Tundra

temperatures

Arctic amplification ( the tundra is warming up 4 times faster than the global average

Increased by average of 1.9oc

In Winter, increase of 3.5oc

The benefit of warmer temperatures

Number of growing days increased by 20%, with benefits for agriculture and forest productivity

Tundra areas have 30% more plant biomass

Can support longer tourist months

Perfamfrost

Soil temperatures risen by 4oc and at 20m deep increase of 2.5oc

More than 70% of land is vulnerable to subsidence if thawing continues

Cost of maintaining infrastructure $3-6 billion by 2030

Number of days when travel is permitted on permafrost has fallen from 200 to 100

Feedback loop as releases CO2 and methane

Benefits of permafrost thawing

Easier to drill for oil. The State gets 90% of day-to-day finances from from levies on oil and gas

eg. Alpine Oil Field - Western North Slope - ConocoPhillips Alaska

Lakes

In last 50 years in Southern 2/3 of Alaska, the area covered by lakes has decreased.

Migratory birds

Alaska has 81% of National Wildlife Refuge System and provides breeding habitats. eg waterfowls

Caribou

Important prey for wolves, bears and golden eagles and critical to indigenous cultures eg. Gwich’in for food, clothing and spiritual practices

Migration timed by daylight so may miss peak forage times for shrubs leading to malnutrition

Warmer summer, more warble flies which can interrupt caribou

Also Central Arctic Herd has to navigate past oil roads and pipelines, studies show reduced calf survival

Indigenous people

Unpredictable migration patterns of caribou due to changing weather and vegetation

Declining population of caribou (Western Arctic Herd dropped by 65% since 2003)

Warming waters, fish migration eg salmon and whitefish

melting permafrost and eroding banks disrupt netting sites for fish

Villages

Kivalina and Newtok face relocation due to permafrost melt and flooding

Relocation for entire villages can cost $100-200 million

Youth in these areas have reported feelings of hopelessness, described as “climate grief” and “eco-anxiety”

The Willow Project

By ConocoPhillips in National Petroleum Reserve

$8 billion project

Project includes building infrastructure along Teshekpuk lake, critical for caribou calving

Additional impact of 262 million metric tonnes of CO2 over 30 years, equivalent of 37 million cars on the road for one year

The lack of representation in decision-making over land use, climate policy, and oil development amplifies marginalisation.

Wildfires

2019, over 2 million acres burnt

Over past 60 years more than 5.4 million hectares burnt

In 2010, record of 37 Tundra fires in Noatak National Preserve

Parasites

Released in water systems eg. tapeworms and roundworms

giardia can cause gastointestinal diseases

Echinociccosis by tapeworms

Many indigenous species rely on surface water, many communities lacking infrastructure for modern water treatment