Description: Understanding and responding to the rapidly occurring environmental changes in the Arctic over the past few decades require new approaches in science. This includes improved collaborations within the scientific community but also enhanced dialogue between scientists and societal stakeholders, especially with Arctic communities. As a contribution to the Third International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARPIII), the Arctic in Rapid Transition (ART) network held an international workshop in France, in October 2014, in order to discuss high-priority requirements for future Arctic marine and coastal research from an early-career scientists (ECS) perspective. The discussion encompassed a variety of research fields, including topics of oceanographic conditions, sea-ice monitoring, marine biodiversity, land-ocean interactions, and geological reconstructions, as well as law and governance issues. Participants of the workshop strongly agreed on the need to enhance interdisciplinarity in order to collect comprehensive knowledge about the modern and past Arctic Ocean's geo-ecological dynamics. Such knowledge enables improved predictions of Arctic developments and provides the basis for elaborate decision-making on future actions under plausible environmental and climate scenarios in the high northern latitudes. Priority research sheets resulting from the workshop's discussions were distributed during the ICARPIII meetings in April 2015 in Japan, and are publicly available online.

Description: Dieses Projekt startete im Oktober 2015 mit einer verrückten Idee: Schreiben und Einreichen eines Antrags auf Förderung einer internationalen, multidisziplinären und nicht-traditionell wissenschaftlichen Projektinitiative… innerhalb von 48 Stunden. Und es hat geklappt ! Eine Gruppe hoch motivierter, junger Forscher aus Kanada und Europa hat sich gebildet, um Kunst und Wissenschaft zu kombinieren und eine Reihe von Comics über Permafrost (gefrorene Böden) zu produzieren. Unser Ziel ist es, zu zeigen, wie wissenschaftliches Arbeiten im hohen Norden funktioniert, mit dem Schwerpunkt auf Geländearbeit und den schnellen Umweltveränderungen in der Arktis. Die Zielgruppe sind Kinder, Jugendliche, Eltern und Lehrer, mit dem allgemeinen Ziel, Permafrost zugänglicher und mit Spaß zu vermitteln. Denn ratet mal: Permafrost ist ein Gebiet von mehr als 20 Millionen km2 auf der Nordhalbkugel – ein riesiges Gebiet. Durch die Klimaerwärmung taut der Permafrost und wird zu instabil, um Häuser, Straßen und Flughäfen zu tragen. Durch das Auftauen von gefrorenem Boden werden außerdem Pflanzen- und Tierhabitate zerstört, die Wasserqualität und Ökologie von Seen beeinflusst und auf Grund der Freisetzung von Kohlenstoff als Treibhausgas in die Atmosphäre wird der Klimawandel sogar verstärkt. Daher betrifft Permafrost und seine Reaktion auf den Klimawandel uns alle. Die Internationale Permafrost Gemeinschaft (IPA) hat das Projekt als „Action Group“ von Beginn an unterstützt und seitdem sind noch viele weitere Sponsoren dazugekommen. Und hier sind wir nun: Zwei Jahre nach der ersten Idee. Ihr seid kurz davor das zu lesen, was das Ergebnis eines ständigen Austauschs zwischen Künstlern und Wissenschaftlern ist. Zunächst hatten wir eine Ausschreibungsrunde und erhielten 49 Bewerbungen von Künstlern aus 16 Ländern. Durch ein Bewertungsverfahren wählten wir zwei Künstlerinnen aus, um an diesem Projekt zu arbeiten: Noémie Ross aus Kanada und Heta Nääs aus Finnland. Mit den Beiträgen von Wissenschaftlern erstellten Noémie und Heta fantastische Cartoons, die ein paar der Veränderungen erklären, die in Permafrost-Gebieten passieren. Zum Beispiel: wie wird die Welt der Menschen und Tiere beeinflusst und was machen Forscher, um diese Prozesse besser zu verstehen, sodass sie den Einheimischen helfen können, innovative Wege zur Anpassung zu finden.

Description: Erosion rates along permafrost coastlines are among the fastest in the world, despite the fact that they are only ice free for 3-4 months of the year. Yearly coastal erosion rates of up to 20 m were recorded along ice rich and unconsolidated coasts of the Beaufort and Laptev Sea. Coastal erosion can thus cause rapid land loss and release large amounts sediments, which can alter near-shore ecosystems. Mass-wasting processes such as active-layer detachments, retrogressive thaw slumping and block failures frequently occur along the coasts of Yukon Coastal Plain and Herschel Island. They can significantly impact coastal dynamics and sediment delivery on the shore. In our study we use high resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) to observe short term coastal erosion along Yukon Coast and Herschel Island. DEMs were acquired from LIDAR surveys during the AIRMETH campaigns in 2012 and 2013. The DEMs were processed to obtain a horizontal resolution of 1 meter and compared to identify erosion and accumulation events. Our results show that erosion behaviour is simple and relatively linear at low-elevation coasts (up to 10 m height), where we recorded yearly coastline retreat from 0 to 20 m. Coastal erosion behaviour becomes diverse and slower at higher-elevation coasts, where mass-wasting processes are more active. Among these mass-wasting processes, retrogressive thaw slumping is particularly important. Activated material can be accumulated at the slump outlets or can be transported along the coast by longshore drift. Such material accumulations caused up to 42 m of coastline progradation. Significant accumulation events were identified also due to block failures (up to 20 m of coastline progradation). Although they are generally short-lived features, they can occur frequently and can influence coastline digitalisations. Coastline observations are therefore not indicating the volume loss that is occurring due to mass wasting. We observe discrepancy between planimetric (coastline movement) and volumetric (recorded by DEMs) coastal erosion on Herschel Island. Exploring the relationship between both measures of coastal erosion would enable better estimates of released sediments from the coasts characterised by mass wasting.

Description: Climate change has a strong impact on permafrost coasts in the Arctic. With increasing air and water temperatures, ice-rich permafrost coasts will thaw, which will lead to enhanced thermokarst and erosion. Upon erosion, large amounts of organic carbon previously stored for thousands of years are remobilized and either emitted as greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, redeposited within the landward nearshore zone, or released into the ocean. Yet, little is known about carbon degradation before the organic matter enters the nearshore zone of the ocean. The objective of this study was to investigate these processes at ice-rich thermokarst coasts, by focusing on retrogressive thaw slumps. The study aimed at determining the quantity of organic carbon and nitrogen in undisturbed and non-disturbed (thermokarst affected) coastal stretches, to detect its degradation and accumulation pattern after thawing, as well as its fate in the nearshore of the ocean. A retrogressive thaw slump located on Herschel Island (Yukon Territory, Canada) was sampled systematically along transects from the undisturbed parts (tundra, permafrost headwall) to disturbed parts (mudpool and slump floor) and the nearshore zone (marine sediments). These thermokarst landforms are ideal study sites as they spatially expose different transport and accumulation stages of thawed permafrost sediments before entering the ocean. Total and dissolved organic carbon (TOC and DOC) as well as total and dissolved nitrogen (TN and DN) were analyzed to quantify carbon and nitrogen loss. C/N-ratios, stable carbon isotope concentrations (δ13C-TOC and δ13C-DOC), nutrient concentrations (ammonium, nitrite, nitrate), and lipid biomarkers were analyzed to estimate degradation, carbon metabolization, as well as nitrification and plant assimilation processes. Furthermore, dating of lead isotopes (Pb-210) in nearshore sediments and conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) profiles of the sea water in front of the slump were analyzed to assess the possible fate of the organic material in the nearshore zone. Our results show a general decrease of TOC and DOC as well as TN and DN contents from undisturbed to disturbed zones. TOC/TN-ratios are lower in disturbed zones, especially when comparing to permafrost sediments only. DOC/DN-ratios are highest in the tundra and slump floor but in general lower in disturbed zones. Stable carbon isotopes differ only slightly with lower values in disturbed zones, especially when comparing disturbed areas with permafrost only. Nitrate and nitrite concentrations are highest in disturbed areas, while ammonium concentrations are highest in permafrost and mudpool sediments. In the marine sediment core, Pb-210 values hinted towards a well-mixed environment and non-continuous accumulation. CTD surveys showed frequent brackish and mixed water column conditions. These results lead to the assumption that sediments released through thermokarst activity are subject to strong degradation, which is supported by lower quantities of TOC and DOC as well as lower C/N-ratios in the disturbed zone. However, slightly lower values of stable carbon isotopes indicate that carbon is less degraded in the disturbed zone. High ammonium values in permafrost and mudpool sediments reflect an increasing activity of bacteria metabolizing organic material. No nitrate and nitrite was found in undisturbed parts, whereas detectable concentrations were found in disturbed parts, leading to the assumption that organic material has been subject to metabolization by bacteria. Lower DN-values in the slump floor reflected the nitrogen fixation by plants that recolonize the disturbed zones. We suggest that before entering the nearshore zone permafrost organic carbon and nitrogen is subject to substantial degradation and metabolization. Within the nearshore zone, the accumulated sediments are remobilized frequently and transported either along the shore or further offshore.

Description: Climate warming has a strong impact on permafrost coasts in the Arctic. With increasing air and water temperatures the ice-rich unlithified permafrost coasts will thaw and erode at a greater pace. Organic carbon that has been stored for thousands of years is mobilized and degrades on its way to the ocean. The objective of this study is to investigate to what extend permafrost carbon degrades after thawing before it enters the ocean and to investigate the concentration patterns of organic carbon within a retrogressive thaw slump. Such a slump system on Herschel Island (Yukon Territory, Canada) was sampled systematically along transects from the permafrost headwall through the thawed material in the slump floor toward the coastline. Concentrations of particulate and dissolved organic carbon (POC and DOC) as well as its stable carbon isotopes (δ13C-POC and δ13C-DOC) have been measured and compared in frozen deposits and in thawed sediments. Moreover, the nutrients ammonium, nitrite and nitrate have been analyzed in order to identify and understand the carbon metabolization mechanisms. Our results show that major portions of permafrost carbon are metabolized right after thawing. Ammonium concentrations are highest in areas where thawed permafrost material directly accumulates. We show that before entering the nearshore zone permafrost organic carbon and nitrogen is subject to major degradation and metabolization. To conclude, permafrost carbon is already highly degraded before entering the nearshore zone of the Arctic Ocean. This makes permafrost coasts and retrogressive thaw slumps to degradation hotspots at the land-ocean-interface.

Description: Ice-rich permafrost coasts in the Arctic are highly sensitive to climate warming and erode at a pace that exceeds the global average. Permafrost coasts deliver vast amounts of organic carbon into the nearshore zone of the Arctic Ocean. Numbers on flux exist for particulate and total soil organic carbon (POC and TOC). However, they do not exist for dissolved organic carbon (DOC), which is known to be highly labile. This study aims to estimate DOC stocks in coastal permafrost as well as the annual flux into the ocean. DOC concentrations in ground ice were analyzed along the ice-rich Yukon coast (YC) in the western Canadian Arctic. The annual DOC flux was estimated using available numbers for coast length, cliff height, annual erosion rate, and volumetric ice content in different stratigraphic horizons. Our results showed that DOC concentrations in ground ice range between 0.3 and 347.0 mg L-1 with an estimated stock of 13.55 g m-3 along the YC. An annual DOC flux of 54.9 Mg yr-1 was computed. These DOC fluxes are low compared to POC fluxes from coastal erosion or POC and DOC fluxes from Arctic rivers. We conclude that DOC fluxes from permafrost coasts play a minor role in the Arctic carbon budget. However, this DOC is assumed to be highly labile. We hypothesize that DOC from coastal erosion is important for ecosystems in the Arctic nearshore zones, particularly in summer when river discharge is low, and in areas where rivers are absent.

Description: Over the past two decades, the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) have organized activities focused on international and interdisciplinary perspectives for advancing Arctic and Antarctic research cooperation and knowledge dissemination in many areas (e.g. Kennicutt et al., 2014). For permafrost science, however, no consensus document exists at the international level to identify future research priorities, although the International Permafrost Association (IPA) highlighted the need for such a document during the 10th International Conference on Permafrost in 2012. Four years later, this presentation, which is based on the results obtained by Fritz et al. (2015), outlines the outcome of an international and interdisciplinary effort conducted by early career researchers (ECRs). This effort was designed as a contribution to the Third International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP III). In June 2014, 88 ERCs convened during the Fourth European Conference on Permafrost to identify future priorities for permafrost research. We aimed to meet our goals of hosting an effective large group dialogue by means of online question development followed by a “World Café” conversational process. An overview of the process is provided in Figure 1. This activity was organized by the two major early career researcher associations Permafrost Young Researchers’ Network (PYRN) and the Association of Polar Early career Scientists (APECS), as well as the regional research projects PAGE21 (EU) and ADAPT (Canada). Participants were provided with live instructions including criteria regarding what makes a research question (Sutherland et al., 2011). The top five questions that emerged from this process are: (1) How does permafrost degradation affect landscape dynamics at different spatial and temporal scales? (2) How can ground thermal models be improved to better reflect permafrost dynamics at high spatial resolution? (3) How can traditional environmental knowledge be integrated in permafrost research? (4) What is the spatial distribution of different ground-ice types and how susceptible is ice-rich permafrost to future environmental change? (5) What is the influence of infrastructures on the thermal regime and stability of permafrost in different environmental settings? As the next generation of permafrost researchers, we see the need and the opportunity to participate in framing the future research priorities. Across the polar sciences, ECRs have built powerful networks, such as the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) and the Permafrost Young Researchers Network (PYRN), which have enabled us to efficiently consult with the community. Many participants of this community-input exercise will be involved in and also affected by the Arctic science priorities during the next decade. Therefore, we need to (i) contribute our insights into larger efforts of the community such as the Permafrost Research Priorities initiative by the Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) project together with the IPA and (ii) help identify relevant gaps and a suitable roadmap for the future of Arctic research. Critical evaluation of the progress made since ICARP II and revisiting the science plans and recommendations will be crucial. IASC and the IPA, together with SCAR on bipolar activities, should coordinate the research agendas in a proactive manner engaging all partners, including funding agencies, policy makers, and local communities. Communicating our main findings to society in a dialogue between researchers and the public is a priority. Special attention must be given to indigenous peoples living on permafrost, where knowledge exchange creates a mutual benefit for science and local communities. The ICARP III process is an opportunity to better communicate the global importance of permafrost to policy makers and the public.

Description: Arctic coastal infrastructure, cultural, and archeological sites are increasingly vulnerable to erosion and flooding due to amplified warming of the Arctic, sea level rise, lengthening of open water periods, and a predicted increase in frequency of major storms. Mitigating these hazards necessitates decision-making tools at an appropriate scale. The objectives of this study were to assess potential erosion and flood hazards at Herschel Island, a UNESCO World Heritage candidate site, and produce a map to be used as a decision making tool. The study focused on Simpson Point and the adjacent coastal sections, because of their archeological, historical, and cultural significance. Shoreline movement was analyzed using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) after digitizing shorelines from 1952, 1970, 2000, and 2011. For purposes of this analysis, the coast was divided in seven coastal reaches (CRs) reflecting different morphologies and/or exposures. Using linear regression rates obtained from these data, projections of shoreline position were made for 20 and 50 years into the future. Flood hazard was assessed using a least cost-path analysis based on a high-resolution Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) dataset and current Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sea level estimates. Widespread erosion characterizes the study area. The rate of shoreline movement in different periods of the study ranges from -5.5 to 2.7 m·a-1 (mean -0.6 m·a-1). Mean coastal retreat decreased from -0.6 m·a-1 to -0.5 m·a-1, for 1952-1970 and 1970-2000, respectively, and increased to -1.3 m·a-1 in the period 2000-2011. Ice-rich coastal sections most exposed to wave attack exhibited the highest rates of coastal retreat. The geohazard map combines shoreline projections and flood hazard analyses to show that most of the spit area has extreme or very high flood hazard potential, and some buildings are vulnerable to coastal erosion.

Description: This project started in October 2015 with a crazy idea: prepare and submit a funding application for an international, multidisciplinary and non-traditional scientific outreach project… within the next 48 hours. Well, it worked out. A group of highly motivated young researchers from Canada and Europe united to combine arts and science and produce a series of outreach comic strips about permafrost (frozen ground). The aim of the project is to present and explain scientific research conducted across the circumpolar Arctic, placing emphasis on field work and the rapidly changing northern environment. The target audience is kids, youth, parents and teachers, with the general goal of making permafrost science more fun and accessible to the public. Because guess what : permafrost represents an area of more than twenty million km2 in the Northern Hemisphere, a huge area. As the climate warms, permafrost thaws and becomes unstable for houses, roads and airports. This rapid thawing of previously frozen ground also disrupts plant and animal habitats, impacts water quality and the ecology of lakes, and releases carbon into the atmosphere as greenhouse gases, making climate change even stronger. Hence permafrost and its response to climate change concerns us all. The project received initial support from the International Permafrost Association (IPA) as a targeted ‘Action Group’, and since then several other sponsors have joined the project. Here we are, now, two years after this first idea. What you are about to read is the result of an iterative process of exchanging ideas between artists and scientists. We first made an application call and received 49 applications from artists in 16 countries. Through a formal review process, we then selected two artists to work on this project: Noémie Ross from Canada, and Heta Nääs from Finland. With input from scientists, Noémie and Heta created fantastic cartoons that explain some of the changes happening to the environment in permafrost areas, how they affect people and wildlife, and what scientists are doing to better understand these changes to help people find innovative ways to adapt. We wish everyone plenty of fun reading this booklet and we would like to thank all those who supported this project.

Description: Thermokarst lakes are characteristic and dynamic landscape features of ice-rich permafrost environments. Our study of sedimentary records and shoreline expansion of Peatball Lake on the Alaska Arctic Coastal Plain reveals 1,400 years of thermokarst activity. While Peatball Lake likely initiated from a remnant pond of a drained lake basin, the catchment is likewise characterized by mid to late Holocene aged drained basins and remnants of Pleistocene and early Holocene aged uplands. As the lake expanded through lateral permafrost degradation, the sediment source has changed as indicated by internal-lake variability in sediment deposition. Reversed radiocarbon ages show recycling of “old” carbon and degraded organic matter became redeposited in the lake basin resulting in nutrient-poor sublittoral deposits. Our sedimentary records reflect the complexity of depositional environments in thermokarst lakes due to spatio-temporal changes in lake and catchment morphology as well as the impact of thermokarst lake activity on carbon storage of periglacial landscapes.