Connecting Indigenous knowledge and western science to strengthen collective understanding of the changing Arctic. A collaboration between the U. S. Geological Survey and the university of Colorado, Boulder, January 12, 2022.
The Arctic is the fastest warming region on Earth. The changing climate is altering Arctic hydrology and disproportionately affecting Indigenous communities. Increased temperatures are impacting snowmelt and river flow patterns, and in turn, affecting aquatic ecosystems that communities depend upon. Many Indigenous communities rely on rivers for transportation and fish. Rivers are essential for subsistence. The impacts of the changing climate on Arctic communities are uncertain.
The goal of the Arctic Rivers Project is to improve the overall understanding of the impact of climate change on Arctic ecosystems and communities by connecting Indigenous knowledge and western science .
Objectives: The Arctic Rivers Project will weave together Indigenous knowledges and methods from western science such as monitoring and the modeling of climate, rivers (flows, temperature, ice), and fish to improve understanding of how Arctic rivers, ice transportation corridors, fish, and communities might be impacted by and adapt to climate change.
The project began in 2020 and will run until the end of 2024. The project is funded by the National Science Foundation’s Navigating the New Arctic Program.
The following tasks have been identified as necessary to meet the project's goals:
Observation Expand geochemistry and temperature monitoring to assess climate and stream variation
Climate Modeling- Develop future climate scenarios with various climate models to assess changes in Arctic hydrology
Model Rivers and Fish- Use future climate models and simulated river temperatures to assess potential impacts on Arctic fish species
Co-Produced Storylines- Improve understanding of river ice and fish habitat vulnerabilities through collaboration with Indigenous Alaskan and First Nation communities, researchers and resource managers