Arctic Pulse: Exploring the pulse of the Arctic together

In the summer of 2027, the AWI, Amundsen Science (Canada) and the Forel Heritage Association (Switzerland) will be sailing their research vessels in the Canadian Beaufort Sea to gain a better understanding of how climate change is altering Arctic land-sea systems. The region and the neighbouring Arctic mainland are among the areas that experience the fastest changes worldwide due to climate change. This particularly affects the Inuvialuit communities living in this region. A key focus of BeauPAIR is therefore on close collaboration with local people. 

The workshop held in early September once again brought together researchers and representatives of the Inuvialuit communities to identify specific research needs and opportunities for collaboration. Key questions arise, for example, regarding fish populations, the impacts of microplastics and changes to marine ecosystems. On the other hand, the researchers were able to gain a lot from the discussions with the Inuvialuit, for instance about which areas of the Beaufort Sea might be important hotspots at certain times of year, or which should be avoided.

BeauPAIR’s research is supported, amongst other things, by the REVISIT campaign: Using the AWI aircraft Polar 5 and Polar 6, as well as conducting on-land surveys, the scientists are investigating the interactions between sea ice, snow cover, permafrost and the atmosphere during the transition from winter through the melt season to summer. Both projects contribute to Arctic Pulse, a Canadian-led initiative that links existing international research projects in Canadian territories. The aim of these international research projects is to understand how rapid environmental change is altering the interactions between land and sea in the Arctic. 

In his digital opening remarks, AWI Director Hajo Eicken emphasised that the project is intended to develop into a long-term collaboration by 2027. “The fact that so many representatives from different organisations and groups – all of whom will be involved in these projects in their own way – took part in this workshop and showed an interest in our research is a great success and lays the foundation for long-term, trusting collaboration,” says Bennet Juhls, who organised the meeting and will act as co-leader for the first leg of the BeauPAIR expedition. “The task now is to build on these connections over the coming months and years and transform them into concrete joint research.”

Further information on Arctic Pulse: https://www.awi.de/en/focus/arctic-pulse.html