Arctic Coastal Change and Its Impact on Society
The coastal area plays a crucial role for ecosystems and human communities in the Arctic. In addition to its rich biodiversity, the coastal zone has high biological productivity and provides vital resources for people and societies living in the Arctic. The area is also a place where many Arctic residents live because of easy access to the sea and its resources. On the other hand, coastal areas are sensitive and vulnerable to recent drastic climate changes. The area is characterized by sea ice, glaciers, and permafrost, which are melting rapidly under the influence of global warming. Sea ice retreat results in the wave erosion of seashore, while permafrost thawing destabilizes steep slopes along the coast. The amount of sediment transported by glacier runoff has increased, resulting in the seaward advance of beaches. These changes in the natural environment caused by climate change exert a serious impact on Arctic communities.
More than 80% of Greenland's land area is covered by glaciers and ice sheet, and approximately 57,000 people live in the coastal areas between the ice and the sea. The environment along the coast of Greenland is also undergoing drastic changes due to climate change. For example, glacier meltwater affects ocean circulation and geochemistry, resulting in various impacts on marine ecosystems. On land, permafrost is thawing. These changes in the natural environment are causing serious problems for Greenlandic society. Damage to buildings and structures has been reported due to river flooding caused by rain storms and increased melting of glaciers, landslides on steep slopes, and the resulting tsunamis. In addition, there are complex interactions between coastal communities and ecosystems, and the effects of social change on the natural environment are becoming more apparent.
In order to quantify the changes in the natural environment along the Greenlandic coast and to identify their social impacts, this study was conducted in Qaanaaq, northwestern Greenland, involving marine, glacier, terrestrial, atmospheric, and social research. The study is an extension of previous research conducted in the region under the framework of the GRENE Arctic Climate Change Research Project (GRENE Arctic, 2011-2016) and the Arctic Challenge for Sustainability project (ArCS, 2015-2020). In the GRENE Arctic, intensive research was performed on glaciers and ice sheets to advance our understanding of the glacier mass loss. In the ArCS, research was subsequently expanded to include glacier-ocean interactions and marine ecosystems, providing new insights into the impacts of glacier change on the oceans and ecosystems. Based on the understanding obtained from these efforts, this project under ArCS II focuses on the social impacts of the changes in the natural environment. To achieve this goal, researchers from a wide range of fields engaged in interdisciplinary research issues on ocean, glacier/ice sheet, land, climate, sea ice, engineering, and social sciences. Specifically, this Research Program was divided into five Sub Programs: (1) Changes in Marine Ecosystems, (2) Changes in Glacier and Ice Sheets, (3) Changes in Land, Sea Ice, and Atmosphere, (4) Engineering Approach, and (5) Social Science Approach (Fig. 1).
Qaanaaq, the study area, is a village with a population of approximately 600 people located in northwestern Greenland (Fig. 2). The Qaanaaq ice cap extends behind the village, and its meltwater is used as domestic water, whereas glacial streams are often flooded and cause disasters. Outlet glaciers of the Greenland ice sheet flow into the surrounding ocean, and the glacial fjords form an important environment for hunting and fishing. Rapid changes in climate and society are affecting traditional cultures maintained in this region. The ArCS II 2020-2025 Report, "4.9 Research Program on Coastal Environments," (in Japanese) presents the results of the Research Program, focusing on the findings based on field surveys.
