A framework and database for community sea ice observations in a changing Arctic: an Alaskan prototype for multiple users

Abstract

Indigenous sea ice experts from three Alaskan communities, geophysicists, an anthropologist, and information technology specialists collaborated to develop an observational framework and a database to record, archive, disseminate, and analyze sea ice observations. Observations are based on ice uses and information about ice conditions, weather, ocean state, and animal behavior relevant to hunters and to community members. Daily logs kept during the ice season have been archived since 2006, with key variables extracted for subcategories pertaining to weather and ice observations, ice-related activities, and wildlife. The observation program and the development of the associated database are discussed in terms of community wishes and information needs and the potential uses for hunters, students, and others in coastal Alaska. Database records for Gambell, Wales, and Barrow, Alaska, are analyzed to arrive at a representative seasonal cycle of ice conditions for 2006/2007. This single year is placed into a longer-term context by examining interannual variability for freeze-up and breakup dates from 2006 through 2011 extracted from the database. We discuss the adaptive nature of the database framework and its relevance to coastal communities in gathering and transmitting knowledge about the ice environment that can help in adapting to rapid Arctic change.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to all those who contributed their observations to the database, as well as their respective communities for supporting our joint effort. In particular, we would like to highlight input by Matthew Druckenmiller, Ann Fienup-Riordan, Gary Hufford, Simeon John, G. Carleton Ray, Clara-Mae Sagoonick, Martha Shulski, as well as Arthur Apalu, Roman Armaergen, Lyudmila Bogoslovskaya, Alexander Borovik, Victoria Golbtseva, Natalya Kalyuzhina, Oleg Raghtilkun, and Boris Vdovin on the Russian side. A number of colleagues provided advice and contributed their time and expertise, and we acknowledge their support. The database development team at NSIDC, in particular Julia Collins and Betsy Sheffield, were a great help in keeping this effort on track. Funding support was provided by the National Science Foundation's Arctic Observing Network program to SIZONet and ELOKA, also by the ‘Shared Beringia Heritage’ (National Park Service, Alaskan Office) SIKU project grant that supported a portion of community observations in 2006–2009. The analysis and publication of the results was supported through sabbatical funding to HE by the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute and International Arctic Research Center and via research and traveling funds offered to IK by the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. The USFWS Landscape Conservation Cooperative Program provided additional funding for acquisition and analysis of data from the freeze-up season. Reviewer and editor comments helped improve the manuscript and are gratefully acknowledged.

Notes

1. Deceased