The Environmental Institute funded this Climate Collaborative in 2024. Read the announcement.
The Arctic is warming faster at present than any other region on Earth. Air temperatures have increased up to four times more rapidly in the Arctic than the global average, leading to reduced sea ice, warmer ground conditions, thawing permafrost, and overall increasing instability of the land surface. This has major impacts on the infrastructure of Arctic cities and villages, Indigenous communities, and the traditional cultures and livelihoods of their populations.
Infrastructure and management within Arctic communities change the distribution and dynamics of snow and surface water. Since snow has an insulating effect ground instability is affected by snow management and surface water distribution. This new project will work with community members to understand how existing snow practices and surrounding infrastructure affect permafrost stability, and how to manage these systems in ways that better ensure a resilient Arctic.
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.
