The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of 3 October, 2022
New Study Shows Acidification up to Four Times Faster in the Arctic Ocean
As reported by High North News on October 3, a new study published in Science has found that portions of the Arctic Ocean are absorbing carbon dioxide up to four times faster than other oceans, resulting in acidification. Scientists from Jimei University in China and the University of Delaware in the US examined data from 47 Arctic research voyages from 1994 to 2020 to identify a correlation between sea ice loss and increased acidification in the Arctic. (High North News)
Take 1: Ocean acidification is a consequence of climate change that occurs when carbon dioxide dissolves into seawater. The ocean naturally absorbs carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; however, human activity has increased carbon dioxide levels to the point where it exceeds what the ocean is able to absorb without becoming acidic. Although ocean acidification is affecting seas worldwide, the Arctic is especially vulnerable to ocean acidification since more carbon dioxide can be dissolved in cold water. Melting ice also dilutes seawater, reducingits ability to resist acidification. While previous studies have found evidence of acidification of the Arctic Ocean, the magnitude was previously unknown, making the finding that it is happening up to four times faster than in other oceans alarming. It highlights the immense challenges to the region and joins other harrowing statistics, such as the finding that the Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the world. The paper draws attention to the important issue of acidification in the Arctic, but as the scientists acknowledge, the consequences of acidification still remain unclear. As the Arctic continues to warm, acidification will likely intensify. Research is needed to fill the remaining data gaps and examine the impact of acidification on the Arctic’s ecosystem and communities in order to address the growing issue. (National Park Service, NOAA, Norwegian Polar Institute)
Inuit Showcase Skills for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
As reported by CBC News on October 1, Inuit living in Ottawa, Canada, are showcasing their skills and crafts at the Isaruit Inuit Creator’s Conference to engage in their own form of reconciliation for Canada’s second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The conference, organized by Isaruit Inuit Arts, hosted a small group of Inuit for a traditional feast and a discussion on using the qulliq, a traditional seal-oil lamp. The conference will feature several more cultural displays in the following days, including documentary screenings, speaking sessions, and Inuit art markets. (CBC News)
Take 2: September 30 marks the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, a day created to honor the children who were victims and survivors of the residential school system. These schools were previously part of government assimilation policies, and their purpose was to educate Indigenous youth to integrate them into Canadian society. The compulsory residential schools had a negative impact on students and their culture. Many children were isolated, removed from their homes, and separated from their families. Students were forbidden to speak their Indigenous language orwear traditional clothing, and many were even given new names. As a result, these aggressive policies eroded traditional cultures and led to the deaths of thousands of children. Commemorating and recognizing the painful history and ongoing impacts of Canada’s residential schools are important components of the reconciliation process. Yet, the commemoration of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation has often been arranged by non-Indigenous people for Indigenous communities. Therefore, organizations and events, such as Isaruit Inuit Arts and the Isaruit Inuit Creator’s Conference, are important because they are organized by Indigenous people for themselves and demonstrate the capabilities of Indigenous communities. These organizations also recognize the unique abilities of Indigenous people and work to preserve Inuit culture, language, art, and skills. As the reconciliation process continues, it is important to include and encourage organizations like Isaruit Inuit Arts. (Government of Canada, The Canadian Encyclopedia)
Climate Change: More Extreme Rainfall in the Arctic
As reported by Phys.org on October 3, a new research paper published in Earth’s Future concluded that the frequency and intensity of rainfall events could roughly double by 2100. The paper used climate models under a high level of greenhouse gas emissions from 2015 to 2100 to depict the future changes in rainfall, estimating that the rainfall will likely expand further inland. The researchers warned that once the transition from snow to rainfall becomes common, it could cause severe consequences for the Arctic ice sheet, ecology and Indigenous peoples. (Phys.org)
Take 3: One expected consequence of the shift to an Arctic with more rain is increased permafrost melt, something that could release significant amounts of greenhouse gases that are currently stored in the ground. These emissions will further contribute to climate change and accelerate the loss of sea ice cover. Moreover, combined with heavy rainfall, thawing permafrost can further endanger Arctic communities through landslides and coastal erosion. Landslides, such as those in Svalbard and Alaska, are serious hazards that can destroy roads, airports, houses, and other vital infrastructure. Coastal erosion also reduces protection from storms, leading to a greater risk of flooding. Furthermore, increased rainfall could negatively affect Arctic wildlife, particularly reindeer. When rain falls onto existing snowpacks, it freezes into an ice layer that traps the plants and vegetation. While reindeer can break through thinner ice, thicker ice layers from extreme rainfall are too tough, causing the reindeer to die. The death of 61,000 reindeer in Russia due to starvation from ice cutting off their food supply clearly demonstrates these risks.. With many Indigenous communities relying on reindeer, massive losses to the population would exacerbate food insecurity in these already vulnerable communities. An increase Arctic rainfall is clearly a dangerous trend, with the new research just one more warning of the consequences of high greenhouse gas emissions. Countries must work to reduce emissions to protect Arctic communities and wildlife. (Arctic Today, The Barents Observer, The Washington Post)
Russian Polar Drift Station Expeditions Resume: North Pole-41
As reported by Port News on October 3, the Russian drift station expedition North Pole-41, organized by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, began its operation in the Arctic Ocean on October 2 at 7 am. The specially built ice-resistant and self-propelled platform Severny Polyus moored to the edge of an ice floe and will serve as transportation, accommodation, and a research center for the expedition, with the firstresearch data already sent to the mainland. The expedition is the first since the program of drifting polar stations was suspended in 2013 due to melting Arctic ice. (Port News)
Take 4: The North Pole-41 expedition marks the continuation of Russia’s domestic program of drifting polar stations that began in 1937. Historically, Russia sent out drifting research stations with researchers, equipment, and facilities directly on drifting ice floes. These research stations would move with the drifting ice pack in the Arctic Ocean for about two to three years before the ice floe broke in the Greenland Sea. The drifting stations continuously monitor their local surroundings, taking measurements on ice, temperature, sea depth, ocean currents, weather conditions, and biology. In providing a consistent source of data and research, they are responsible for numerous important findings about the Arctic environment, including the impacts of climate change. Therefore, However, global warming has made it increasingly difficult to organize the expeditions due to melting ice. The last real ice station North Pole-40 was established in 2012 and had to be evacuated when the ice floe broke apart, resulting in the suspension of the program in 2013. Although the Severny Polyus replaces the expeditions based on ice floes, it continues the tradition of a drifting research station while adapting to the new reality of the Arctic. Russia’s drifting polar stations have been a vital source of knowledge about the region. The commencement of North Pole-41 to test the research platform’s key equipment is an important step in preparing for future expeditions that will further our understanding of the changing Arctic. (Cryopolitics, National Geographic, Polar Journal)
US Department of Defense Establishes Arctic Strategy Office
As reported by High North News on October 4, the US Department of Defense has announced that it is establishing an Office of Arctic Strategy and Global Resilience. The new office will be led by a Deputy Assistant Secretary and is intended to ensure that US interests in the region are protected and to coordinate Arctic policies across the department. The office will also oversee the newly created Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, the Department of Defense’s regional center for Arctic security studies in Alaska. (High North News)
Take 5: Russia continues to be a major threat to the United States in the Arctic. In recent years, Russia has militarized the region by modernizing its military infrastructure, strengthening its Arctic capabilities, and testing Arctic-based weapons systems, such as hypersonic missiles and undersea drones. It has also been more assertive by increasing its military exercises and announcing that it will protect its territory, like the Northern Sea Route, with all necessary military measures. At the same time, China has also worked to expand its presence in the region. The recent sighting of a joint Chinese and Russian naval formation near Alaska highlights the growing cooperation between the two countries, representing a further threat to US security.. In addition, climate change challenges US interests in the region. Numerous military installations, including air bases and radar stations, are built on permafrost or near the coast. Permafrost thaw and coastal erosion are damaging military infrastructure, reducing the US’s ability to operate in the High North and respond to Arctic threats. Thus, establishing the Office of Arctic Strategy and Global Resilience is another signal that the US is serious about the Arctic and considers it a vital region for defense. However, with so many offices and individuals involved in formulating Arctic policy, including a new Arctic Ambassador, the US should ensure that its Arctic policy is coherent, coordinated, and aligned across the government. (AP News, CBS News, Center for Strategic and International Studies, High North News)