In recent decades, the Arctic has warmed nearly four times the rate observed globally. The Arctic is changing at local, regional, and global scales, resulting in cascading effects on ecosystems and social, cultural, economic, and political life. The amplified warming and altered hydrological conditions have caused a multitude of changes throughout Arctic ecosystems and livelihoods. These changes include the loss of ice, widespread changes in species distribution and abundance, modified carbon cycling, changing fire regimes, permafrost thawing, and shifts in seasons. Recognizing the effect of natural variability provides important insights into the future of the Arctic.
At ECOENV, our research interests in the changing Arctic include the impacts of climate change on marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, including the biogeochemistry and ecology of sea ice and permafrost systems. Our expertise and research cover Arctic carbon and nitrogen cycles, and the long-term development of biophysical and socio-ecological systems and natural resource use. Furthermore, our research questions related to the impact of human disturbance on the Arctic, its biodiversity, and the future of ecosystem services along with the impact of the Arctic environmental change on human activities connect the changing Arctic strongly with the other research themes in our faculty.
Researchers focusing on this pillar use a variety of methods, including monitoring current biophysical conditions, reconstructing past environments and climatic conditions, and working with local people and communities. This is accomplished, for example, by utilizing field measurements, remote sensing, various modelling techniques, and a range of social science methods.
Research on the changing Arctic has strong synergies with the marine and freshwater research pillar, as lakes, ponds, streams, and the Arctic Ocean are key connecting features of the Arctic landscape, thus sharing highly topical research questions.