Climate change in Canada’s Arctic: Impacts on Inuit communities and marine ecosystems Brent Else Assistant Professor Department of Geography Faculty of Arts June 15, 2017
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Climate change in Canada’s Arctic:Impacts on Inuit communities and marine ecosystems
Brent Else
Assistant Professor
Department of Geography
Faculty of Arts
June 15, 2017
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Brent Else
Assistant professor of Geography, Faculty of Arts
BSc and MSc from UCalgary, PhD from University of Manitoba
Studies carbon cycles in the Arctic, and their response to climate change
Also interested in how Inuit communities can adapt to climate change
Has spent many months in the Arctic on ships, in camps, and in communities
Brent Else
Assistant professor of Geography, Faculty of Arts
BSc and MSc from UCalgary, PhD from University of Manitoba
Studies carbon cycles in the Arctic, and their response to climate change
Also interested in how Inuit communities can adapt to climate change
Has spent many months in the Arctic on ships, in camps, and in communities Photo by Vishnu Nandan
Outline
1. Sea ice and climate change in the Arctic
2. Canada’s Inuit communities
3. Impacts of sea ice loss
4. My research
Climate change evidence
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http://www.ebay.com/bhp/hanging-scale
http://www.cyclismas.com/biscuits/riders-look-to-scale-new-weights/
http://us.ohaus.com/en-us
http://www.detecto.com/product-family/physician-scales/
http://radaronline.com/photos/
http://www.tanita.com/es/hd366/
Indicators of climate change
Instrumental records Historical documents
Satellite records “Proxies”https://en.wikipedia.org/ https://en.wikipedia.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/
https://photolibrary.usap.gov/
http://faculty.washington.edu/jsachs/lab
Sea ice: A key indicator
Sea ice (frozen seawater) is highly sensitive to a warming climate
Sea Ice Icebergs
https://www.afar.com/https://mattchernos.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/muddying-the-waters-calving-glaciers-and-their-response-to-climate/
Sea ice extent has been decreasing for several decades
Sea ice: A key indicator
Record low summer minimum Record low winter maximum
Sea ice: A key indicator
Sea ice loss and Canada’s Inuit
50,000 people spread over 53 communities, 35% of Canada’s landmass, and 50% of our coastline
Bonesteel (2006), Canada’s Relationship with Inuit: A History of Policy and Program Development, INAC
http://lbpnunavut.blogspot.ca/2010/05/feast-and-celebration.html
Sea ice loss and Canada’s Inuit
Climate change is hitting Canada’s Inuit the hardest:• Arctic amplification
https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2537/nasa-noaa-data-show-2016-warmest-year-on-record-globally/
Sea ice loss and Canada’s Inuit
Climate change is hitting Canada’s Inuit the hardest:• Legacy of European contact/government policies
Employment by whaling/fur trade industries 1700s-1900s.
American military presence in WWII and cold war
Government relocation policies in 1940s-60s
Bigger government role in health care, education, housing in 1960s-70s
https://en.wikipedia.org/
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
http://www.iwm.org.uk/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/northernpix/
http://www.inuitfirstcanadians.com/Library and Archives Canada
Sea ice loss & Inuit communities
Impacts of sea ice melt on Inuit communities:• Coastal erosion
• Economic development
• Hazardous travel
• Ecosystem impacts
Gabriel Buoys/AFP
Hazardous travel
Sea ice loss & Inuit communities
http://www.paninuittrails.org/
Ecosystem impacts: habitat loss
Sea ice loss & Inuit communities
http://lateraloffice.com/
Ecosystem impacts:
Sea ice loss & Inuit communities
Ecosystem impacts: primary production
Sea ice loss & Inuit communities
Ecosystem impacts: ocean acidification
Sea ice loss & Inuit communities
University of Maryland
Current research
Cambridge Bay
https://en.wikipedia.org/
http://science.gc.ca
Current research
Air-sea CO2 exchange
Current research
Ocean acidification
Ocean Networks Canada
Ocean Networks Canada
Current research
Community weather stations
Current research
Ecosystem Services
Photo: Navilik Helen Tologanak
JS Moore/Marianne Falardeau
Key takeaways
1. Sea ice loss is one of the most dramatic effects of climate change
2. Sea ice loss makes it more difficult for Inuit communities to access traditional resources, compounding existing problems
3. Sea ice loss affects the Arctic marine ecosystem at virtually all levels of the food web
Acknowledgements
Thank you
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