The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of 10 April, 2023
Canada Holds First-Ever Canadian Snow School
As reported by Al Jazeera on April 7, the first-ever Canadian Snow School was held in early April at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station in Nunavut. The school is a joint initiative by Universite Laval and the University of Sherbrooke, both of which are located in Quebec. A group of 40 researchers participated in the program, including three Inuit students from Nunavut Arctic College and five Indigenous hunters and knowledge-holders. The school provides scientists with training on the study of Arctic snow and the environment. (Al Jazeera)
Take 1: Snow is a crucial component of the Arctic environment. Snow cover helps regulate the temperature of the Earth’s surface and serves as a habitat for numerous Arctic species. As an insulator, snow also creates a refuge for hibernating animals and protects vegetation during cold periods, providing food for wildlife such as caribou. However, with the Arctic warming four times faster than the rest of the world, climate change is having serious consequences for the region. That’s why the new Canadian Snow School is so important. Given the vital role of snow for our environment and climate, it is essential to promote and train a new generation of polar scientists capable of developing insights and solutions to the challenges of the changing North. The school is particularly notable because it welcomes Indigenous knowledge-holders. For many Arctic Indigenous communities, snow is an integral part of their way of life. Based on thousands of years of interactions and reliance on snow for their traditional livelihoods, Indigenous peoples have a deep and complex understanding of various snow processes. By welcoming Indigenous researchers, the program facilitates intercultural dialogue and the exchange of knowledge. The Canadian Snow School is an important initiative because now is the time when polar researchers are needed the most. Universities and research institutes should continue to support similar programs to train young scientists and encourage stronger collaboration with Indigenous people. (Government of Canada, National Academic Press, National Snow and Ice Data Center)
Russia Considers Using Non-Ice Class Tankers in the Northern Sea Route
As reported by High North News on April 11, the Russian state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom is in negotiations with the oil companies Lukoil and Gazprom Neft to use non-ice class tankers in the summer to transport crude oil through the Northern Sea Route towards Asia. The energy firm, which also operates Russia’s nuclear icebreaker fleet, stated that the safety of these conventional tankers will be guaranteed by its icebreakers. Rosatom indicated that up to 500,000 tons of crude oil could be transported along the route to Asia during the summer period. (High North News)
Take 2: Rosatom’s deliberations about the possibility of using non-ice class oil tankers in the Northern Sea Route is extremely concerning. Even with an icebreaking escort and operating during the summer and early fall when the sea ice extent is lowest, maritime activity in Arctic waters is hazardous. The fall of 2021 provides a clear example of the dangerous conditions of the region, when more than 20 vessels were stuck or struggled to traverse the Northern Sea Route due to an unexpected freeze. Ice-class oil tankers are specifically designed with additional protections that enable them to safely navigate through ice. Without this added strength, a collision between sea ice and a conventional tanker could cause crude oil to leak, which would have disastrous consequences for the marine ecosystem. Exposure to oil is harmful to fish, marine mammals, and seabirds. At the same time, the Arctic’s remote location and lack of infrastructure also make it difficult to contain or respond quickly and effectively to oil spills. As a result, the local environment can remain polluted for extensive periods of time, negatively impacting Arctic species and threatening the Indigenous communities that depend on them. Although using conventional tankers may increase the transportation capacity of crude oil to Asia, the economic gains are not worth the enormous risks to the safety of the region, and Rosatom should cease consideration of using non-ice class tankers. (The Arctic Institute, The Barents Observer, World Wildlife Fund)
US Renames Military Base in Greenland
As reported by Eye on the Arctic on April 11, the US military has renamed the Thule Air Force Base in Greenland to Pituffik Space Base, redesignating the installation as a base under the US Space Force. The name, Pituffik, was inspired by the Inuit language and traditions of Greenland. The US Space Force’s Chief of Space Operations, the Greenlandic Minister of Foreign Affairs, Business, and Trade, and the US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark attended the renaming ceremony on April 6. (Eye on the Arctic)
Take 3: The renaming of Thule AFB to Pituffik Space Base is a historic milestone in the history of the United States’ northernmost military installation. Established in 1940, the base has been vital to protecting the security of North America, with the installation focusing mainly on space defense activities. Given its strategic position, the base holds numerous sensors and early warning systems to detect ballistic missiles, satellite launches, and hypersonic weapons. Pituffik also supports scientific research operation in the Arctic with partners, such as the US National Science Foundation and NASA. Thus, the renaming of the base emphasizes the installation’s critical role in space operations and to the wider region. But more importantly, the decision to change the name also celebrates Inuit traditions and reflects the installation’s history. Pituffik was the original name for the settlement where the base was built. However, Pituffik’s Inuit residents were forcibly relocated in 1953. The choice of name acknowledges the base’s impact on Indigenous communities and recognizes the contributions of the people of Greenland in sustaining the installation. As the Arctic continues to transform due to climate change, the strategic importance of Pituffik Space Base will likely increase as well. The renaming ceremony at Pituffik Space Base illustrates the strong relationship between the US and Greenland, and demonstrates that both countries are committed to protecting the region in the future. (Air and Space Forces Magazine, Air Force Technology, Business Insider)
Arctic Logjams: Another Carbon Time Bomb?
As reported by earth.com on April 12, a new study published in Geophysical Research Letters has mapped the largest known logjam in the Arctic, which is a collection of wood debris that accumulates in a river. The logjam covers 51 square kilometers of the Mackenzie River Delta in Nunavut, Canada. Using field measurements, wood samples, and remote imagery, the team of scientists estimated that the woody deposit stores about 3.4 million tons of carbon. The researchers concluded that the total amount of carbon could be higher and more research on wood is needed. (earth.com)
Take 4: Wood in the Arctic travels vast distances throughout the region. Fallen trees are often transported along rivers for hundreds of miles before ultimately ending up as driftwood in the Arctic Ocean. While in rivers, trees can get stuck and block the river, leading to a dense collection of logs. Like the logjam in the Mackenzie River Delta, these wood deposits can cover wide distances and contain hundreds of thousands of trees. The new study is important because it not only quantifies the amount of wood in the Arctic’s largest logjam, but it also reveals how much carbon may be stored in the deposit. As trees grow, they remove carbon from the atmosphere, which they store in the wood. Much of this sequestered carbon is emitted back into the atmosphere when they die. However, the Arctic’s cold conditions can preserve fallen trees for millennia, preventing decay and the release of carbon. With several logjams across the High North, these wood deposits hold a significant amount of carbon. As the Arctic rapidly warms, rising temperatures can accelerate decay, reduce wood preservation, and release millions of tons of carbon. As the world moves further away from achieving its carbon reduction and climate goals, the potential threat of this carbon storage is severe. Scientists should continue to study these wood deposits to better assess their impact on the environment. (Australian National University, National Park Service, phys.org)
Reduced Service at Six Nunavut Health Centers
As reported by Nunatsiaq News on April 13, six community health centers across Nunavut, Canada are currently operating at reduced or emergency service only. Due to low staffing levels, the health centers may only offer emergency care or have limited services and operating hours, especially for walk-ins. The health centers affected include clinics in a Baffin community, three Kivalliq communities, and two Kitikmeot communities. Paramedics and medevacs continue to remain available. (Nunatsiaq News)
Take 5: The service reductions at the Nunavut community health centers highlight the ongoing and long-standing healthcare crisis in Canada’s northern communities. Arctic Indigenous communities are often located in remote locations with limited access to healthcare services, and historic underinvestment has hindered the development of adequate medical infrastructure. These factors, combined with staffing shortages, reduce the quality of care and contribute to poor health outcomes. One of the main challenges of Nunavut’s health care system is its reliance on short-term physicians and nurses that come from outside the territory. Yet, the isolation of working in Arctic communities, high cost of living, and expensive travel have discouraged many from staying. For the healthcare professionals that remain, they are faced with tough workloads that negatively impact their mental and physical health. These working conditions further reduce retention, intensifying the crisis. The situation in Nunavut has become a regular occurrence in northern Canada, and it should compel the government to take urgent action to address the crisis to meet the basic health needs of Indigenous communities. The federal and territorial governments should consider new strategies to improve the situation, such as developing and training an Indigenous workforce of healthcare professionals, who would be more more likely to stay long term in the Arctic and provide culturally competent care. (Canadian Medical Association Journal, CBC News, CTV News)