“Our interdisciplinary team of environmental scientists, architects, and social scientists is working directly with community partners in Utqiaġvik, Alaska to examine how their infrastructure affects permafrost conditions and water quality,” said Epstein, “which then feedback to influence the livelihoods of residents.”
“One key aspect of the environment in Utqiaġvik that we were not studying within our NSF project and was noted as a crucial issue by community residents is snow. Snow is very unevenly distributed throughout the city, and it affects permafrost stability and meltwater management,” Epstein continued. “As a Climate Collaborative, we will be able to add members to our core team with expertise in snow and surface water hydrology to focus on how snow can be managed in ways that make infrastructure and ecosystems most resilient in Utqiaġvik. While our work focuses on Utqiaġvik, the findings are highly relevant for other Arctic communities.”
Working with partner organizations such as TRIBN, Inc., Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (“CRREL”), and the Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation, this Climate Collaborative team will answer what design, planning, and maintenance strategies can be developed for Arctic communities to address the management of snow and water while also promoting ecological and cultural vitality.
“The Institute seed funded this project as a CoLab back in 2018 and to watch how community members have engaged and provided invaluable input has been inspirational,” said Karen McGlathery, Director of the Environmental Institute. “Through the large NSF grant this team received, this work has already added to our knowledge of what can be done to address climate change in Arctic cities. To see the outcomes of that work and to know there is more to learn alongside community partners about promoting Arctic resilience in the face of climate change is truly what moving research to action is about.”