Key Takeaways:
- The Queen Elizabeth Islands and western Tuvaijuittuq in Canada’s High Arctic have historically been difficult to access due to thick sea ice, but melting ice has opened a path for a Canadian research icebreaker to sail through some of these passageways for the first time.
- Scientists have found that there is more seasonal ice and less multi-year ice in the area, with some ice up to seven meters thick, but these are rare finds.
- The Arctic is warming four times faster than anywhere else on Earth, and some estimates suggest that sea ice in the Arctic could disappear within this decade.
- The research mission has provided an opportunity for scientists to learn more about this understudied part of the Arctic and guide projections on what will happen in the future.
- Community members in the nearby Nunavut communities have observed changes in ice conditions and are being encouraged to help measure ice thickness and share their observations with scientists.
Introduction to the High Arctic Research Mission
The waters around the Queen Elizabeth Islands and western Tuvaijuittuq in Canada’s High Arctic have long been a mystery to scientists. The area has historically been difficult to access due to the thickness of the ice, but melting sea ice has opened a path for a Canadian research icebreaker to sail through some of these passageways for the first time. On September 4, scientists with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the University of Manitoba embarked on a four-week cruise aboard the CCGS Amundsen to study Arctic sea ice. This voyage represents the first comprehensive oceanographic research mission to reach this area of the Canadian Archipelago.
The Impact of Climate Change on Sea Ice
David Babb, a research associate at the University of Manitoba’s Centre for Earth Observation Science, explained that there are two types of ice: seasonal ice and multi-year ice. Seasonal ice generally grows over one winter, is thinner, and can lead to open water, whereas multi-year ice has thickened over multiple winters. He says that there is more seasonal ice nowadays and less of the multi-year ice. Multiple studies suggest that the Arctic is warming four times faster than anywhere else on Earth, and there are different estimates for how soon sea ice in the Arctic could disappear. Some suggest it could happen within this decade. The fact that an icebreaker is able to enter one of the world’s last refuges of sea ice is yet another startling sign of the effects of climate change.
Research Findings and Observations
On board the ship, Babb was surprised by the lack of thick ice, fish, and organic matter like tiny phytoplankton in the Arctic waters, particularly around Nansen Sound and Greely Fjord. The thickest ice they found was around seven meters, but Babb says these were difficult finds. "We were finding really deteriorated and heavily melted sea ice…. Fortunately, both scientifically and personally, it was reassuring to know that we did start to find some thicker ice [further south]," he said. Despite this area being several hundred kilometers away from the nearest Nunavut communities, like Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay, Babb says what happens up in the High Arctic will ripple down south where there are larger fisheries in operation.
Community Engagement and Knowledge Sharing
At the end of their expedition in October, the team attended a science day at Resolute Bay’s Qarmartalik School to show some of their work and exchange knowledge with the community. Grade 11 student Kupaaq Idlout says he learned a lot about the presence of mercury and phytoplankton in the ocean. He was most surprised to hear about "the amount of salt in different areas [of Nunavut] even though they are so close together." Teacher Rhonda McKenzie says she also hears community members talk about the changing ice conditions. "Some of the elders have told me that the ice is melting faster and that they could have traveled by sled to certain islands or places longer into the year … but now it’s kind of different," she said. Babb says they’re pushing to get community members to help measure ice thickness when they’re out on the land, and hopefully some will join their voyage next year.
Future Research and Collaboration
The research mission has provided an opportunity for scientists to learn more about this understudied part of the Arctic and guide projections on what will happen in the future. Babb says that community members have intangible observations that scientists can’t collect, and they are encouraging community members to share their knowledge and observations. By working together, scientists and community members can gain a better understanding of the changes happening in the High Arctic and how they will impact the environment and communities in the region. The CCGS Amundsen will continue to act as a home base for scientists venturing out onto the ice or flying overhead for surveying, and researchers with the University of Manitoba are looking to do more studies in Canada’s Arctic Archipelago.