A transdisciplinary, comparative analysis reveals key risks from Arctic permafrost thaw

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.

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Publication Details

Journal
Communications Earth & Environment
Published
2025-01-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01883-w
Citations
17
Primary Topic
Climate change and permafrost
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
22.11

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A transdisciplinary, comparative analysis reveals key risks from Arctic permafrost thaw

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17 citations
Communications Earth & Environment
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article

A transdisciplinary, comparative analysis reveals key risks from Arctic permafrost thaw

Olga Povoroznyuk, Leneisja Jungsberg, Joan Nymand Larsen, Pier Paul Overduin, Jade Falardeau, Arja Rautio, Khaled Abass, Anna Irrgang, Rachele Lodi, Peter Schweitzer, Susanna Gartler, Hugues Lantuit, Alexandra Meyer, Niek Jesse Speetjens, Ulla Timlin, Louise Mercer, Johanna Scheer, Victoria Martin, Natalia Doloisio, Jorien E. Vonk, Levi Westerveld, Annett Bartsch, Jón Haukur Ingimundarson, Thomas Ingeman‐Nielsen, Gustaf Hugelius, David Nielsen, Soňa Tomaškovičová, Jean‐Paul Vanderlinden
article en
17 citations

Abstract

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.

Communications Earth & EnvironmentVol. 6(1)
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (DE), University of Vienna (AT), Ca' Foscari University of Venice (IT), Université du Québec à Montréal (CA), Universität Hamburg (DE), Stockholm University (SE), University of Potsdam (DE), Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (FR), University of Victoria (CA), Université Paris-Saclay (FR), Grid-Arendal (NO), University of Sharjah (AE), Northumbria University (GB), Stefansson Arctic Institute (IS), Nordregio (SE), Institute for Social Anthropology (AT), Landesklinikum Korneuburg (AT), National Research Council (IT), Austrian Polar Research Institute (AT), Bolin Centre for Climate Research (SE), Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (DE), Cultures, Environnements, Arctique, Représentations, Climat (FR), University of Bergen (NO), University of Akureyri (IS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL), Umeå University (SE), Technical University of Denmark (DK), University of Oulu (FI)
Arctic Institute of North America, Université du Québec à Montréal, Northumbria University, Aurora Research Institute, European Commission, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Universität Wien, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Universität Potsdam, Universitetet i Bergen, Universität Hamburg, Oulun Yliopisto, Stockholms Universitet, Háskólinn á Akureyri, University of the Arctic, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Russian Academy of Sciences
Openalex Percentile: Top 0%
Climate change and permafrost
22.11
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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