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Challenges and perspectives for human activity in Arctic coastal environments – a review of selected interactions and problems Cover

Challenges and perspectives for human activity in Arctic coastal environments – a review of selected interactions and problems

Miscellanea Geographica
Volume 25 (2021): Issue 2 (April 2021)
By:   
Open Access
|Jan 2021
Figures & tables

Figures & Tables

Figure 1

Arctic coastal settlements in geographical context

Sources: sea routes are based on Rahman et al. 2014, and thearcticinstitute.org ; boundary shape files are from arcgis.com; the July isotherm is based on Kling 2009; permafrost limitation is based on www.nsidc.org and gtnp.arcticportal.org

Figure 2

Anthropogenic and environmental interactions affecting the Arctic coast

1. Landslides caused by heavy rainfall (Prno et al. 2011) 2. Destruction of roads caused by disturbance of the permafrost regime (Walker et al. 2015) 3. Indigenous peoples’ migration due to reduced hunting areas (Gorkhovich 2014) 4. Thaw slumps and mudflows in response to increased permafrost thaw (Lantuit et al. 2011, Lewkowicz & Way 2019) 5. Oil and gas pipeline leaks 6. Destructive effects of flooding 7. Harbour basin shallows due to increased sedimentation (Mercier & Laffly 2005) 8. Destruction of asphalt and concrete surfaces by deepening the active layer of permafrost (McFadden & Bennett 1999; Jørgensen & Andreasen 2007) 9. Intensified undercutting & erosion of the coastline, destruction of port infrastructure (Strzelecki et al. 2017; Jaskólski et al. 2018a); 10. Communication routes and transport infrastructure threatened by mass movements (Prno et al. 2011; Jaskólski et al. 2017) 11. Increasing use of the north-east passage and north-west passage (Ermida 2014; Stephen 2018) 12. Pollution & littering of the coast (Bergmann et al. 2017; Jaskólski et al. 2018b) 13. Increasing exploitation of natural resources (Ermida 2014; Stephen 2018) 14. Extreme waves destroying infrastructure (Dahl-Jensen et al. 2004; Buchwał et al. 2015) 15. Increased tourism negatively affecting the Arctic environment (Dawson, Johnston & Stewart 2017) 16. Tundra fires (Jones et al. 2015)

Figure 3

Settlements and their challenges in different parts of the Arctic

a) Salekhard, Russia: in the future, these multi-storey buildings will be threatened by increasing permafrost thaw; b) Ilulissat, Greenland: a noticeable lack of convenient investment locations; c) Port in Ilulissat, Greenland: visible water and sewage pipes, fish processing plant and warehouses in the distance d) Longyearbyen, Svalbard: erosion threatening the warehouses; e) Barentsburg, Svalbard: a characteristic distribution of Arctic buildings located on the coast; f) Disko Bay, Greenland: visible exhaust emissions from a cruise ship; g) Herschel Island, Canada: the thawing permafrost cliffs are causing coastal retreat; h) Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park, Canada: historic buildings flooded by the sea are UNESCO candidates; i) Nuugaatsiaq, Greenland: buildings destroyed by tsunami waves; j) Polish Polar Station Hornsund, Svalbard: erosion threatening the station infrastructure forces annual renovation of coastal protection elements; k) Pyramiden, Svalbard: a landslide cut off the road; l) Pyramiden, Svalbard: thawing permafrost caused the collapse of the shooting range and the stands;

Source: photos (a–g, i–k) taken by Marek Jaskólski; photo (h) taken by Team Shrub, University of Edinburgh

Table 1

Review of cause and effect relationships of environmental processes related to climate change

ProcessArea of occurrenceTriggering factorEffectThreatLiterature Example
Landslides / Thaw slumpsSlopeIncreased volume of rainfall, storms and thawing permafrost exceeds the retention possibilities of slope sediments that are mostly weathered and not covered with vegetation.Slide of rock materialA direct threat to road and settlement infrastructure
The triggering of tsunami waves		Prno et al., 2011; Harbitz et al., 2014; Buchwał et al., 2015; Higman et al., 2018; Lewkowicz & Way 2019
AvalanchesSlopeIncrease in average temperature, change in temperature distribution over time. The appearance of a thaw in springSlide of snow massesAn immediate threat to road and settlement infrastructure and human lifeStoffel et al., 2006; Shnyparkov et al., 2012; Eckerstorfer & Christiansen 2012; Eckerstorfer et al., 2014
Permafrost thawAnywhereIncrease in average temperatureIncreasing the thickness of the active layer, methane and carbon dioxide release, greater water supply, mudflowsDestruction of the surface of roads and airfields.
The collapse of load-bearing pillars, disruption of the construction of gas and oil pipelines, buildings		Jørgensen & Andreasen 2007; Lantuit et al., 2011; Shiklomanov et al., 2017; Anisimov & Orttung 2019; Biskaborn et al., 2019; Streletskiy et al., 2019; Teufel & Sushama 2019
ErosionCoastal zone, river valleysThe disappearance of sea ice enabling the development of waves, an increase in the amount of river water through intensified melting of glaciers and frequent and more intensive rainfallIncreased shore erosion from waves.
Increased erosion in a river valley through increased flow in rivers.		Undercutting and destruction of banks, reinforcements and coastal buildings.
Increase in pressure on bridge and flyover spans		Wobus et al., 2011; Barnhart et al., 2014; Zagórski et al., 2015; Fritz et al., 2017; Anonymous et al., 2018; Irrgang et al., 2019; Nicu et al., 2020 Zagórski et al., 2020;
AccumulationCoastal zone, deltaIntensified melting of glaciers and erosion in riverbedsIncreased supply of accumulation material, increase in shallows (particularly dangerous in harbour basins and accesses)Danger to maritime navigation, limitation of Arctic port capacityMercier & Laffly 2005; Zajączkowski et al., 2008; Sessford et al., 2015; Strzelecki et al., 2015; Bourriquen et al., 2018;
FloodsCoastal zone, river valleysIntensified melting of glaciers, weather anomalies, a general increase in precipitation in the ArcticErosion of river beds, flood plains, flooding of river valleysAn immediate threat to road and settlement infrastructure and human lifePeterson et al., 2002; Kane et al., 2003; Rachlewicz, 2009; Prno et al., 2011; Dahlke et al., 2012; Radosavljević et al., 2016
Tundra firesAnywhereAverage temperature rise, Tundra drying, Anthropogenic pressureReduction of biomass, the disappearance of ecosystems, increase of greenhouse gas supply to the atmosphereAn immediate threat to road and settlement infrastructure and human lifeHiguera et al., 2011; Jones et al., 2015
Migration of speciesAnywhereAverage temperature rise, Tundra drying, Anthropogenic pressureMigration of species, loss of ecosystemsMigration of indigenous peoples engaged in reindeer herding, hunting and fishingWalker & Everett 1987; Hitch & Leberg., 2007; Gorokhovich et al., 2014; Walker et al., 2015; Maliniemi et al., 2018

[i] Source: own elaboration

Table 2

The conflict of interest on chosen generalized representative examples

Local populationGlobal populationGovernmentBusinessEnvironment
Wants to benefit from tourism, industry, northern sea routes, modern technologies and servicesWants to visit the Arctic area, have access to cheaper raw materials and goodsWants to benefit from tourism, industry, northern sea routes, modern technologies and servicesWants to benefit from tourism, industry, northern sea routes, modern technologies and servicesIncreased tourism & industry adds to negative impact on the environment, tundra trampling, pollution, increased sea traffic, air traffic, etc.
butand
Wants climate security and the reduction of processes that have a negative impact on tourism and their food security:

  • - disappearing hunting areas

  • - disappearing glaciers

  • - contamination

Wants climate security.
Wants:

  • - to hunt

  • - to see glaciers

  • - to see a clean, unspoiled landscape

  • - to have a clear climate conscience

Has to introduce limits e.g. in the number of tourists and the areas made available to themWishes to abolish restrictions e.g. on the number of tourists and the areas made available to themSetting limits on marine traffic or reducing the number of tourists and the areas made available to them will allow the environment to regenerate in a better way

[i] Source: own elaboration

Appendix 1

List of all analysed and presented settlements in Figure 1.

NameBelongingLatitudeLongitudePopulationCensus YearPrimary Function
IllorsuitGreenland71°14N53°34W1012016Fishery & Hunting
Sachs HarbourCanada71°59N125°14W1032016Fishery & Hunting
YukagirRussia71°46N139°53E1282014Fishery & Hunting
Grise FiordCanada76°25N82°53W1292016Fishery & Hunting
Ny-ÅlesundNorway78°55N11°55E1302010Research
SkarsvågNorway71°8N25°49E1412014Fishery & Hunting
InnaarsuitGreenland73°11N56°0W1532014Fishery & Hunting
UkkusissatGreenland71°2N51°53W1552014Fishery & Hunting
AappilattoqGreenland72°53N55°36W1692014Fishery & Hunting
KangersuatsiaqGreenland72°22N55°33W1732014Fishery & Hunting
SaqqaqGreenland70°0N51°56W1732014Tourism
QaarsutGreenland70°43N52°38W1962010Tourism
ResoluteCanada74°41N94°49W1982012Military
GamvikNorway71°3N28°14E2002010Fishery
NuussuaqGreenland74°6N57°3W2022015Fishery & Hunting
SaattutGreenland70°48N51°38W2122010Fishery & Hunting
IkerasakGreenland70°30N51°18W2382014Fishery & Hunting
TasiusaqGreenland73°22N56°3W2482010Fishery & Hunting
KaktovikUSA70°7N143°36W2562018Fishery & Hunting
PaulatukCanada69°21N124°4W2652016Fishery & Hunting
UlukhaktokCanada70°44N117°46W3962016Fishery & Hunting
KullorsuaqGreenland74°34N57°13W4482013Fishery & Hunting
IttoqqortoormiitGreenland70°29N21°58W4522013Fishery & Hunting
BarentsburgRussia78°4N14°30E4712015Industry
BykovskyRussia72°0N129°6E5142016Fishery & Hunting
NaybaRussia70°50N130°45E5222010Fishery & Hunting
KangaatsiaqGreenland68°18N53°27W5522011Fishery & Hunting
WainwrightUSA70°38N160°0W5562010Fishery & Hunting
KangaatsiaqGreenland68°18N53°27W5582013Fishery & Hunting
Qaanaaq (Thule)Greenland77°30N69°13W6562013Military
Point HopeUSA68°20N166°45W7092017Fishery & Hunting
MehamnNorway71°2N27°50E7792017Fishery
QeqertarsuaqGreenland69°14N53°33W8562018Fishery & Hunting
Arctic BayCanada73°2N85°9W8682016Fishery & Hunting
TuktoyaktukCanada69°26N133°2W8982016Industry
HavøysundNorway70°59N24°39E10272012Fishery
TaloyoakCanada69°32N93°31W10292016Fishery & Hunting
UpernavikGreenland72°47N56°9W10652018Fishery & Hunting
BerlevågNorway70°51N24°5E11132005Fishery
QasigiannguitGreenland68°49N51°11W11712013Fishery
DiksonRussia73°30N80°31E12002004Maritime Transport
QasigiannguitGreenland68°49N51°11W12172011Fishery
UummannaqGreenland70°40N52°7W12822013Tourism
SnezhnogorskRussia69°11N33°13E14302010Military
Pond InletCanada72°42N77°57W16172016Industry
Cambridge BayCanada69°7N105°3W17662016Maritime Transport
RypefjordNorway70°38N23°40E18382017Fishery
Belushya GubaRussia71°32N52°19E19722010Military
VardøNorway70°22N31°1E21102018Fishery
LongyearbyenNorway78°13N15°38E21442015Tourism
Prudhoe BayUSA70°19N148°30W21742010Industry
BåtsfjordNorway70°38N29°43E21852005Fishery
MelbuNorway68°30N14°50E22022018Fishery
LakselvNorway70°3N24°57E22832017Fishery
HonningsvågNorway70°58N25°58E24842017Maritime Transport
AndenesNorway69°19N16°8E26942018Military
SkjervøyNorway70°2N20°58E28812014Fishery
AasiaatGreenland68°43N52°39W31122017Fishery & Hunting
StokmarknesNorway68°33N14°54E33672018Maritime Transport
KirkenesNorway69°43N30°3E35292018Fishery & Hunting
LeknesNorway68°8N13°36E35562018Maritime Transport
PevekRussia69°42N170°17E45472017Industry
FinnsnesNorway69°13N17°58E46582017Administration
Utqiaġvik (Barrow)USA71°18N156°44W46802004Industry
SvolværNorway68°14N14°34E47202018Fishery
IlulissatGreenland69°13N51°6W49052018Administration
VidyayevoRussia69°19N32°48E59852018Military
VadsøNorway70°4N29°44E62232014Fishery
FauskeNorway67°15N15°23E95562014Administration
SortlandNorway68°41N15°24E101292014Administration
HammerfestNorway70°39N23°41E102872014Industry
GadzhiyevoRussia69°15N33°21E110682010Military
NarvikNorway68°26N17°25E141412018Administration
PolyarnyRussia69°12N33°27E164682014Military
AltaNorway69°58N23°17E198222014Industry
HarstadNorway68°47N16°32E248202018Industry
SeveromorskRussia69°4N33°25E489772014Military
BodøNorway67°16N14°24E497312014Military
TiksiRussia71°39N128°48E500632014Maritime Transport
TromsøNorway69°39N18°57E715902014Administration
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2020-0036 | Journal eISSN: 2084-6118 | Journal ISSN: 0867-6046 (formerly 2084-6118)
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Language: English
Page range: 127 - 143
Submitted on: May 20, 2020
Accepted on: Sep 30, 2020
Published on: Jan 28, 2021
Published by: Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Keywords:
Arctic settlements,
climate change,
geohazards,
environmental changes,
anthropogenic impact,
arctic sustainability
Related subjects:
Geosciences,
Geosciences, other

© 2021 Marek Wojciech Jaskólski, published by Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Volume 25 (2021): Issue 2 (April 2021)
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