Changes in the coastal environments and their impact on society in the Qaanaaq region, northwestern Greenland

Coastal environments in the Arctic are increasingly affected by the rapidly changing climate. Significant and complex impacts of atmospheric warming have been intensifying, with changes observed both in terrestrial and marine environments. Here, we describe the overview and highlight the study results of multidisciplinary research activities performed under the ArCS II project (Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II) in the Qaanaaq coastal region of northwestern Greenland. The Japanese Arctic projects GRENE-Arctic and ArCS have conducted research at this study site since 2012. In continuity with these previous efforts, field and satellite measurements were carried out to quantify glacier and ice sheet changes. Fish, marine mammals and seabirds, which are key natural resources to human livelihoods, were studied in collaboration with local fishermen and hunters to examine habitat use and clarify the potential responses of marine ecosystems to the changing environments. Greenlandic villages are also directly affected by the flooding of glacial streams and landslides, which were monitored to better understand the driving mechanisms and risks to Arctic societies in the future. Research was also carried out in Qaanaaq village to investigate waste management and housing conditions. The study results were shared with residents through workshops that took place in Qaanaaq and nearby smaller villages. Our results show that coastal environments in northwestern Greenland are changing with increasingly evident impact on human livelihoods. Further collaboration with the villagers, notably in co-designing research questions and interests, is crucial to anticipate, reduce and mitigate the impacts of environmental changes on Arctic communities.

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Publication Details

Journal
Polar Science
Published
2025-04-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polar.2025.101206
Citations
7
Primary Topic
Climate change and permafrost
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
9.11

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article

Changes in the coastal environments and their impact on society in the Qaanaaq region, northwestern Greenland

Kohei Matsuno, Aqqalu Rosing‐Asvid, Makoto Tomiyasu, Yasumasa Tojo et al.
7 citations
Polar Science
Climate change and permafrost
9.11
article

Changes in the coastal environments and their impact on society in the Qaanaaq region, northwestern Greenland

Kohei Matsuno, Aqqalu Rosing‐Asvid, Makoto Tomiyasu, Yasumasa Tojo, Naoya Kanna, Jenna L. Sutherland, Atsushi Yamaguchi, Kirsty Langley, Shintaro Yamasaki, Ryo Kusaka, Yoko Mitani, Kazutaka Tateyama, Mayuko Otsuki, Kazutoshi Sato, Ken Sato, Evgeny A. Podolskiy, Toku Oshima, Takuro Imazu, Ken Kondo, Tatsuya Fukazawa, Andrea M. U. Gierisch, Kenji Sakurai, Yuta Sakuragi, Taro Mori, Yefan Wang, Jun Inoue, Jean-Baptiste Thiébot, Shin Sugiyama, Naotaka Hayashi, Tatsuya Watanabe, Kenzo Tanaka, Kohei Hasegawa, Kaho Watanabe, Monica Ogawa, Shinta Ukai, S. Yamada
article en
7 citations

Abstract

Coastal environments in the Arctic are increasingly affected by the rapidly changing climate. Significant and complex impacts of atmospheric warming have been intensifying, with changes observed both in terrestrial and marine environments. Here, we describe the overview and highlight the study results of multidisciplinary research activities performed under the ArCS II project (Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II) in the Qaanaaq coastal region of northwestern Greenland. The Japanese Arctic projects GRENE-Arctic and ArCS have conducted research at this study site since 2012. In continuity with these previous efforts, field and satellite measurements were carried out to quantify glacier and ice sheet changes. Fish, marine mammals and seabirds, which are key natural resources to human livelihoods, were studied in collaboration with local fishermen and hunters to examine habitat use and clarify the potential responses of marine ecosystems to the changing environments. Greenlandic villages are also directly affected by the flooding of glacial streams and landslides, which were monitored to better understand the driving mechanisms and risks to Arctic societies in the future. Research was also carried out in Qaanaaq village to investigate waste management and housing conditions. The study results were shared with residents through workshops that took place in Qaanaaq and nearby smaller villages. Our results show that coastal environments in northwestern Greenland are changing with increasingly evident impact on human livelihoods. Further collaboration with the villagers, notably in co-designing research questions and interests, is crucial to anticipate, reduce and mitigate the impacts of environmental changes on Arctic communities.

Polar ScienceVol. 45
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Climate change and permafrost
9.11
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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