TY - JOUR
T1 - A transdisciplinary, comparative analysis reveals key risks from Arctic permafrost thaw
AU - Gartler, Susanna
AU - Scheer, Johanna
AU - Meyer, Alexandra
AU - Abass, Khaled
AU - Bartsch, Annett
AU - Doloisio, Natalia
AU - Falardeau, Jade
AU - Hugelius, Gustaf
AU - Irrgang, Anna
AU - Haukur Ingimundarson, Jón
AU - Jungsberg, Leneisja
AU - Lantuit, Hugues
AU - Nymand Larsen, Joan
AU - Lodi, Rachele
AU - Martin, Victoria Sophie
AU - Mercer, Louise
AU - Nielsen, David
AU - Overduin, Paul
AU - Povoroznyuk, Olga
AU - Rautio, Arja
AU - Schweitzer, Peter
AU - Speetjens, Niek Jesse
AU - Tomaškovičová, Soňa
AU - Timlin, Ulla
AU - Vanderlinden, Jean-Paul
AU - Vonk, Jorien E.
AU - Westerveld, Levi
AU - Ingeman-Nielsen, Thomas
PY - 2025/1/16
Y1 - 2025/1/16
N2 - Permafrost thaw poses diverse risks to Arctic environments and livelihoods. Understanding the effects of permafrost thaw is vital for informed policymaking and adaptation efforts. Here, we present the consolidated findings of a risk analysis spanning four study regions: Longyearbyen (Svalbard, Norway), the Avannaata municipality (Greenland), the Beaufort Sea region and the Mackenzie River Delta (Canada) and the Bulunskiy District of the Sakha Republic (Russia). Local stakeholders’ and scientists’ perceptions shaped our understanding of the risks as dynamic, socionatural phenomena involving physical processes, key hazards, and societal consequences. Through an inter- and transdisciplinary risk analysis based on multidirectional knowledge exchanges and thematic network analysis, we identified five key hazards of permafrost thaw. These include infrastructure failure, disruption of mobility and supplies, decreased water quality, challenges for food security, and exposure to diseases and contaminants. The study’s novelty resides in the comparative approach spanning different disciplines, environmental and societal contexts, and the transdisciplinary synthesis considering various risk perceptions.
AB - Permafrost thaw poses diverse risks to Arctic environments and livelihoods. Understanding the effects of permafrost thaw is vital for informed policymaking and adaptation efforts. Here, we present the consolidated findings of a risk analysis spanning four study regions: Longyearbyen (Svalbard, Norway), the Avannaata municipality (Greenland), the Beaufort Sea region and the Mackenzie River Delta (Canada) and the Bulunskiy District of the Sakha Republic (Russia). Local stakeholders’ and scientists’ perceptions shaped our understanding of the risks as dynamic, socionatural phenomena involving physical processes, key hazards, and societal consequences. Through an inter- and transdisciplinary risk analysis based on multidirectional knowledge exchanges and thematic network analysis, we identified five key hazards of permafrost thaw. These include infrastructure failure, disruption of mobility and supplies, decreased water quality, challenges for food security, and exposure to diseases and contaminants. The study’s novelty resides in the comparative approach spanning different disciplines, environmental and societal contexts, and the transdisciplinary synthesis considering various risk perceptions.
U2 - 10.1038/s43247-024-01883-w
DO - 10.1038/s43247-024-01883-w
M3 - Article
SN - 2662-4435
VL - 6
JO - Communications Earth and Environment
JF - Communications Earth and Environment
IS - 1
M1 - 21
ER -