde Xiao ¹; Aiguo Dai ³
¹Beijing Normal University; ² Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; ³ State University of New York

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 352

Abstract:

In recent decades boreal wildfires have occurred frequently over eastern Siberia, leading to increased emissions of carbon dioxide and pollutants. However, it is unclear what factors have contributed to recent increases in these wildfires. Here, using the data we show that background eastern Siberian Arctic warming (BAW) related to summer Russian Arctic sea-ice decline accounts for ~79% of the increase in summer vapor pressure deficit (VPD) that controls wildfires over eastern Siberia over 2004-2021 with the remaining ~21% related to internal atmospheric variability associated with changes in Siberian blocking events. We further demonstrate that Siberian blocking events are occurring at higher latitudes, are more persistent and have larger zonal scales and slower decay due to smaller meridional potential vorticity gradients caused by stronger BAW under lower sea-ice. These changes lead to more persistent, widespread and intense high-latitude warming and VPD, thus contributing to recent increases in eastern Siberian high-latitude wildfires.
#355: Influence of site moisture and vegetation on ground temperatures in an ice-rich permafrost landscape, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska — Jana Peirce

Jana Peirce ¹; Donald Walker ¹; Ina Timling ¹; Melissa Ward Jones ¹; Hannah Chapman-Dutton ¹; Briana McNeal ¹
¹University of Alaska Fairbanks

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 355

Abstract:

Near-surface ground temperatures are increasing across the Arctic in response to rapidly rising air temperatures. Small changes in mean annual ground temperature (MAGT) can threaten the thermal state of permafrost, transforming landscapes through increased thermokarst and surface water hydrology, resulting in changes to snow distribution, soil moisture, vegetation, soil carbon, and greenhouse-gas fluxes. We have been investigating the impact of surficial geology, landforms, microtopography, soil moisture, vegetation, and disturbance on active layers depths, ground ice, and permafrost temperatures at the Natural Ice-Rich Permafrost Observatory (NIRPO) in Deadhorse, AK. Here we share findings from a 2022–2023 survey of ground temperature trends at 0, -15, and -40 cm depths in 59 vegetation plots located along a site-moisture/vegetation gradient from a dry pingo summit to aquatic habitats. Preliminary analysis indicates a strong positive trend of ground temperatures along the gradient. Mean annual ground surface temperatures varied from: -7.39˚C on a windblown pingo summit with dry tundra (habitat type Dz) to -2.86 ˚C in aquatic thermokarst-pond habitats with approximately 50–100 cm of water and thick aquatic moss (Scorpidium scorpiodes and Calliergon richardsonii) (habitat type A3t) — a +4.53 ˚C difference. Mean annual ground temperatures at -40 cm in the same habitats varied from -8.04 ˚C in type Dz to -4.28 ˚C in type A3t) — a +3.76 ˚C difference. Other factors affecting the ground temperatures included the depth of snow, and the thickness of organic soil layers.
#356: Supporting Indigenous Foodways in Alaska: Recommendations for Improving Language and Inclusivity in Food and Agriculture Programming — Glenna Gannon

Glenna Gannon ¹; Heidi Rader ¹
¹University of Alaska Fairbanks

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: #356

Abstract:

Climate change is creating ongoing challenges for Indigenous food systems in Alaska. Changing seasons, animal migration patterns, and weather unpredictability make it increasingly difficult for communities to rely on traditional food sources. In response to these challenges, there are increasing efforts to grow and raise more food locally, however, many rural communities lack essential resources like labor, infrastructure, and arable land needed to grow a meaningful quantity of food. Additionally, the high cost of living and short summer months make it difficult to strike a balance between wild harvesting and agricultural activities. This poster presents research that went into creating the 2024 Report, Food Security and Sovereignty in Alaska Native Communities: Recommendations for Improving Language and Inclusivity in Food and Agriculture Programming. This work highlights the crucial role traditional foods play in food security for Alaska Native peoples, the contemporary needs identified by communitties undertaking food production endeavors, and illustrates how many federal food-focused programs are not well-suited for Indigenous communities in Alaska. This is primarily because many federally-funded programs intended to support food production (broadly speaking) emphasize commercial/ western agricultural models, sidelining subsistence food practices like wild harvesting and community food sharing. Through this research, we found that using terms like “farmer” or “rancher” can actually discourage Indigenous participation in programs intended to support food security. Adapting federal programs to include culturally-relevant language and support traditional subsistence activities is a crucial step toward supporting Indigneous food sovereignty.
#357: Estimating the solar energy potential of post-war reconstruction houses in Northern Norway — Bryan Lintott

Clara Good ¹; Bryan Lintott ²; Gareth Rees ³
¹ARC Arctic Centre for Sustainable Energy, UiT The Arctic University of Norway; ² UiT The Arctic University of Norway; ³ Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 357

Abstract:

Towards the end of the Second World War, the buildings and infrastructure of Northern Norway were largely burned down by occupying forces, and thousands of people lost their homes. During the state-led ‘Reconstruction’ aimed at rebuilding and modernizing the country in the decades following the peace in 1945, more than 13,000 so-called ‘reconstruction houses’ were built, primarily in the two northernmost counties. Most of these were built according to standardized type drawings that were either developed or approved by the Directorate of Housing, and many are therefore similar both in architectural style, layout, and dimensions.

The reconstruction houses represent an important cultural heritage, but many of them are now in need of modernization and energy upgrading to meet modern and future requirements. In this paper, we present an estimation of solar energy potential that could be achieved by refurbishing reconstruction houses with solar roofs. The estimation is based on simulations in combination with measured performance data. It is estimated that a PV system on the roof of an average reconstruction house could provide between 3000 and 7000 kWh per year, depending on how much of the roof area is used. Considering variations in orientation and size, we estimate that the total solar potential could be up to 40 GWh on reconstruction houses in Finnmark county alone. This work is based on estimations, and the results need to be further developed to give accurate predictions. However, it shows a largely untapped potential for increased energy resilience in Northern Norway.
#361: Fen tundra or tundra fen? – Challenge of Braun-Blanquet-vegetation classification of mosaic tundra vegetation in the Prudhoe Bay Area — Helga Bueltmann

Helga Bueltmann ¹; Donald Walker ²; Amy Breen ²; Jozef Šibík ³; Olivia Hobgood ²; Briana McNeal ²; Jana Peirce ²; Maria Šibíková ³
¹University of Münster; ² University of Alaska Fairbanks; ³ Slovak Academy of Science, Bratislava

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: #361

Abstract:

The tundra is a large-scale landscape with small-scale habitat pattern of freezing and thawing. The striking habitat feature of the polygon loess tundra vegetation of the Alaskan Arctic Plain in the Prudhoe Bay area is that while there are aquatic, wet (marl) and dry habitats (rims), common is a type between: not wet, but with species, which are strict wetland species in azonal vegetation elsewhere and with those species occurring far into dry habitats e.g. ruderal sites with shrubs and even slight depressions on pingo tops.

Crucial factor is permafrost, a habitat complex creating a moisture gradient working from within. Cryoturbation and tiny erosion gaps, which are characteristic of so many vegetation types of Arctic and mountain tundra, are of lesser impact.

This variation is difficult to place with the existing Braun-Blanquet-classification system and we are discussing a new unit, a new syntaxon, on a higher level for this fen-tundra or tundra-fen. We will explain the relation of Braun-Blanquet-syntaxa and habitat types of Skip Walker (e-g. 1985). We will discuss pros and cons of different classification systems and contextualise the Prudhoe Bay vegetation with communities from other tundra vegetation and azonal fen. We will present a scheme where to place the Prudhoe Bay tundra vegetation in the existing Braun-Blanquet system.

We do not propose to change the method of recording for any existing observation network, but the hierarchical structure of an additional Braun-Blanquet classification may facilitate comparison with networks from other parts of the Arctic.
#368: Polar Exploration with Multiple Purposes: Exploring the permafrost, natural species, and astronomical research of the polar regions — Exodus Chun-Long Sit

Exodus Chun-Long Sit ¹
¹National Astronomy Education Coordinator Team (Hong Kong, China), International Astronomical Union

Format: Poster virtual

Poster number: 368

Abstract:

In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on environmental concerns within the Polar Regions. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, this trend has motivated numerous experts in natural sciences to embark on a range of expeditions to these areas. The primary goal of this presentation is to recount my experiences from the last six years of multiple expeditions to the polar regions, spanning the Arctic (including Iceland and the Nordic countries within the Arctic Circle), the Third Pole (encompassing the Tibetan Plateau and Sichuan Basin), and the neighboring Antarctic region (Tasmania in Australia). I will address the conservation of the night sky and aurora phenomena across various locations, sharing insights from encounters with natural ecosystems, unique species in high-altitude regions, the natural panoramas of polar territories, and visual records of diverse glaciers encountered during these polar journeys.
#371: Methods and tools for analysis and visualisation of oceanographic and acoustic measurements from the HiAOOS mooring network in the Arctic Ocean — Agnieszka Beszczynska-Möller

Agnieszka Beszczynska-Möller ¹; Emmanuel Skarsoulis ²; Arild Sundfjord ³; Øyvind Foss ⁴; Ilona Goszczko ⁵; Mathilde B. Sørensen ⁶; Marianna Anichini ⁷; Philippe Blondel ⁸; Astrid Stallemo ⁹; et al.
¹Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences; ² Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas; ³ Norwegian Polar Institute; ⁴ Norwegian Polar Institute; ⁵ Institute of Oceanology PAS; ⁶ University of Bergen; ⁷ University of Bergen; ⁸ University of Bath; ⁹ Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 371

Abstract:

The EU-funded project High Arctic Ocean Observation System (HiAOOS) aims to implement a large-scale network in the Nansen and Amundsen Basin, including four multidisciplinary moorings in the deep basins and two experimental moorings north of Svalbard. Oceanographic sensors provide measurements of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, ocean currents, and sea ice while acoustic instruments measuring ocean sound facilitate for acoustic thermometry, underwater geopositioning, detection of underwater earthquakes, and monitoring of marine mammals and human activities.

Based on data collections from the earlier projects (CAATEX, INTAROS) and new observations from HiAOOS, a variety of methods and tools is developed for analysis of continuous, year-round mooring measurements. New tools for data processing and integrative analysis of ocean and sea ice measurements allow for ingestion of auxiliary products to explore data, generate statistics, and provide advanced visualisations. New methods and tools are developed for detection of earthquakes signatures and automatic identification of sound sources in passive acoustic recordings to understand the environmental impacts and contribution from human activities. New methods for inversions of long-range acoustic receptions to ocean temperature are developed for ocean thermometry. New techniques for detection of low frequency acoustic signals are employed to test ranging and localisation for underwater geopositioning. Methodology for validation of ocean-ice reanalysis using acoustic receptions is established. Selected data and methods are ingested into Blue Insight, a digital modular platform for processing, visualization and sharing of ocean information. The poster will present the overview of methods and tools developed in HiAOOS for enhanced use of new observations.
#386: Arctic Leadership in Integrated Polar Studies with Asian Collaborations: Potentials and Risks — Suprita Suman

Suprita Suman ¹
¹Pataliputra University

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 386

Abstract:

Undoubtedly the Arctic Region has been more explored and exposed for the scientific research, international connectivity with most developed region of the world. Arctic is being regarded as a powerful influencer of the climate weather pattern in the Third Pole. Simultaneously the Antica has been a major player in the monsoonal pattern and rainfall in the Indian Sub Continent. Asian continent is geographically blessed due to its gaint share in the Arctic and the Third Pole is exclusively an Asian Pole a major elevation where the geography meets climate at greater heights, uniquely connect to the Arctic by land and maintain a long ang continous ocean link with the Antarctica. This connectivity needed to explored with a good collaboration. Now days with the increasing Asian power's interests in the Arctic Region can be regarded as a good opportunity to understand and unfold the script of mysterious geographies. Thd rising Asian influences in Arctic Region including the Arctic Ocean Affairs can offer a moderate opportunity for data sharing about the Third Pole which is really crucial to study the climate change and predicting the future . The Arctic Ocean Research must extend it's climatic scenario in an integrated manner rather keeping it's isolated. A multi pronged study with can hoe rest of the world is contributin̈g the Arctic climate change is critical and due a diverse geography, climate, elevation and the Asian collaboration can make climatic study more inclusive and feasible and to avoid political glitches with strong collaborative studies.
#388: Transitioning Beyond Community-Based Monitoring to Support Indigenous Self-Determination in Arctic Research — Louise Mercer

Louise Mercer ¹; Deva-Lynn Pokiak ²; Dustin Whalen ³; Michael Lim ¹; Paul Mann ¹
¹Northumbria University; ² Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk; ³ Natural Resources Canada

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 388

Abstract:

Supporting Indigenous self-determination in research is essential to advancing our understanding of climate-driven environmental change while addressing the priorities of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities across the Arctic. There is increasing interest in community-based monitoring (CBM) approaches across Inuit Nunangat, each unique to the place-based and research context in which they are located. Approaches used range from externally driven programs to those with increased autonomy and long-term Indigenous-led program management. Learning from the co-development and later evolution of an Indigenous-led CBM program in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, we highlight the resource mechanisms required to shift CBM to environmental community-based research (CBR) that sustainably addresses local to regional priorities. Transitioning to greater self-determined engagement levels requires progressive development at each stage of the research process to build a foundation of support structures, research infrastructure and defined leadership roles. Reimagining training for researchers supporting Indigenous-led CBR programs is necessary. We highlight how transitioning towards more autonomous environmental CBR approaches and self-determination may require non-Indigenous researchers to step back progressively over time to support Indigenous leadership when appropriate. Doing so requires sustained dialogue, reflexivity and capacity sharing. We highlight what this looked like in practice and that there is no “one size fits all” approach through the application of a solution-orientated environmental CBR approach to work in Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), where priorities differ vastly (i.e. supporting sustainable development and tourism). In an era of rapid Arctic change, it will take focussed allocation of resources, flexibility and sustained dialogue to continue to address priorities accordingly through environmental CBR approaches.
#407: Spatio-temporal shifts in sea ice microbial autotrophy and heterotrophy — Rosalie McKay

Rosalie McKay ¹; Zoe Koenig ^1,2; Janina Osanen ³; Christine Michel ⁴; Brent Else ⁵; Karley Campbell ¹
¹UiT The Arctic University of Norway; ² Norwegian Polar Institute; ³ Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology; ⁴ Fisheries and Oceans Canada; ⁵ University of Calgary

Format: Poster In-person

Poster number: 407

Abstract:

Net community production (NCP) represents the balance between algal photosynthesis and microbial respiration; determining whether sea ice is considered a net autotrophic (CO2 uptake) or heterotrophic (CO2release) system. While existing measurements of NCP for the polar regions are limited, NCP is likely to mimic the inherent heterogenity of bottom-ice algal blooms across space and time. In this study, two locations of land-fast first-year sea ice were routinely sampled April - June, 2022, over a spring ice algal bloom near to the community of Cambridge Bay and the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS). Sample locations were selected for their differing sub-ice turbulence regimes that were likely to promote contrasting states of nutrient availability. We report higher algal abundance for most of the sampling period at the high turbulence site due to enhanced nitrogen supply. However, bloom termination was accelerated at this location as the greater sub-ice turbulence enhanced bottom-ice melt to the point of removing the algal-rich skeletal layer. Bacterial abundance, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were similar between the two sites, suggesting a decoupling of bacteria and organic carbon from the algal bloom. Furthermore, along with a relatively higher proportion of bacteria, our NCP measurements show that heterotrophy was prevalent at the low versus high turbulence site. Heterotrophic NCP conditions are also reported in the interior and upper sections of the ice column. Local conditions, such as turbulence-driven nutrient availability influenced by tidal cycles, can lead to a range of outcomes from stagnant growth to variable algal accumulation. These dynamics challenge the traditional understanding of ice algal bloom phenology, suggesting the need for its reevaluation to account for a broader range of local conditions.
#415: Advancing Earth observation research through NASA’s multi-scale coordinated campaign: Science highlights and gaps remaining from the Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) — Scott Goetz

Scott Goetz ¹; Charles Miller ²; Peter Griffith ³; Elizabeth Hoy ⁴; Libby Larson ³
¹Northern Arizona University; ² NASA Jet Propulsion Lab; ³ NASA/SSAI; ⁴ NASA/GST, Inc.

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 415

Abstract:

NASA’s Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) is a coordinated, multi-disciplinary research effort addressing ecosystem changes taking place in biomes of the Arctic and boreal region. This decade-long campaign has an international science team with over 150 projects and 1000 participants. Although the geographic focus of the field campaigns centers on northwestern North America (Alaska and western Canada), ABoVE research is ultimately designed to address scaling from field measurements, to multi-sensor airborne data acquisitions, to satellite remote sensing, and finally to terrestrial biosphere models. As such, ABoVE has pan-Arctic and pan-boreal implications and applications. This presentation will highlight top-level science results from a decade of ABoVE research and discuss key knowledge gaps that remain. ABoVE has advanced our understanding of the Earth system, particularly in terms of documenting and capturing in models how climate change and associated disturbances are altering terrestrial ecosystems, and how those ecosystem changes are in turn influencing climate. However, key knowledge gaps remain which reveal critical research areas for understanding of the interactions and feedbacks between the climate system and changes in the spatial and temporal environmental drivers. Addressing these gaps will also improve our ability to capture these dynamics in prognostic models.
#421: Improved Alaska snow water equivalent assessments under a changing climate — Svetlana Stuefer

Kate Hale ¹; Svetlana Stuefer ¹; Glen Liston ²
¹Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA; ² Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 421

Abstract:

Measuring and modeling snow water equivalent (SWE) is imperative for improved assessment of seasonal snowpack evolution, which acts to regulate the climate, supplies water to societies, and affects ecological and biological cycles, including growing seasons. The availability of SWE measurements is dependent on relevant observation networks, which are particularly sparse in Boreal and Arctic regions of Alaska due to extreme topographic gradients and the state’s vast spatial extent. Across most of Alaska, snowfall and the subsequent snowpack and snowmelt serve as the primary water resource. Yet warming-induced seasonal snowpack changes, including the seasonality and magnitude, impact snowmelt runoff timing and amount, creating cascading effects and vulnerability for surrounding users. To evaluate long-term snowpack trends in Alaska, SnowModel has been employed to capture spatially distributed SWE in northern Boreal forest and Arctic tundra regions of Alaska. Within SnowModel simulations, we leverage existing atmospheric forcing datasets from NASA’s MERRA-2 reanalysis, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF); and SWE measurements collected by UAF, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, USDA SNOTEL, UAF LTER networks, and by the recently completed NASA SnowEx Alaska 2022-2023 field campaigns. We present simulated Boreal forest SWE and snowpack trends and demonstrate an advancement of snow modeling capabilities with data assimilation and with a novel high-density and high-quality validation dataset. This work contributes to larger SWE uncertainty analyses in Boreal and Arctic environments and informs local to regional water resource management as we continue to navigate a changing climate.
#422: Can practicing inclusive leadership help drive systemic culture change in the polar sciences? Thoughts from the early career community — Mariama Dryák-Vallies

Mariama Dryák-Vallies ¹; Anne U. Gold ²; Bradley Markle ³
¹Polar Science Early Career Community Office, Cooperative Institute of Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder; ² Center for Education, Engagement and Evaluation, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder; ³ Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 422

Abstract:

Polar early career researchers (ECRs) have voiced the need for culture change within the Arctic and Antarctic sciences and are leading the effort to make polar science research environments and systems more equitable more equitable, welcoming, inclusive, accessible, and diverse. When asked, “Where do they want to lead the polar research community?”, during the 2023 Polar Postdoc Leadership Workshop (PPLW) hosted by the Polar Science Early Career Community Office (PSECCO), participants described that they wanted to lead the polar research community towards a future where polar science research environments are welcoming and inclusive to all. However, despite this call for change from the early career community, the PPLW attendees described a lack of agency amongst ECRs to change the systems that polar research operates within. Challenges they cited that contribute to the feeling of limited agency to change systems include their limited positions of power and job security in their early career stages. PPLW attendees and the broader polar early career community have developed several ideas on how to pursue culture change within the polar research environment. For example, the PPLW attendees suggested that practicing the following six aspects of inclusive leadership: establishing collective group norms, practicing self-awareness, practicing empathy, actively listening, establishing and upholding transparent protocols, and sharing resources, could help drive systemic inclusive change within polar science in a recently published paper. This presentation will outline recommendations from the early career community related to how to practice inclusive leadership and create more inclusive and equitable polar research environments
#423: A Comprehensive Assessment of Climate Data for Modeling Social-Ecological Systems in Mongolia: Overview of Meteorological and Satellite Data — Uyemaa Gantulga

Uyemaa Gantulga ^1,2; Vera Kuklina ¹
¹George Washington University; ² Mongolian Aerospace Research and Science Agency

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 423

Abstract:

Availability of reliable and timely data is crucial for modeling social-ecological systems and forecasting their future change under the impact of diverse drivers, such as climate change. While there are multiple organizations and networks gathering data at the global scale, distribution of information sources is very uneven at the regional and local scales. This paper evaluates the current availability and accessibility of climate data crucial for modeling social-ecological systems in Mongolia, one of the key regions for understanding Arctic and sub-Arctic climate dynamics. For in-situ observations, we assess data available in existing meteorological measurement stations across the country, identifying gaps and opportunities for enhancement. For remote sensing observations, the paper also assesses the availability and accessibility of satellite data from international agencies such as NASA, JAXA, and ESA covering Mongolia. By inventorying and systematizing these datasets, this paper highlights opportunities to improve data findability, accessibility, and reusability for both researchers and policy makers. This work will inform future scientific collaborations for understanding sustainability and resilience of social-ecological systems under the climate change and contribute to development of more comprehensive climate models for Mongolia and surrounding regions.
#425: Understanding the changing coast and ocean in Jones Sound (Nunavut) through shared visions and participative research — David Didier

David Didier ¹; Erin Bertrand ²; Daniela Marianne Regina Walch ¹; Terry Noah ³; Jimmy Qaapik ⁴; Laisa Audlaluk-Watsko ⁵; Andrew Hamilton ⁶; Paul Myers ⁶
¹Université du Québec à Rimouski, Northern and Arctic Coastal Research Lab; ² Department of Biology Dalhousie University, Canada Research Chair in Marine Microbial Proteomics; ³ Ausuittuq Adventures; ⁴ Arctic College, Grise Fiord, Nunavut, Canada; ⁵ Qikiqtani Inuit Association; ⁶ University of Alberta

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 425

Abstract:

Rapid climate warming is dramatically altering the nature of Arctic coastlines and adjacent oceans. The community of Ausuittuq (Grise Fiord), ‘the place that never thaws’, is experiencing first-hand the effects of climate change on local infrastructure, travel safety and food security. Over the last decade, community members have noted significant recession of glaciers and erosion of their local beaches, as well as changes in the fiords surrounding their home and hunting grounds. Together, we aim to establish a long-term, community-led observation and monitoring program centered around the co-consideration of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and scientific knowledge to understand ongoing changes in high Arctic coastal environments. Our observations span from the glacier watershed to the ocean, and include a range of instruments (drones, time-lapse cameras, seafloor mapping, current profilers, multi-channel water column loggers, oceanographic moorings) and analyses (numerical models, water quality parameters, and phytoplankton characterization) to understand how meltwater contributions, the land surface, the shoreline, and the coastal ocean are changing. Since 2021, >20% of the community of Ausuittuq has worked with non-indigenous researchers to make these observations. Here we describe 1) the process of co-developing research priorities and questions, 2) the structure of the observation and monitoring program, and 3) some key outcomes to date.
#430: Sensing opportunities along the route of Polar Connect - submarine cable systems as part of an Integrated Arctic Observing System — Julia Muchowski

Julia Muchowski ¹; Benoît Pirenne ²; Magnus Friberg ³; Leva Muraskiene ⁴; Lisa Olsson ⁵; Erik-Jan Bos ⁶
¹Swedish Polar Research Secretariat; ² Ocean Networks Canada; ³ Swedish Research Council, SUNET; ⁴ NORDUnet; ⁵ Swedish Research Council, SUNET; ⁶ NORDUnet

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 430

Abstract:

The goal of Polar Connect is to build a submarine communication cable system between Northern Europe and East Asia, equipped with environmental sensing technology. This will enable novel Arctic Research Infrastructure and provide access to unprecedented data from the deep Ocean. As part of the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital) co-funded project ‘North Pole Fiber’, we have been investigating opportunities for scientific data collection along the route of Polar Connect.

Here, we will present how Polar Connect can contribute to an integrated Arctic Ocean observation system. Possibilities for using Polar Connect as a year-round seafloor observatory, providing high-quality data on geohazards, marine life, and physical oceanography will be highlighted. Furthermore, we will discuss the availability of such data through well managed data repositories with curation services during and beyond the lifetime of the system.
#431: FRIDGE: Empowering Polar Research with Dynamic Access to High-Resolution Satellite Imagery and Digital Elevation Models — Cole Kelleher

Cole Kelleher ¹; Rory Johnson ¹; Jesse Bakker ¹; Claire Porter ¹
¹Polar Geospatial Center - University of Minnesota

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 431

Abstract:

FRIDGE (Federal Research Imagery and DEM Geospatial Explorer) is an innovative tool developed by the Polar Geospatial Center (PGC) at the University of Minnesota, designed to facilitate efficient access to PGC’s extensive catalog of high-resolution satellite imagery and Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). FRIDGE allows researchers to dynamically query PGC’s data by various parameters such as geographic location, time, atmospheric conditions, sensors, band combinations, and illumination angles, providing tailored data sets that meet specific research needs. With access to a repository of approximately 8 petabytes (PB) of sub-meter resolution commercial satellite imagery of the polar regions, FRIDGE supports a wide array of scientific investigations, enabling decade-scale studies of surface changes and environmental dynamics. This tool is particularly valuable for NSF Office of Polar Program (OPP) funded researchers, who can order sub-meter resolution imagery with specific processing options for bulk deliveries, while DEMs are freely accessible to all users and the general public. FRIDGE democratizes data access, empowering researchers to conduct high-resolution spatial analyses essential for studies in glaciology, climatology, ecology, geology, and many other scientific disciplines. By offering easy access to high-resolution polar imagery and DEMs, FRIDGE enhances the ability of scientists to monitor and understand changes in the Earth's polar regions, supporting both academic research and operational applications in some of the most challenging environments on the planet. Through FRIDGE, PGC continues to advance geospatial science, fostering collaboration and innovation in understanding Earth’s dynamic systems.
#433: How can we make polar research more inclusive for caregivers? — Melissa Ward Jones

Melissa Ward Jones ¹
¹University of Alaska Fairbanks

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 433

Abstract:

Polar researchers with caregiving responsibilities face additional logistical and financial burdens when trying to balance work activities like travel for fieldwork and conferences. Lack of support can eventually drive researchers, most often women, to leave and/or modify their careers. This can negatively impact polar research by not only losing researchers, but also by losing investments into their careers. This presentation focuses on the question, “How can we make polar research more family friendly?” to find ways to better support members of the polar research community that have caregiving responsibilities. The US Permafrost Association Family Care Program (FCP), launched in 2024, will be used as an example of one potential solution. The FCP awards caregiver grants and hosts events, such as a panel discussion event in April 2024 that discussed balancing childcare and work responsibilities. Providing more support for caregivers would increase accessibility and inclusion in polar research.
#434: Bridging Western Science and Indigenous Knowledge: A New Era for Arctic Ocean Modeling and Resilience — Claudine Hauri

Claudine Hauri ¹; Donna Hauser ¹; Remi Pages ¹; Kate Hedstrom ²; Charlie Stock ³; Kaja Brix ⁴; Roberta Glenn ¹; Krista Heeringa ¹; Libby Logerwell ⁴; Julie Keister ⁴
¹International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks; ² University of Alaska Fairbanks; ³ GFDL NOAA; ⁴ NOAA

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 434

Abstract:

The Arctic is undergoing rapid environmental changes, including marine heatwaves, sea ice loss, harmful algal blooms, and ocean acidification, which pose unprecedented challenges. Marine resource shifts and sea ice declines are putting additional strain on ecosystems including commercial and subsistence fisheries, food security of Indigenous Peoples, and generating additional resource conflicts under current governance structures. Current Arctic monitoring programs are not sufficient to guide sustainable management, leading to precautionary measures like the US Arctic Fishery Management Plan or the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement. Indigenous Knowledge, which has long guided adaptation and conservation, is vital for addressing these changes. We will introduce a newly funded project, developed in partnership with the <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-size-adjust: auto; color: var(--JKqx2); text-decoration-line: none; outline: 0px; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> and Indigenous communities, aimed at co-developing an equitable Arctic ocean modeling system that integrates scientific data and observations rooted in Indigenous Knowledge. We will outline our plans to draw from Indigenous observations and Knowledge to evaluate and improve our regional ocean biogeochemical model. This collaborative effort aims to produce more accurate models, strengthen sustainable fisheries management, and establish a framework for equitable resource management that bridges diverse knowledge systems, benefiting coastal Indigenous communities.
#439: Impact of Arctic sea ice loss on the Arctic hydrological cycle — Ed Blockley

Ed Blockley ¹
¹Met Office, FitzRoy Road, Exeter

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 439

Abstract:

Sea ice is an important component of the climate system and plays an important role in the Arctic environment. Loss of reflective sea ice and snow surfaces is key driver of Arctic amplification. Arctic sea ice also creates a natural barrier between the ocean and atmosphere limiting the exchange of heat and moisture. In particular surface evaporation from the Arctic Ocean is limited by the presence of sea ice.

Water vapor in the Arctic can be attributed to local evaporation and transport from mid-latitudes. Here we investigate the response of Arctic water vapor to declining sea ice in a climate model, using an idealized warming scenario in which the Arctic becomes ice free year-round.

We show the loss of sea ice leads to a step-change in the uptake and seasonal cycle of atmospheric water vapor in the Arctic. The greatest impact is in the Arctic winter when local evaporation dominates over the transport of water vapor from midlatitude regions. We also show changes in the vertical structure of the near-surface atmosphere and cloud types, with a transition from stable to turbulent regimes in autumn and winter.
#447: Shifts in iron and carbon cycling in West Greenlandic lake systems following a compound extreme heat and precipitation event — Thomas Grindle

Thomas Grindle ¹; Jasmine Saros ¹
¹Systems Approaches to Understanding and Navigating the New Arctic NRT, University of Maine

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 447

Abstract:

The area around Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland is pockmarked by thousands of lakes, many of which are considered closed-basin. In September 2022, the typically arid region experienced a compound event of heat and precipitation extremes, which saturated the permafrost and resulted in significant shifts in the hydromorphology of the region. Extreme climate events in the Arctic are becoming increasingly common and understanding their effects on interrelated natural and human systems is crucial. The sudden inflow of decades of organic matter and thawed iron-rich permafrost caused rapid, cohesive browning across a geographically broad and conditionally varied landscape. The community of Kangerlussuaq, home to hundreds of year-round residents, relies on the region’s lakes for clean water; dissolved organic matter (DOM) can influence the efficacy of water treatment, and sediment-bound heavy metals can pose a threat to the water supply. This lays the foundation for a unique opportunity for insight into rapid change in a diverse cross-section of lake systems in the arid Arctic.

The sudden expansion of lake-watershed connectivity resulted in a shift across many lake systems in the primary source of DOM from principally internal production to principally external production and raised questions about the ultimate fate of iron in the water column and the extent to which these factors drive browning in Arctic lake systems. We will present preliminary data on the status of iron within the water column across various lake environments, and the potential impact of long-term ultraviolet radiation exposure on a regionally novel DOM regime.
#451: Outside In – Advancing Arctic Awareness and Global Action through Mainstream Engagement — Stephanie Pfirman

Stephanie Pfirman ¹; Malinda Chase ²; Kitrea Takata-Glushkoff ³; Andrey Petrov ⁴; Bruno Tremblay ⁵
¹Arizona State University; ² International Arctic Research Center; ³ University of Alaska, Fairbanks; ⁴ University of Northern Iowa; ⁵ McGill University

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 451

Abstract:

In this presentation, we explore how Arctic education can be extended to mainstream audiences, fostering awareness and action. Central to our approach is the fact that mainstream engagement and action is crucial for achieving significant change. Therefore, we focus on engaging diverse audiences and learners through networks outside the Arctic, drawing connections between local Arctic impacts and broader global concerns and responses.

We will show how educators, scientists, and the general public can raise awareness in their own communities and networks. This can be done by communicating the importance and relevance of Arctic issues through conversations, as well as using interactive resources including games, simulations, and virtual reality. We will also explore how polar education can address complex interdependencies and future scenarios. Using resources like "EcoChains: Arctic Futures" and "Arctic SMARTIC: Strategic Management of Resources in Times of Change" helps in visualizing links between today's decisions and potential future outcomes. We share examples of engaging people with Arctic games and simulations, with community members as well as K-12 and university classrooms within and outside of the Arctic.

This presentation will provide participants with practical strategies to integrate Arctic science and Indigenous knowledge into mainstream education, in both formal and informal venues. It will build connections between Arctic and non-Arctic communities, fostering awareness, understanding, empathy, and action. Through these approaches we aim to motivate and empower diverse learners to see themselves as agents of change.
#453: Rapid response of Svalbard glaciers to ocean warming — Geir Moholdt

Geir Moholdt ¹
¹Norwegian Polar Institute

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 453

Abstract:

About one third of the glacier area of the Arctic drains towards ocean-terminating fronts that ablate by calving and melting above and below the waterline. This frontal ablation is a significant but poorly quantified part of the overall mass budget of Arctic glaciers, as well as an important source of freshwater and calved ice for marine ecosystems. We present a detailed analysis of frontal ablation for all Svalbard’s ~200 tidewater glaciers for 2013-2024, a period with abundant availability of satellite imagery. We account for changes in frontal position, surface velocity and ice thickness at time scales from monthly to yearly, and we separate the results into components of glacier retreat and ice discharge. Although the ice discharge can be high year-round, especially for surging glaciers, we find that almost all frontal ablation occurs from late summer to autumn when the ocean is warmer. This represents a delayed freshwater flux to the fjords and open ocean compared to surface meltwater runoff which is more confined to the peak of the atmospheric summer season. Annual frontal ablation was exceptionally high during 2016-2018 and 2022-2024, which coincides with periods of high inflow of Atlantic water and warmer temperatures in the upper ocean. Links with air temperature and meltwater runoff are less clear. The observed variability in frontal ablation demonstrates how reactive these glaciers are to ocean warming and that this should be considered in studies of marine environments and future glacier retreat.
#456: Society and Advanced Technology in the Arctic: Adaptation of an Arctic PhD Course to Pandemic and War — Rasmus Gjedssø Bertelsen

Rasmus Gjedssø Bertelsen ¹
¹UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 456

Abstract:

Society and Advanced Technology in the Arctic (SATA) is the story of how a successful Arctic PhD/MA training program was affected by first the covid-19 pandemic and then the war in Ukraine. In early 2018, the (now) Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HKDIR) gave the first grant for the SATA PhD/MA course in partnership between UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Higher School of Economics (Moscow), and the Russian Academy of Sciences. The SATA grant was from the HKDIR Utforsk (Explore) program for Norwegian cooperation with Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, India, South Africa, Brazil, USA, and Canada. In September 2018, there was a very successful instance of this PhD/MA course in Tromsø and Harstad, Northern Norway, and in October 2019 in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. In April 2020, SATA was supposed to go to Moscow, which was abandoned because of the onset of the covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, HKDIR gave an additional grant for SATA 2. With the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Norway with other Western countries suspended academic cooperation with Russia. SATA is now being redesigned as SATA 2.1 with partners from the other program countries, except Russia.

SATA illustrates Norwegian policy of using Arctic higher education cooperation with Russia and other overseas countries for science diplomacy purposes, and how this policy is dependent on external global circumstances of pandemics and war.

SATA is a case to discuss shifting science diplomacy objectives and instruments for Norway as a small state in a changing world order.
#459: Contribution of seasonal source waters to changing Arctic ecohydrology — Hotaek Park

Hotaek Park ¹; Tetsuya Hiyama ²
¹JAMSTEC; ² Nagoya University

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 459

Abstract:

The warming climate in the Arctic terrestrial regions resulted in earlier snowmelt in spring, larger rainfall in the summer season, and deeper active layer thickness. The changes were linked to the direction of higher summer evapotranspiration and alternation of seasonal hydrograph with increasing river discharge. However, very few studies have provided quantitative assessments for changes in the seasonal hydrological processes, including contributions of the seasonal source waters (i.e., snow, rain, and ground ice water) to the changes. For assessing the changes, a land surface model, coupled a tracer scheme tracking along the flow route of individual source waters in the hydrological processes was applied to the pan-Arctic scale for the past five decades. The simulations represented that the contribution of the summer season-sourced rain water to evapotranspiration and river discharge was significantly increased during the study period. In addition, the summer rain water was connected to the peak river discharge and evapotranspiration in spring of the next year, suggesting a soil-water memory effect that the autumnal rainfall, stored as frozen soil water during the winter season and activated at the next spring season with soil thawing. The permafrost degradation-associated ground ice meltwater showed a weak relationship with river discharge. This model study provides a possibility to distinguish quantitatively the changes in the Arctic ecohydrological processes, resulted from the future climate warming.
#469: Evaluating Snow Cover Dynamics Using Satellite Imagery in Utqiaġvik, Alaska — Valentina Ekimova

Valentina Ekimova ¹; Howard Epstein ¹; Matthew Jull ¹; Leena Cho ¹; Mirella Shaban ¹; MacKenzie Nelson ¹
¹The University of Virginia

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 469

Abstract:

Alaska, with 80-85% of its land underlain by permafrost, is highly vulnerable to climate warming. Rising temperatures accelerate permafrost thaw, leading to infrastructure damage and environmental impacts. Snow cover, which insulates the frozen ground, is a key factor in permafrost stability. With ongoing climate change, main snow cover parameters —such as area, thickness, density, albedo —are changing, impacting the thermal regime of permafrost.

Traditionally, snow studies relied on field data collection, constrained by harsh conditions and remoteness. To overcome these limitations, we analyzed snow parameters using satellite imagery from 2017 to 2024 in Utqiaġvik, Alaska. We used PlanetScope and Sentinel-2 multispectral data, supplemented with passive microwave data (MODIS and AMSR-E/AMSR2) from NASA’s Earthdata Portal. Key parameters, including the Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI), snow density, and snow depth, were calculated.

Our analysis revealed spatial and temporal variability in snow cover, with a focus on differences between open tundra and urban areas affected by snow management. For example, between January and February 2024, we observed a slight decrease in snow cover in urban areas, likely due to snow removal practices. NDSI values in April ranged from 0 to 1 in urban areas but remained stable around 0.4 in the tundra, reflecting less disturbance. Additionally, snow density in urban areas increased significantly from January to April, from 200 kg/m³ to 479 kg/m³.

This research offers valuable insights for modeling snow cover, ground temperature, and permafrost behavior, enhancing our understanding of the changing Arctic landscape.
#473: Sea Ice Model Improvements to Better Constrain Climatic Feedbacks — Geraint Webb

Geraint Webb ¹; Nils Hutter ²; Cecilia Bitz ¹
¹University of Washington; ² GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 473

Abstract:

Sea ice is composed of floes with a wide range of diameters — these diameters directly impact climatic feedbacks and ice dynamics. The Floe Size Distribution (FSD) quantifies how sea ice floes of varying sizes are distributed across a domain. The sea ice model, CICE, can dynamically evolve the FSD through five key processes: lateral growth, lateral melt, new ice creation, floe welding, and wave fracture. Accurately representing the FSD is important for both the ice-albedo feedback; as such, we seem to improve this representation in models. Currently, CICE overestimates the number of floes in the final (largest diameter) bin by several orders of magnitude (per kilometer squared).

Our work improves CICE’s FSD by modeling an additional process — deformation. The work of Hutter et al. used synthetic aperture radar observations to quantify the change in the FSD due to divergence in the ice velocity field, which generally showed that divergence leads to a decrease in the number of larger floes and an increase in the number of smaller floes. Critically, Hutter’s work culminated in an equation modeling this change, which we implement in the CICE model. Within our model we find a year round decrease in the number of the largest floes, with these larger floes redistributed as many smaller floes. Moreover, the largest change in the FSD occurs in the summer, which significantly decreases the representative floe radius and increases the ice-albedo feedback. Moving forward, we will use this new CICE FSD to improve ice velocity field calculations.
#480: Erosion, Water Quality, and Adaptive Capacity in the Yukon River Watershed — Marie Lowe

Marie Lowe ¹; Michael Lamb ²; Woodward Fischer ²; John Magyar ²; Yutian Ke ²; Emily Geyman ²; Josh Anadu ²; Josh West ³; Isabel Smith ³; Edda Mutter ⁴; Anna Godduhn ⁴
¹University of Alaska Anchorage; ² California Institute of Technology; ³ University of Southern California; ⁴ Yukon River Intertribal Watershed Council

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 480

Abstract:

Preliminary findings from convergence research conducted on erosion impacts to Alaska Native communities in the Yukon River Watershed demonstrate how some villages are experiencing accelerating erosion rates of up to 40 feet per year. Each partner community working with the research team is affected by erosion in different ways and have different resources at their disposal to adapt to it. What they all have in common, however, is the challenge of having to navigate a fractured and complicated governance structure as well as piecemeal together grant funding from the federal government to address this issue. Better understanding of riverbank erosion, its impacts, and potential responses could help in navigating these challenges. With this goal, three research groups working with partner communities are examining: (1) permafrost-riverbank erosion dynamics and sediment distribution impacts; (2) how erosion affects water chemistry and quality, including via mercury and microbial populations; and (3) policy options for increasing local adaptive capacity through improvements in planning processes and collaborative governance participation. The three research themes converge in broader impacts of the project: we are collaborating with communities through social learning on how to bridge the gap between federal assistance priorities and Alaska community needs. We are collectively working on erosion action planning to address imminent threats to subsistence and public infrastructure, housing, as well as community health and resilience. We have also engaged with local schools and summer camps to familiarize students with riverbank erosion processes and water quality issues.
#482: Exploring Permafrost and Subsurface Features in Arctic Urban and Tundra Areas through GPR and ERT — Valentina Ekimova

Valentina Ekimova ¹; MacKenzie Nelson ¹; Taylor Sullivan ²; Thomas A. Douglas ²; Howard Epstein ¹; Matthew Jull ¹; Mirella Shaban ¹
¹The University of Virginia; ² CRREL

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 482

Abstract:

In the context of ongoing climate warming, Arctic regions require detailed research, particularly concerning permafrost degradation and the dynamics of subsurface features. Geophysical surveying is a key method in permafrost research. During the 2021–2023 field seasons, we employed ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) to investigate active layer depth and subsurface features around various infrastructure elements in Utqiaġvik, Alaska. GPR and ERT effectively monitor active layer variations; however, analyzing subsurface features (e.g., ice wedges, high-ice-content zones, ice lenses, and cryopegs) presents challenges due to technical constraints. Noise can result from dry surface materials, such as air-filled gravel, or from interference caused by subsurface metal objects.

To validate and enhance the geophysical data, we combined it with ground temperature and moisture measurements down to 90 cm depth and high-resolution satellite imagery from Planet SkySat for landscape feature detection. We identified ice wedges in open tundra near a road and at the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) site, while at urban infrastructure sites (e.g., a Taġiuġmiullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority apartment building and the Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital), we observed a mix of thawed zones, high-ice-content areas, and highly saline cryopegs.This research demonstrates that integrating GPR, ERT, and supplementary data sources improves the precision of permafrost studies, particularly in detecting active layer dynamics and subsurface features. While the analysis is ongoing, initial observations indicate significant variability in permafrost structure beneath urban infrastructure compared to open tundra areas.
#488: Arctic snow observations in Alaska, U.S. — Svetlana Stuefer

Svetlana Stuefer ¹
¹Univesity of Alaska Fairbanks

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 488

Abstract:

Snow depth and snow water equivalent (SWE) data are widely used in Arctic science and climate change studies. This presentation provides an overview of two projects with extensive in situ snow measurements in the Arctic: 1) NASA’s SnowEx 2023 campaigns in Alaska (https://snow.nasa.gov/campaigns/snowex), and 2) long-term (1985–2024) SWE measurements in remote Arctic watersheds collected by the Water and Environmental Research Center (WERC) at University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) (https://ine.uaf.edu/werc/imnavait). NASA's SnowEx project produced multiple snow data sets to advance the snow remote sensing, modelling, and measurements in different climates and ecosystems. In Alaska, SnowEx tested the state-of-the-art snow measurement techniques in boreal forest and Arctic tundra in 2022–2023. The second project offers 40 years of spatially distributed snow depth and SWE measurements collected in the small Imnavait Creek watershed located north of the Brooks Range, Alaska. These two projects contribute to Arctic science planning and research in different ways. The first project features very large spatially distributed snow data collection with concurrent airborne and ground-based snow measurements for testing specific instruments and methods. The second project maintains consistent long-term snow measurement practices allowing us to study changes in SWE and snow depth over decades. Both projects offer snow measurements in data-sparse regions of the Arctic, highlight the collaborative nature of Arctic research, and provide valuable resources for hydrological and climate studies.
#496: Thaw ponds as sentinels of localized permafrost destabilization: development of Utqiaġvik aquatic sensor array to examine effects of natural-built interactions through temporal changes in nearby ponds — MacKenzie Nelson

MacKenzie Nelson ¹; Claire Griffin ²; Valentina Ekimova ²; Howard Epstein ²
¹University of Virginia; ² Allegheny College

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 496

Abstract:

Changes in hydrologic conditions due to climatic warming are of critical concern to Arctic communities. Permafrost largely controls hydrology in Arctic environments; it is much less permeable and acts as a hydrologic confining layer. Water limited to infiltration from permafrost remains at the surface or within the shallow subsurface. Additionally, the limited relief of the tundra impedes drainage, allowing lakes and ponds to form. As part of the NSF Navigating the New Arctic, our project of multi-disciplinary researchers and community participants in Utqiaġvik, Alaska, addresses how the presence of surface and subsurface waters influences hydrology and water quality through the lens of nearby thaw ponds. Tundra “thaw ponds” are ideal proxy indicators or sentinels, given each is an individual catchment for meteoric, anthropogenic, and terrestrially-derived runoff, acting as arbiters of nearby change (Schindle and Smol, 2006). Changes like increased permafrost degradation and erosion lead to higher ionic concentrations and mineral mobilization/input to these nearby waters, providing a conductive response that can be measured and monitored using water loggers. In the open-water seasons of 2022-2024, over twenty thaw ponds in areas of varying infrastructure loads were instrumented with HOBO conductivity and water level loggers and repeated water sampling Lachat analysis. Preliminary results indicate elevated concentrations of NH4+, PO4-, and NO3- and persistently higher conductive responses for ponds near areas of higher infrastructure loading. Fluctuations in water level and ionic strength during this period capture significant impacts of weather patterns, ecological shifts, and anthropogenic influences on local hydrology.
#500: Bringing New Ecological Science and Communications to Reindeer Management in the Alaska Arctic — Phil Barber

Phil Barber ¹; Stephanie Schmit ²; Karin Sonnen ¹; Marji Patz ²
¹USDA-NRCS; ² USDA-NRCS SPSD

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 500

Abstract:

Reindeer herding is a subsistence activity on Alaska’s Seward Peninsula. The United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) utilizes historic range site mapping and descriptions published in the 1980s to provide technical guidance for conservation practices benefitting herding activities. Although range sites provide significant information, changes over the last 40 years are not reflected. Data is needed to expand management guidance to address shifting patterns in vegetation and lichen biomass due to changes induced by climate change, such as fire frequence, Arctic greening, and shrubification.

The Alaska Soil and Plant Science Division (SPSD) of the NRCS is developing ecological site descriptions (ESDs) across Alaska to provide a more substantial document for management. Development of ESDs for the Seward Peninsula are founded on the historic Seward Peninsula range site descriptions. Updated documents are made available by the Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool (EDIT) and Web Soil Survey (WSS) web applications. Concurrently, AK SPSD is progressively updating existing soil survey products on the Seward Peninsula, utilizing expanded data sources to develop finer concepts for soils and vegetation. Field data is used to update key management factors, including vascular and lichen biomass and natural disturbance regimes. A collaborative approach is vital to progressively developing and updating science-based ESDs into the future. Continuous improvement is reliant on project collaboration, incorporation of new and existing Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and the addition of new technology, partnerships, and research into the effects of climate change and ungulate grazing in the Alaskan Arctic.
#510: The sustainability of the Arctic. Strategic perspectives on current developments and future directions — Sandra Balão

Sandra Balão ¹
¹CAPP/FCT-ISCSP, Universidade de Lisboa

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 510

Abstract:

Today, the Arctic is a critical region for global strategic interests. Particularly influenced by environmental changes, the increasing accessibility of resources and the profound transformation of geopolitical scenarios, it is of relevance and interest to examine the intersection between security, environmental management and sustainable development objectives towards the latest reference model of the ‘Whole of Society’ in articulation with the underlying concerns of resilience.

Recent trends reveal growing competition for Arctic resources. Such a status quo requires a nuanced understanding of sustainability, so the impact of climate change on regional stability, the role of governance models or the implications of indigenous rights on resource management, as well as war, will be issues to explore.

Strategic challenges include the militarization of the Arctic, its consequences for environmental sustainability and the potential for collaborative approaches between Arctic states and non-state actors. This option will make it possible to highlight innovative strategies that balance national interests with the imperatives of sustainable development.

Discussing Arctic sustainability using a comprehensive framework that integrates strategic analysis with sustainability objectives is new and relevant.

The main goal of this proposal is to approach Arctic sustainability in the context of strategic studies and seek to promote a future-oriented agenda that addresses the complexities of sustainability in an evolving geopolitical environment.
#516: Adapting Strategies for a Changing Arctic: A Call for Interdisciplinary Approaches — Sandra Balão

Sandra Balão ¹
¹CAPP/FCT-ISCSP, Universidade de Lisboa

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 516

Abstract:

This paper explores the articulation of strategic studies and Arctic futures. Geopolitical, environmental, and socio-economic dimensions are shaping contemporary Arctic discourse. Besides climate change, new challenges and opportunities emerge, demanding a reevaluation of strategic frameworks to be applied for studying the drivers that contribute to accelerating the growing and visible transformation of the Arctic region. Resource competition, shifting shipping routes and indigenous rights are some of the most prominent emerging trends that can be used to investigate how state and non-state actors navigate the complexities of Arctic governance. Incorporating interdisciplinary perspectives is part of a determinant option aiming to contribute to innovative policy approaches, address global security concerns and to promote cooperation among Arctic nations, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of Arctic dynamics. The main goal of this study is to propose a strategy to be implemented for sustainable development and conflict prevention (and resolution, if possible) in this rapidly evolving landscape. Nevertheless, challenges remain, because navigating these complexities requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders involved.
#521: International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) Phenocam Synthesis: Image processing and data analysis workflow — Craig E. Tweedie

Katherine I. Young ¹; Sergio A. Vargas ¹; Victoria Villagomez ¹; Daniel Cruz ¹; Tabatha Fuson ¹; Santiago Hoyos Echeverri ¹; Craig E. Tweedie ¹
¹University of Texas El Paso

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 521

Abstract:

Arctic tundra is undergoing changes in satellite-derived “greening” and “browning” trends, reflecting a complex landscape-scale vegetation response to Arctic Change. Plant phenology is sensitive to climate variability and is recognized as an important indicator of ecosystem change. Repeat photography using affordable digital cameras (Phenocams) has emerged as an effective, low-cost tool for monitoring phenological changes in arctic tundra ecosystems. Here we present our workflow for acquiring and synthesizing phenocam data from over 200 arctic tundra sites to address broad research questions focused on 1) variation in the onset and peak of the growing season, 2) shifts in tundra seasonality due to climate change and extreme events, 3) differences in phenological seasonality across plant communities and vegetation types, and 4) correlation between near surface and remotely sensed phenological measurements. Our workflow integrates streamlined data sharing, storage, processing, and analysis using high performance computing (HPC) and local workstations. We utilize multiple software resources (Python, R, Futura, Phenocamanalyzer (an in-house analytical software), and custom image classification code) for image processing, automated quality control, and time-series analysis. This flexible procedure accommodates diverse research questions and scales, from landscape to plot-level and vegetation community analyses. Images, metadata, and analytical deliverables will be shared and managed through our University of Texas El Paso team. Researchers interested in contributing to the synthesis or providing feedback can do so HERE. This effort is being coordinated through the International Tundra Experiment.
#527: Effects of assimilating additional radiosonde observations in the Arctic on weather forecasts — Yonghan Choi

YONGHAN CHOI ¹; JOO-HONG KIM ¹; SANG-YOON JUN ¹; TAEJIN CHOI ¹; XIANGDONG ZHANG ²
¹Korea Polar Research Institute; ² North Carolina State University

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 527

Abstract:

The number of conventional observations (e.g., radiosonde) over the Arctic is comparatively fewer than that in the midlatitudes, which leads to limited weather predictability in the Arctic. The Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) has contributed to enhancing Arctic observations through ship-borne radiosonde observations using ice breaking research vessel (IBRV) Araon, and station-based radiosonde observations at Ny-Alesund in collaboration with international research colleagues. Observing system experiments (OSEs) were conducted using a regional model, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and its data assimilation (DA) system, WRF Data Assimilation (WRFDA) system to investigate effects of assimilating KOPRI’s additional radiosonde observations on weather forecasts over the Arctic.

The overall assimilation effects of the extra observational data on the analyses and forecasts over the Arctic are positive. The DA effects on the analyses are the most substantial in the temperature in the mid/lower troposphere. The assimilation effects spread to the wind in the upper troposphere for early forecasts. The DA effects of the additional radiosonde observations have year-to-year variability, and this variability is closely related to relative locations of radiosonde observations and synoptic conditions (e.g., cyclone activity). The upper-level potential vorticity has played an important role in improving later forecasts, especially when Arctic cyclones are developed. Suggestions for future observing strategies and observation network design in the Arctic will be presented based on OSE results.
#530: Mapping US Arctic Science: Interactive Web Mapping Applications for Advancing Arctic Research and Improving Equity and Community Engagement — Craig Tweedie

Craig Tweedie ¹; Santiago Hoyos Echeverri ¹
¹The University of Texas at El Paso

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 530

Abstract:

With support from NSF, USFWS, and BOEM, we have developed multiple web-mapping applications that aim to improve knowledge access for ‘who is doing what type of Arctic research, where, when, and how’. Our work utilizes a suite of innovative databases and online interactive map applications to foster knowledge exchange between Arctic communities, logisticians, researchers, and other stakeholders. These efforts include project insights through the Arctic Research Mapping Application; a focus on long-term environmental observations through the Arctic Observing Viewer; Seasonal Activity Maps to increase community awareness; visualization of vessel routes via the Research Cruise Viewer; jurisdictional information through the Alaska Lands Viewer; and documentation of decades of legacy research surrounding Utqiagvik via the Barrow Area Information Database. Recent efforts build on these catalogues and strive to improve equity through visualization and footprinting of field-based activities and related observing assets. Our new web mapping application provides a means to examine the spatial and temporal distribution of field-based research to identify regions/ Alaskan communities that are well-supported or underserved. Additionally, the development of a geobrowser that provides visualization support for the emerging Salmon Knowledge Portal is a convenient means to better understand the distribution of environmental observing capacities related to a key subsistence food resource in rural Alaska.
#532: High-Resolution Monitoring of Supraglacial Lakes on Kahiltna Glacier, Alaska: Implications on Glacier Dynamics (2017–2024) — Vandana L

Vandana L ¹; Gulab Singh ¹
¹Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 532

Abstract:

Glacier-lake interactions in the Alaskan Arctic are gaining increasing attention due to their implications for ice loss and climate change. This study investigates the Kahiltna Glacier in Denali National Park, focusing on the development of supraglacial lakes between 2017 and 2024. Using high-resolution imagery from PlanetScope satellites, the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) was applied to monitor the formation and evolution of these lakes. To improve mapping accuracy, a Random Forest classifier was employed, capturing seasonal variations in lake distribution and size. Our findings show a distinct relationship between increasing summer temperatures and the expansion of supraglacial lakes on Kahiltna Glacier. These lakes act as catalysts for ice melting, absorbing more solar radiation than the surrounding ice and contributing to surface melt and fracturing. This accelerates mass loss and glacier thinning. Spatial analysis reveals that lakes predominantly form in lower elevation regions, where ice is thinner and more susceptible to warming-induced deformation.

The study underscores the importance of continuous monitoring of glacier-lake systems in the Alaskan Arctic, as these lakes play a crucial role in glacier dynamics and feedback mechanisms influencing regional climate patterns. By integrating advanced satellite data with machine learning approaches, this research provides new insights into how supraglacial lakes contribute to glacier mass loss in Alaska’s rapidly changing environment. These findings will support improved glacier models and help predict the future behavior of glaciers under projected climate scenarios.
#535: Segmentation and Edge Detection of Shoreline and Bluff Edges in the Arctic using Deep Learning — Craig Tweedie

Harshavardhini Bagavathyraj ¹; Sergio A Vargas ¹; Sasha Peterson ¹; Olac Fuentes ¹; Craig Tweedie ¹
¹The University of Texas at El Paso

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 535

Abstract:

The Arctic is highly sensitive to climate change, with rising temperatures accelerating permafrost thaw, sea ice decline, and sea level rise. These changes exacerbate coastal erosion, underscoring the need for accurate detection of shoreline (instantaneous water line) and bluff edge (typically where vegetation transitions to a bluff, each, or waterline) features to monitor coastal dynamics. Deep learning techniques have shown promise in detecting these features in high-resolution satellite imagery.

In this study, we applied U-Net, a widely-used supervised learning model, to segment shorelines and bluff edges in WorldView-2 imagery. Given U-Net's reliance on extensive annotated data, we also explored Differentiable Feature-based Clustering (DifFeat), an unsupervised learning approach that performs segmentation without manual labels. Our results show that DifFeat achieved higher accuracy and precision compared to U-Net, making it particularly valuable in regions like the Arctic, where labeled data is scarce. To our knowledge, this is the first implementation of unsupervised deep learning methods for such tasks in the Arctic. Beyond segmentation, we used the Holistically-Nested Edge Detection (HED) model to enhance feature delineation through edge detection. A comparative analysis revealed that the HED model produced more precise edges than the segmentation approaches. Ultimately, this research aims to contribute to an enhanced analytical toolkit for Arctic coastal change detection, an essential capacity for improving coastal management and safeguarding vulnerable coastal communities adapting to change.

Keywords: Deep learning, satellite imagery, segmentation, edge detection, shoreline, bluff edge, supervised learning, unsupervised learning
#539: NOAA PolarWatch: Advancing Polar Research through FAIR Principles and Collaborative Open Science Practices — Sunny Hospital

Sunny Hospital ¹
¹NOAA/UCSC

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 539

Abstract:

NOAA’s PolarWatch, the polar node of the CoastWatch program, offers remote sensing and geospatial data services for polar regions, supporting a diverse community of users. Guided by FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles, PolarWatch facilitates access to essential snow and sea ice data, empowering both novice and expert users to explore high-resolution spatial and temporal data and uncover patterns and anomalies in polar environments.

Committed to advancing open science, PolarWatch has implemented a workflow that embodies FAIR principles, creating well-organized, publicly accessible resources and code repositories. Our initiative extends beyond data delivery, as we provide training and tailored services to enhance research and resource management efforts in polar science, fostering a collaborative community dedicated to sustainable data practices and impactful insights.

This presentation will highlight the technical innovations and collaborative strategies employed to make data accessible, emphasizing effective data management and community engagement. By reflecting on both successes and challenges, we aim to share insights that can guide future development and collaboration efforts in advancing open science and maximizing the impact of polar data resources.
#541: Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Wildfire Activity in the Selenge River Basin (2000-2023) — Benjamin Lynch

Benjamin Lynch ¹; Andrey Petrov ¹; Mariia Kuklin ¹
¹ARCTICenter University of Northern Iowa

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 541

Abstract:

Wildfires are a significant natural phenomenon in the boreal forest and steppe of northern Mongolia and Siberia. They present a significant threat to local communities, infrastructure and natural habitats, especially within protected areas. In the last decade the number and intensity of wildfires in the regions, and Selenge River basin has been increasing. This research utilizes MODIS fire data from NASA FIRMS databases to understand spatio-temporal dynamics of fires in the region between 2000 and 2023. Fire occurrences and characteristics are examined to assess seasonal and multi-year changes in fire regimes. Seasonal and annual trends will be studied within the region to find fire activity dynamics over time on different temporal scales. Studying fire activity in this region can provide valuable information for nearby communities and further research on long and short term wildfire trends. Further analysis may be conducted on variables such as FRP, reflectivity and temperature.
#545: Ongoing development of the subseasonal-to-seasonal prediction system based on a coupled global climate model (KPOPS-Earth) — Joo-Hong Kim

Joo-Hong Kim ¹; Sang-Yoon Jun ¹; Yonghan Choi ¹; Young-Chan Noh ¹; Yoo-Geun Ham ²; Sang-Moo Lee ²; Hyo-Jong Song ³; Eui-Seok Chung ¹; Seong-Joong Kim ¹; et al.
¹Korea Polar Research Institute; ² Seoul National University; ³ Myongji University

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 545

Abstract:

Subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) prediction is essential for decision-making in sectors like disaster preparedness, agriculture, water management, energy, health, and the economy. Organizations wirldwide are working to enhance S2S predictability by reducing model errors and improving initial conditions for the atmosphere, ocean, land, and sea ice. KOPRI aims to develop a global climate model-based prediction system, called KPOPS-Earth, to forecast large-scale extreme events on S2S timescales. This effort is driven by research linking Arctic warming, sea ice decline, and extreme events across the Arctic and mid-latitudes. KPOPS-Earth is based on the NCAR CESM2 model and integrates a coupled data assimilation system for the atmosphere, sea ice, and ocean. By the end of 2025, KPOPS-Earth will generate initial fields and perform test forecasts, including historical reforecasts. Ocean assimilation uses a deep learning-based method, while sea ice and atmospheric assimilation use ensemble Kalman filters via NCAR's DART system. These individual assimilation components generate a coupled initial field through weakly coupled assimilation. Model error assessment is being conducted for the Arctic through a combination of Arctic observations to understand surface temperature changes due to ocean-boundary layer-cloud interactions. Climate feedback analysis tools are also used to evaluate the model's performance in simulating Arctic and mid-latitude extreme events, specifically assessing the contributions of different feedback components. By evaluating model errors related to extreme events, we aim to identify improvement targets and clarify the connection between Arctic changes and extreme events. Ultimately, KPOPS-Earth will serve as a valuable validation and prediction tool on S2S timescales.
#547: Exploring novel technologies to assess spotted seal terrestrial ecology in the Alaska Chukchi and Beaufort Seas — Maeghan Connor

Maeghan Connor ¹; Donna Hauser ¹; Todd Brinkman ²; Andrew Von Duyke ³
¹University of Alaska Fairbanks, International Arctic Research Center, Alaska Arctic Observatory and Knowledge Hub; ² University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology; ³ North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Biology

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 547

Abstract:

Climate-induced environmental change poses a significant threat to ice-associated marine mammal species. In recent years, Indigenous Knowledge (IK) holders in Arctic Alaska have observed shifts in foraging behavior, seasonal movement, and abundance of harvested Arctic marine mammals. To assess the potential impacts of ecosystem change on marine mammals, it is necessary to document trends in animal ecology, abundance, behavior, and health. However, baseline data are severely lacking for many Arctic species, including the spotted seal (Phoca largha). Challenging weather conditions, financial and logistical constraints, inaccessible habitats, and the highly sensitive nature of this species pose a significant challenge to effective data collection via traditional survey methods including manned aircraft and boats.

To address this knowledge gap, we utilized two non-invasive technologies, namely camera traps and small drones, to assess spotted seal ecology at coastal haulouts in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas during the open-water season. From 2020 - 2022, camera traps were placed at known seal haulout sites. Images and local weather data were analyzed to assess the impact of environmental conditions on terrestrial haulout behavior. To deepen our understanding of haulout behavior, results were woven with local environmental observations from IK holders from the nearby community of Utqiaġvik. We also tested the feasibility of using drones to assess spotted seal relative abundance, body condition, and age distribution by flying over haulouts throughout the 2024 open-water season. We found that these technologies have the potential to significantly improve data collection for spotted seals as well as other ice seal species.
#550: Dynamic STAC API for Searching and Retrieving ArcticDEM Data — Jesse Bakker

Jesse Bakker ¹; Cole Kelleher ¹
¹Polar Geospatial Center, University of Minnesota

Format: Poster virtual

Poster number: 550

Abstract:

High-quality elevation data is critical for understanding a rapidly changing Arctic environment. To that end, ArcticDEM, a stereo-photogrammetric satellite-derived high-resolution (2m) pan-Arctic time series digital elevation model, has become a foundational dataset for a wide range of applications in polar science. Published as both a temporal stack of repeat time-stamped DEM strips and as a seamless mosaic built from strip components, the DEMs can serve a variety of analytical and mapping needs. While it has been publicly available to users since it was published, the implementation of a dynamic STAC (Spatio Temporal Asset Catalog) API for ArcticDEM now means the data is more accessible than ever. STAC is a common standard for exposing spatiotemporal data online to be utilized in downstream workflows. By hosting the DEMs as Cloud Optimized Geotiffs (COGs) in an Amazon S3 bucket and leveraging STAC functionality, the ArcticDEM catalog is machine-readable and can be queried dynamically, allowing users to access just the necessary pixels without having to download entire files. This change enables more flexible integration into cloud and distributed computing workflows, reduces barriers to accessibility, and enables better collaboration and reproducibility. This session will provide an overview of the ArcticDEM STAC catalog and demonstrate how to use the API to query and retrieve data.
#564: Evolution of Arctic heatwaves: characterizing extreme heat events using a 3D clustering approach — Grégoire Canchon

Grégoire Canchon ¹; Gabriele Hegerl ¹
¹University of Edinburgh

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 564

Abstract:

The first year of my PhD project has been spent assessing and characterizing Arctic heatwaves using satellite data (MODIS Land Surface Temperature).

The MODIS dataset product used in this project offers 23 years of data, which has been used to understand how Arctic heatwaves have evolved over time, by investigating changes in amplitude, frequency, duration, etc. This is done by calculating the 90th percentile values of the dataset using a rolling window of 11 days, and then plotting trends and timeseries.

Additionally, I aim to present a unique method I used to cluster and classify Arctic heatwaves. I implemented a 2D DBSCAN algorithm to identify spatio-temporal heatwaves. This method allows to explore the differences between Arctic regions (Siberia, North America, Northern Europe) and compare heatwave clusters.

Ultimately, this research will be tied to land cover information, to try and understand the dynamics between vegetation-covered or snow-covered grounds with heatwave characteristics. This will allow for a better understanding of Arctic heatwave formation, as well as providing a solid starting point to investigate the impact of heatwaves on Arctic greening/browning, and wildfire occurrences.
#566: Glacier Retreat and Morphological Changes in the Suru Sub Basin of Ladakh, Western Himalayas — Sakshi Mankotia

Sakshi Mankotia ¹
¹Jamia Millia Islamia

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 566

Abstract:

Glaciers are an important part of earth cryosphere are under consistent threat of melting due to global warming and climate change . Himalayan Glaciers are rapidly receding due to climate change, posing significant challenges for communities dependent on their meltwater .The present study aims to develop glacier inventories for the years 1992 and 2023 in Suru Sub Basin and classify them based on Global Land Ice Measurement from Space. The retreat analysis is carried out for 29 glaciers based on their snout positions.

Landsat TM/OLI sensor data was used along with ASTER DEM to identify and map the glacier boundary, which was further validated by Google Earth imagery. The retreat was calculated by using the centreline method for demarcating the retreating snout based on elevation change. The field measurement was further used to validate the snout change in Parkachik Glacier.

In 2023, 214 glaciers were identified, with 52.8 percent north-facing glaciers. There has been a significant decline of 24.9 percent in the area in 31 years. The average glacier retreat was 23.6% in all glaciers between 1992 and 2023. The snout retreat of Glacier-18 shows the highest retreat of 45.8m/yr.

This study used long-term data to calculate glacier retreat patterns with a combination of satellite data and field measurements which adds ground truth and validate the study, further, the data can be used by policymakers and stakeholders to understand climate adaptation strategies in the region.
#568: Downstream Lives Matter: Social Strategies for Mitigating Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Impacts — Rayees Ahmed

Rayees Ahmed ¹
¹Indian Institute of Science Bangalore

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 568

Abstract:

Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are catastrophic events that disproportionately affect vulnerable downstream communities. While there has been a boom of research into physical risk assessments, such as change detection analysis, hazard modelling and early warning systems, there has been little practical implementation on the ground, with only a few structural measures in place. This article emphasises the importance of social factors in GLOF mitigation, which should complement physical assessments. Empowering downstream communities through workshops, training programs, and awareness campaigns can help to increase local disaster preparedness. Community-based approaches, such as participatory hazard mapping, localised early warning systems, and frequent evacuation drills, offer realistic and highly effective alternatives to mitigate GLOF impacts. By incorporating social strategies into current frameworks, we may assure more sustainable, inclusive, and effective GLOF risk management, eventually reducing the vulnerability of at-risk communities.
#569: Plankton, Microbes & biogeochemical processes in the Arctic ecosystem, driven by glacial/sea-ice inputs and climate teleconnections — Rajani Kanta Mishra

Rajani Kanta Mishra ¹; V. Venkataramana ¹; Melena A. Soares ¹
¹National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Goa, India

Format: Poster In-person

Poster number: 569

Abstract:

The Arctic region shows the fastest warming on the Earth, so the changes in the Arctic climate significantly influence the superfluous Arctic regions. The proposed objective will focus on regional arctic warming leading to rapid sea ice/glacial meltwater varying in the different time periods and how it impacts the plankton (phytoplankton & zooplankton) biomass changes linked to microbial population, ecosystem which plays a more significant role in the biogeochemical cycle in the presence of nutrients dynamics. Further, the zooplankton is a consumer of the phytoplankton and microbial bacteria that interplay in the carbon cycle that govern by physical-chemical variables including sea ice/glacial inputs. The study would be ideal in these ecosystem due to the influence of the intrusion of waters from the Arctic and Atlantic, along with glacial melt and local winds, which are the key driving forces and are acting on the upper water masses in the Artic ecosystem. The available data on plankton microbial diversity, food web ecosystem, and their role in the biogeochemical cycle is obscure and further teleconnection to regional and global climate is very much dynamic. understanding such teleconnection is one of the essential factors in understanding the current climate variability and predicting its future and is further important in investigating the cause of extreme events in and out of the Arctic region and obtaining their future perspective.Therefore, the present study would understand the impact of sea ice/glacial input on the ecosystem function for the regional and global climate change and vice versa.
#571: Bridging Ethical Engagement with Big Data Research: Surveying the Remote Sensing and Modeling Communities — Michael DeLue

Julian Dann ¹; Michael DeLue ²; Bob Bolton ³; Eugenie Euskirchen ¹; Matt McCarthy ³; Abbie Faxon ³
¹University of Alaska Fairbanks; ² University of Alaska Fairbanks, International Arctic Research Center, Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center, Scenarios Network for Alaska + Arctic Planning; ³ Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 571

Abstract:

The Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments (NGEE) Arctic is an ongoing multi-scale research project (2012-2027) with a goal of improving our understanding of and our ability to model complex arctic ecosystems. NGEE Arctic emphasizes continuous collaboration between interdisciplinary teams of field scientists and modelers to develop model-informed field experiments. Observations made by the NGEE Arctic team across a gradient of permafrost landscapes in Alaska are being incorporated into the latest earth system models to improve the representation of tundra processes.

The contributions of local and Indigenous communities in Arctic Alaska have advanced the modeling of tundra ecosystems by NGEE Arctic. As part of NGEE Arctic’s science communication and outreach plan the project aims to communicate with communities about the research conducted in their region and improve researchers’ approach to community-engaged science.

Ethical engagement frameworks published across the circumpolar Arctic emphasize the need for two-way communication about research affecting remote and primarily Indigenous communities. We are surveying remote sensing and modeling projects to understand how those engagement frameworks shape projects which may not involve on-the-ground data collection.

StoryMaps are being developed by the NGEE Arctic team to democratize access to geospatial data, which is often only available to those with expensive software licenses, advanced skills in GIS, or the time to learn open-source software. They are particularly effective for audiences familiar with the region of study, allowing users to focus on areas of personal interest, such as regions potentially affected by industrial leases, subsistence hunting or fishing areas, or family cabins.
#572: Polar STEAM: Broadening the Reach of Educator and Artist Collaborations in Polar Research — Melissa Barker

Melissa Barker ¹; Julie Risien ¹; Jennifer Hutchings ²; Jami Ivory ¹
¹ Oregon State University - Polar STEAM; ² Oregon State University

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 572

Abstract:
Polar STEAM is taking a new approach to engage educators and creative practitioners to collaborate with NSF funded researchers working in polar environments. Most people will not get the chance to experience these regions, though they hold wonder and intrigue for many. Our vision is to create the conditions for curiosity to thrive by facilitating programs that support authentic collaboration with a goal to engage both public and student learners. Polar STEAM leverages the principles of creativity, collaboration and critical thinking to increase the accessibility of and engagement with polar science through virtual and field-based collaborations. Annual Polar STEAM cohorts bring together polar researchers, creative practitioners, and educators to explore polar places, people and scientific endeavors, STEAM principles, and science communication to set the stage for meaningful collaborations that result in co-developed educational resources, creative products, and shared learning. We support educators in expanding their curriculum to include current polar data and science concepts while integrating creative practice to increase accessibility for a wide variety of learners. We are looking for researchers to join the program, to create opportunities to connect with perspectives of creatives and educators in some of the most interesting and critical systems on the planet. We present the status of the first two Polar STEAM cohorts, and share successes and difficulties overcome in building the program to date.
#573: Coordinating German university polar research – The National Committee SCAR/IASC — Linn Sanguineti

Linn Sanguineti ¹; Monika Rhein ¹
¹ Univeristy of Bremen

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 573

Abstract:

The National Committee SCAR/IASC was established by the German National Science Foundation (DFG) to plan and coordinate polar research of German universities in cooperation with the Alfred Wegener Institute and other institutions. Polar science at universities is one of the main pillars of German Arctic research, contributing significantly to answering the major questions about the role of the Arctic in the climate system. For a comprehensive picture of the changes in the polar regions, findings from all fields of polar research must be combined - marine, atmospheric and ice sheet research, biology, geosciences, and social sciences. The National Committee SCAR/IASC is a panel in which participants from all polar research fields and the relevant federal institutions meet. It thus offers a broad forum for exchange, discussion, and initiatives. In our annual meetings, we address national and international topics of polar research and infrastructure amongst the German polar research community.

The National Committee nominates German delegates to working groups and committees of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). In 2025, more than 70 German scientists are participating in bodies of IASC and SCAR, and 20 German universities are involved in polar research.

Through our website https://scar-iasc.de, we facilitate networking for polar researchers and increase polar research visibility amongst the general public.
#574: EPOC - Explaining and Predicting the Ocean Conveyor: Spotlight on Arctic research — Laura de Steur et al.

Laura de Steur ¹, Hege-Beate Frediksen ¹, Till Baumann ², Randi Ingvaldsen ², Yevgeny Aksenov ³, Rebecca McPherson ⁴ and Wilken-Jon von Appen ⁴

¹ Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromso, Norway; ² Institute for Marine Research, Bergen, Norway; ³ National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK; ⁴ Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven, Germany

Format: Poster in-person

Poster number: 574

Abstract:
Ocean circulation – the movement of water masses around the ocean basin – is the engine of earth’s climate system. It is responsible for the storage and distribution of heat around the ocean, as well as nutrients, oxygen and carbon. In the Atlantic, warm surface water in equatorial regions being drawn towards the poles where it cools and becomes fresher, sinks and then returns as a deep flow towards the equator. This is known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Many scientific misconceptions exist about the nature of the AMOC and its role in climate regulation. EPOC is an EU-funded research programme aiming to generate a new concept of the AMOC, its function in the Earth system and how it impacts weather and climate. The Artic forms an important part of that picture as it forms the northernmost extension of the AMOC, but the Arctic is where climate change is occurring faster than anywhere else on the planet - nearly four times as fast. Hence, increases in ocean heat transported to the Arctic can add to that warming, and vice versa - changes in sea-ice cover and freshwater input can modify the AMOC. Here we present some highlights from EPOC’s important work on changes in the Arctic Ocean.

Poster Session

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