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Although, Spain does not obtain an official arctic strategy, it was mentioned in the paper for Spanish Polar Strategy that the Arctic region has become one of the country's national interests. The government of Spain is also deeply concerned about the problem of climate change and how it affects economic and social aspects of life. When addressing the Arctic energy issue we must make a prior delimitation, since it does not propose to study in detail, and only in general description, the internal functioning of the Arctic energy systems, that is, the one that serves to supply their populations with lighting, water, gas or electricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper assesses the chemical transformation of surface waters in the southeastern part of the Khibiny Mountainous Massif after launching the Oleniy Ruchey apatite–nepheline ore deposit in 2012. The influence of the Oleniy Ruchey Mine was reflected in an increase in water mineralization (by an order of magnitude) and in a change in the basic ion ratios in water objects receiving runoff from mines, rock, and tailing dumps compared to the watercourses unaffected by the mining enterprise's activities. Natural hydrocarbonate–sodium water with a mineralization of 10 mg/L was transformed into the nitrate–sodium or sulfate–calcium water. The content of nitrogen group compounds in the Lake Komarinoe water, which receives wastewater from the tailing dumps over the ten-year history of the mining and processing plant, has increased by two orders of magnitude, and the nitrate became basic ion. The concentrations of other basic ions and mineralization in this lake increased by an order of magnitude, as the content of trace elements (Sr, F, Mo), which belong to the main rock-forming minerals of apatite–nepheline deposits. Compared to the background water bodies, the mine wastewaters have the elevated mineralization (up to 260 mg/L), pH value (up to 10), and a modified chemical composition. They are characterized by a hydrocarbonate–sodium composition with a large proportion of nitrates and sulfates. Mine wastewaters have elevated contents of nutrient compounds, organic matter, and some trace elements (Al, Fe, Sr, Cu, Mn, Zn, and Cr). It has been established that the geochemical modifications in the quality of surface water are locally developed, being typical of water bodies receiving wastewater from a mining enterprise, in contrast to metallurgical plants, the atmospheric emissions of which caused pollution over tens and hundreds km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent decades, the Arctic has begun facing a range of climate-related challenges, from rising temperatures to melting ice caps and permafrost thaw, with significant implications for ecosystems and human well-being. Addressing the health impacts of these issues requires a comprehensive approach, integrating scientific research, community engagement, and policy interventions. This study conducts a literature review to assess the effects of climate change on human health in northern latitudes and to compile adaptation strategies from the Arctic countries. A literature search was performed between January and April 2024 for papers published after 2000, using the electronic databases Web of Science, Pubmed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, and eLibrary.RU, with specific questions formulated to direct the search: (i) What are the climate changes? (ii) How does climate change affect human health? (iii) What adaptation measures and policies are required? The key phrases "climate change", "human health", "adaptation practices", and "Arctic" were employed for searching. Ultimately, 56 relevant studies were identified, reviewing health risks such as infectious diseases, mental health issues, and diseases connected with extreme weather events; wildfires and their associated pollution; permafrost degradation; pure water; and food quality. The paper also examines mitigation and adaptation strategies at all levels of governance, emphasizing the need for international cooperation and policy action to combat negative health outcomes, investments in healthcare infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and public health education. Incorporating diverse perspectives, including Indigenous knowledge, Community-Based Adaptation, EcoHealth and One Health approaches, is crucial for effectively addressing the health risks associated with climate change. In conclusion, the paper proposes adaptation strategies to mitigate the health impacts of climate change in the Arctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the literature on the Sustainability in the Arctic region, using a bibliometric analysis of 213 English-language articles published between 1980 and 2022 exploiting Bibliometrix, an R package. To find relevant literature using the Web of Science (WOS) database, we searched for documents using mesh terms based on the query of two terms, "Arctic & Sustainability". We used the Boolean operator "AND" to combine the two terms and the Boolean operator "OR" to include synonyms of the terms. The articles retrieved were authored by 724 researchers, published in 98 journals, representing 132 countries, and growing at 5.08% annually. The findings reveal that a substantial portion of the Arctic sustainability literature placed significant emphasis on the examination of climate change, adaptation, and vulnerabilities affecting local communities. Furthermore, the more recent publications in this field concentrate predominantly on exploring perceptions and governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 'smart city' has received growing attention as a concept that could play an essential role in the sustainability of the Arctic. Today, the idea is associated with information and communication technology (ICT) when used in urban areas to improve quality of life, offer more efficient and effective use of cities' infrastructures, foster social inclusion, and mitigate environmental harm. However, the relationship between smart cities and Arctic sustainability remains ambiguous, especially from perspectives beyond those of techno-optimism. Our aim in this paper is to critically discuss the value of smart city concept for Arctic cities, from an urban dynamic perspective. To this end, this paper reflects on how the sustainability of Arctic cities can be challenged by urban dynamics in metrics for (1) smart city development, (2) politics and bureaucratization, and (3) the role of citizens. The paper has several implications for academia, practitioners, and policymakers: for the former, it advances an alternative debate to explore the complex relations between smart city development and Arctic sustainability; for practitioners and policymakers, it indicates the problematic but often hidden side of smart city development, stressing the need to carefully translate the concept and its promises to fit the unique Arctic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MET Norway Ice Service (NIS) celebrated its fiftieth year as a formal operational sea ice information provider in 2020. Prior to the 1970's, support to navigation had started off with ad-hoc observations from coastal stations on Svalbard in the 1930's, before developing as a research programme in the 1960's. Activity in the region has steadily increased, and now the NIS also supports a large number of research, tourist, and resource exploration vessels, in addition to the ice chart archive being a resource for climate change research. The Ice Service has always been at the forefront in the use of satellite Earth Observation technologies, beginning with the routine use of optical thermal infrared imagery from NASA TIROS and becoming a large user of Canadian RADARSAT-2 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and then European Copernicus Sentinel-1, in the 2000's and 2010's. Initially ice charts were a weekly compilation of ice information using cloud-free satellite coverage, aerial reconnaissance, and in situ observations, drawn on paper at the offices of the Norwegian Meteorological Institute (MET Norway) in Oslo. From 1997 production moved to the Tromsø office using computer-based Geographical Information System (GIS) software and the NIS developed the ice charting system Bifrost. This allowed the frequency of production to be increased to every weekday, with a greater focus on detailed sea ice concentrations along the ice edge and coastal zones in Eastern Greenland and in the Svalbard fjords. From 2010, the NIS has also provided a weekly austral summer ice chart for the Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula. To further develop its capabilities, NIS engages in a number of national and international research projects and led the EU Horizon 2020 project, Key Environmental monitoring for Polar Latitudes and European Readiness (KEPLER). This paper summarises the overall mandate and history of the NIS, and its current activities including the current state of routine production of operational ice charts at the NIS for maritime safety in both the Arctic and Antarctic, and future development plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polar ships are subjected to the ice loading. Low temperature impact toughness of ship steels is important for the ice-breaking efficiency and navigation safety of polar ships. In this paper, the impact absorption energy of EH36 steel under different temperatures, impact velocities and plate thickness is analyzed by experimental test, Taguchi and ANOVA method. The impact absorption energy was divided into crack formation and crack propagation absorption energy. The experimental results show that the impact absorption energy of EH36 steel is positively correlated with plate thickness and temperature, and negatively with impact velocity when it was in the toughness state. The order of significance ranking from high to low is thickness, temperature, and impact velocity. The ratio of the crack propagation absorption energy increases with the temperatures and reflects the impact toughness of EH36 steel. Furthermore, the best factor combination of impact toughness of EH36 steel was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For underwater vehicles navigating in Arctic Sea ice-covered waters, fatigue damage is a crucial issue. Many scholars have conducted low-temperature fatigue analysis on low-temperature materials and substrate platforms for ships, and the results show that low temperature is beneficial for improving the mechanical properties of materials. However, they have mainly focused on low-temperature performance experiments and simulation analysis of standard components of materials, and there are very few fatigue life experimental studies on underwater vehicle mechanical structures. This paper conducts experimental investigations on a scaled model of an underwater vehicle rudder mechanism in a polar environment laboratory. Using a comparative analysis method involving simulations and experiments, the low-temperature fatigue test data of the scaled underwater vehicle rudder mechanism are analyzed, and the quantified analysis between fatigue and different low-temperature loading cycles, as well as the influence of icing on the fatigue life, is explored. It is indicated that the Arctic environment can decrease the fatigue life of the underwater vehicle rudder mechanism by deteriorating its material properties. The paper builds the foundation for the fatigue life of an underwater vehicle rudder mechanism in Arctic low-temperature environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic region's unfavorable living conditions adversely affect the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, This, in turn, can also lead to increased morbidity and mortality rates in the area due to a number of factors such as climate, environment, and high prevalence rate of pre-existing health issues like diabetes, obesity, and respiratory infections. These circumstances adversely affect maintaining the level of working capability. The aim of this paper is to investigate the ratio of immunocompetent cells involved in the adaptive post-COVID-19 immune response. The research includes an immunological assessment of 29 women aged 20-40 years residing in Arkhangelsk, Russia, six months after recovering from COVID-19. The count of leukocytes in the peripheral blood and their differ ential were evaluated using standard methods to assess the immunological status. To delve deeper into the immunological landscape, phenotypes of lymphocytes (CD5+, CD8+, CD10+, and CD95+) were evaluated using an indirect immunoperoxidase reaction with monoclonal antibodies on dried drop lymphocyte preparations. After incubating blood with latex molecules, the activity and quantity of phagocytes were assessed using a light microscope. The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio was found to be inverted in the female subjects under investigation. The high concentration of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CD8+) and lymphocytes with apoptotic receptors (CD95+) suggests a potential correlation with a concurrent reduction in the expression of the total T-cell marker (CD5+) across all cases. This association was further linked to a decrease in lymphoproliferative activity and a relative decline in phagocytic activity. These findings led us to posit that the total recovery time after COVID-19 might extend beyond six months, indicative of a prolonged impact on the body's protective capacity. Our observations prompt the hypothesis that cellular immunity plays a crucial role in determining the severity of COVID-19 infection. Specifically, individuals with initially robust phagocytic activity may be predisposed to experiencing a milder form of the infection. However, this assumption warrants further investigation and clarification in individuals with moderate and severe disease progression [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasting the development of regions is one of the most challenging tasks of modern economics. The quality of any forecast is determined by the methodology used. Accordingly, criticism of existing forecasts is largely connected to their methodological approaches. In this paper, a multi-level approach to forecasting the development of the region is proposed, starting with the definition of the key performance indicators and ending with the assessment of various scenarios. The study was conducted on the example of the Russian Arctic, divided into three technological zones, with three scenarios of the development for each (negative, base, positive). The application of the proposed methodology allowed for modeling the development of the region until 2035. The results show that the Russian Arctic has a huge difference in the achievability of different goals, e.g., 98% of the electricity supply targets are achievable in a baseline scenario, while only 52% are achievable in a set of "navigation" targets. The proposed methodology can be useful for diving into the details of regional forecasts, such as the impact of key companies in a region or the influence of international politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polar regions are facing a wide range of compounding challenges, from climate change to increased human activity. Infrastructure, rescue services, and disaster response capabilities are limited in these remote environments. Relevant and usable weather, water, ice, and climate (WWIC) information is vital for safety, activity success, adaptation, and environmental protection. This has been a key focus for the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) Polar Prediction Project (PPP), and in particular its "Societal and Economic Research and Applications" (PPP-SERA) Task Team, which together over a decade have sought to understand polar WWIC information use in relation to operational needs, constraints, and decision contexts to inform the development of relevant services. To understand research progress and gaps on WWIC information use during the PPP (2013–23), we undertook a systematic bibliometric review of aligned scholarly peer-reviewed journal articles (n = 43), examining collaborations, topics, methods, and regional differences. Themes to emerge included activity and context, human factors, information needs, situational awareness, experience, local and Indigenous knowledge, and sharing of information. We observed an uneven representation of disciplinary backgrounds, geographic locations, research topics, and sectoral foci. Our review signifies an overall lack of Antarctic WWIC services research and a dominant focus on Arctic sea ice operations and risks. We noted with concern a mismatch between user needs and services provided. Our findings can help to improve WWIC services' dissemination, communication effectiveness, and actionable knowledge provision for users and guide future research as the critical need for salient weather services across the polar regions remains beyond the PPP. Significance Statement: Every day, people in the Arctic and Antarctic use weather, water, ice, and climate information to plan and carry out outdoor activities and operations in a safe way. Despite advances in numerical weather prediction, technology, and product development, barriers to accessing and effectively communicating high-quality usable observations, forecasts, and actionable knowledge remain. Poorer services, prediction accuracy, and interpretation are exacerbated by a lack of integrated social science research on relevant topics and a mismatch between the services provided and user needs. As a result, continued user engagement, research focusing on information use, risk communication, decision-making processes, and the application of science for services remain highly relevant to reducing risks and improving safety for people living, visiting, and working in the polar regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased warming in the Arctic is of great concern. This is particularly due to permafrost degradation, which is expected to accelerate microbial breakdown of soil organic carbon, with its further release into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2). The fine-scale variability of CO2 fluxes across highly mosaic Arctic tundra landscapes can provide us with insights into the diverse responses of individual plant communities to environmental change. In the paper, we contribute to filling existing gaps by investigating the variability of CO2 flux rates within different landscape units for dominant vegetation communities and plant species across typical tundra of the southern part of the Taimyr Peninsula, Siberia. In general, the variability of soil CO2 flux illustrates a four-fold increase from non-vascular vegetation, mainly lichens and mosses (1.05 ± 0.36 µmol m−2 s−1), towards vascular plants (3.59 ± 0.51 µmol m−2 s−1). Barren ground ("frost boils") shows the lowest value of 0.79 ± 0.21 µmol m−2 s−1, while considering the Arctic "browning" phenomenon, a further substantial increase of CO2 flux can be expected with shrub expansion. Given the high correlation with top soil temperature, well-drained and relatively dry habitats such as barren ground and non-vascular vegetation are expected to be the most sensitive to the observed and projected temperature growth in the Arctic. For mixed vegetation and vascular species that favor wetter conditions, soil moisture appears to play a greater role. Based on the modeled seasonal pattern of soil CO2 flux and precipitation records, and applying the rainfall simulations in situ we outlined the role of precipitation across enhanced CO2 emissions (i.e., the "Birch" effect). We found that a pulse-like growth of soil CO2 fluxes, observed within the first few minutes after rainfall on vegetated plots, reaches 0.99 ± 0.48 µmol m−2 s−1 per each 1 mm of precipitation, while barren ground shows 55–70% inhibition of CO2 emission during the first several hours. An average additive effect of precipitation on soil CO2 flux may achieve 7–12% over the entire growing season, while the projected increased precipitation regime in the Arctic may strengthen the total CO2 release from the soil surface to the atmosphere during the growing season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic is experiencing a rapid temperature increase, four times faster than lower-latitude regions, disproportionately affecting rural, coastal, and Indigenous communities. These areas confront multiple urgent climate challenges. Adaptation strategies encompass out-migration, community relocation, and enhancing resilience, yet research in this critical area is notably limited, particularly for the most vulnerable communities. This paper presents a comprehensive review of environmental stressors and contextual factors influencing migration decisions in the North American Arctic. While migration is primarily driven by job opportunities, education, healthcare, cultural, and infrastructural factors, factors such as family, culture, safety, subsistence life, and community ties strongly influence residents to stay. The study reveals a lack of clear evidence for climate-driven migration at the individual/household level, but it underscores well-documented community-level relocations. Two major challenges in studying Arctic climate migration are identified: the complexity of migration and the uniqueness of Arctic climate change. Recommendations include considering migration typology, disentangling climate drivers from contextual factors, and addressing data limitations through systematic collection, integration, and creative use of traditional and nontraditional data. The paper underscores the importance of establishing partnerships with local communities to achieve a holistic understanding of factors driving migration or immobility, ensuring research outcomes are connected to addressing community challenges. This review lays the groundwork for empirical research on Arctic migration and community adaptation, aiming to comprehend the challenges faced by these communities and explore potential solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sea ice albedo can amplify global climate change and affect the surface energy in the Arctic. In this paper, the data from Visible and Infra-Red Radiometer (VIRR) onboard Fengyun-3C satellite are applied to derive the Arctic sea ice albedo. Two radiative transfer models, namely, 6S and FluxNet, are used to simulate the reflectance and albedo in the shortwave band. Clear sky sea ice albedo in the Arctic region (60°~90°N) from 2016 to 2019 is derived through the physical process, including data preprocessing, narrowband to broadband conversion, anisotropy correction, and atmospheric correction. The results are compared with aircraft measurements and AVHRR Polar Pathfinder-Extended (APP-x) albedo product and OLCI MPF product. The bias and standard deviation of the difference between VIRR albedo and aircraft measurements are −0.040 and 0.071, respectively. Compared with APP-x product and OLCI MPF product, a good consistency of albedo is shown. And analyzed together with melt pond fraction, an obvious negative relationship can be seen. After processing the 4-year data, an obvious annual trend can be observed. Due to the influence of snow on the ice surface, the average surface albedo of the Arctic in March and April can reach more than 0.8. Starting in May, with the ice and snow melting and melt ponds forming, the albedo drops rapidly to 0.5–0.6. Into August, the melt ponds begin to freeze and the surface albedo increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In northeast Russia, the famous historic Kolyma Road spans two thousand kilometers across two federal subjects of the Russian Federation: the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) and Magadan Oblast. Thousands of people live along and in close proximity to the road, depending on it for communication, mobility, goods, and life support. As the major transportation infrastructure in the entire region, it should be reliable and stable for local communities' well-being. One strategic approach to ensure its reliability is to acknowledge the role of Indigenous knowledge, which has been neglected despite being established long before the emergence of existing formal systems of communication. Based on data collected through fieldwork, personal observations, and conversations, this paper aims to demonstrate that Indigenous knowledge regarding ways of living, moving, and communicating along and on the road is the key to sustainability in the region. As a result, we claim that this realization should be manifested in designing and implementing communication and mobility systems based on the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In the long term, it is necessary to develop a sustainable road management system for the Kolyma Road to ensure the security and well-being of local communities and for everyone visiting and working on the road. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tundra lakes are an important indicator of climate change; therefore, the analysis of the dynamics of their size is of particular interest. This paper presents the results of using the U-Net convolutional neural network for tundra lakes segmentation in satellite optical images using Landsat data as an example. The comparative assessment of segmentation accuracy is performed for the original U-Net design and its modifications: U-Net++, Attention U-Net, and R2 U-Net, including with weights derived from a pretrained VGG16 network. The segmentation accuracy is assessed based on the results of manual mapping of tundra lakes in northern Siberia. It is shown that more recent U-Net modifications do not provide a practically significant gain in segmentation accuracy, but increase the computational costs. A configuration based on the classic U-Net gives the best result in most cases (the average Soerens coefficient IoU = 0.88). The technique suggested and the resulting estimates can be used in analysis of modern climate trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a multidisciplinary study with the aim of assessing the potential combined risk from consuming locally harvested food products in the Euro-Arctic region of Norway, Finland, and Russia. The three important contaminant groups—radioactive substances, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs)—were measured in food samples such as berries, mushrooms, fish, birds, reindeer, and moose; they were sampled in 2013–2015. To assess the combined pollution levels and investigate the trends, similarities, and variations between different contaminant groups, subsequent multivariate statistical analysis was performed. The results showed that, in general, the levels of radioactive substances, toxic elements, and POPs were below the permitted EU maximum content in food products. However, statistical analysis revealed some correlations, similarities, and peculiarities between the accumulation of different contaminants in various species, which allowed for a better understanding of the mechanisms of accumulation and interaction between different contaminant groups. It also gave a better insight into the possible added risks and helped pinpoint species that could serve as reference markers for the accumulation of different contaminants in food. Mushrooms, fish, and reindeer were found to be important markers in the combined risk assessments for the contents of metals and radioactive substances. Further research, as well as the development of methodologies for combined assessments, are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we explore a concept of exercise design within emergency management competence development. The paper presents recommendations for exercise design aspects that may be suitable for gaining collaboration skills and knowledge that responders need in unknown events of high complexity. This study explores the practice of tabletop exercises with complex scenarios that engage participants to discover organizational roles and responsibility division in collaborative action. Empirically, we base our analysis on maritime search and rescue nuclear preparedness exercises in the Arctic seas. We focus on elements that are essential for learners to increase their knowledge of operational complexity and collaborative performance, including understanding one's own and others' roles and responsibilities, formation of interagency teams, their boundaries and interaction between authorities and levels, mutual recognition of risks and learning about resource capacities and their limitations. The study draws conclusions on aspects that are critical for designing emergency management tabletop exercises, in particularly discussions in mixed groups for interpretative learning; own practice reflection for integrative learning; formulating general collaborative competence objectives, and complexity and realism of scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After describing how the marine environment is tottering in the face of the triple environmental crisis, this article explores the limited governance progressions at the global and regional levels in addressing the threats of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss in the especially vulnerable Arctic. For pollution, key limitations include slow and arduous processes to add chemicals for control under the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions and reliance at the regional level on a fragmented array of pollution studies and projects but without specific region-wide legally binding pollution standards. For climate change, the world is not on track to meet the Paris Agreement's temperature targets which is especially problematic for the Arctic cryosphere while the Arctic Council has largely been limited to providing general statements of concern and aspirational calls for enhanced climate mitigation and adaptation actions. For marine biodiversity losses, a pan-Arctic network of marine protected areas has yet to be developed and various implementation challenges surround the Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean including the need to ensure adequate financial, human resource and technical support. The paper concludes by highlighting some promising future governance directions. They include: the conclusion of a global treaty on plastic pollution; implementation of a new Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste; expected further clarifications from international tribunals on State responsibilities to address climate change; and regional implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the new agreement under the UN Convention on Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents data on the spatial distribution of the active concentration of natural (232Th, 226Ra, and 40K) and anthropogenic (137Cs) radionuclides in the surface layer of bottom sediments in Chaun Bay of the East Siberian Sea. The measured active concentration of 232Th and 226Ra was typical of bottom sediments of the Arctic coastal shelf zone and corresponded to the global level. The level of 137Cs activity in bottom sediments showed the absence of local sources of anthropogenic pollution in Chaun Bay, while the mean 40K activity concentration was 1.8 times higher than the global. The results of statistical analysis of the data obtained showed that the dynamics of river runoff, thermal abrasion, and currents, as well as aeolian and ice transport of sedimentary matter, were the main factors that determined the differences in the behavior of the studied radionuclides in the surface bottom sediments of Chaun Bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous understanding of sustainability is embedded in close relations to land and environment, Indigenous Knowledge systems, Indigenous epistemologies and ontologies, and Indigenous languages. However, the sustainability of Indigenous peoples' livelihoods is significantly affected by various global change drivers. In the Arctic, Indigenous peoples' livelihoods are impacted by environmental, social, and cultural changes, including climate change, environmental pollution, economic processes, and resource extraction. This paper aims to review and synthesize recent academic and gray literature on the sustainability of Indigenous communities in Sakha Republic, Northeast Siberia, Russia in the face of global change with a particular focus on land- and water-based traditional activities, native language, and the Indigenous Knowledge system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic Council working group, the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) established the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme (CBMP), an international network of scientists, governments, Indigenous organizations, and conservation groups working to harmonize and integrate efforts to extend and develop monitoring and assessment of the Arctic's biodiversity. Its relevance stretches beyond the Arctic to a broad range of regional and global initiatives and agreements. This paper describes the process and approach taken in the last two decades to develop and implement the CBMP. It documents challenges encountered, lessons learnt, and solutions, and considers how it has been a model for national, regional, and global monitoring programmes; explores how it has impacted Arctic biodiversity monitoring, assessment, and policy and concludes with observations on key issues and next steps. The following are overarching prerequisites identified in the implementation of the CBMP: effective coordination, sufficient and sustained funding, improved standards and protocols, co-production of knowledge and equitable involvement of IK approaches, data management to facilitating regional analysis and comparisons, communication and outreach to raising awareness and engagement in the programme, ensuring resources to engage in international fora to ensuring programme implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a map of terrestrial glacial geomorphology of eleven surge-type and nonsurge- type glacier forefields in southwest and west Spitsbergen, Svalbard. Glacier forefields were mapped using a combination of field surveys and the use of an uncrewed airborne vehicle in September 2022 and satellite imagery captured in 2020, with mapping performed in ArcGIS Pro at a 1:5000 scale. Maps were constructed for glaciers in Van Kuelenfjorden and Van Mijenfjorden (southwest Spitsbergen), and in Isfjorden, Billefjorden a fjord branch of Isfjorden and St. Jonsfjorden (west Spitsbergen), to obtain a breadth of glacier types and features representative of glacial landsystems on Svalbard. The detailed landform inventory was divided into: (i) ice marginal, (ii) subglacial, (iii) glaciofluvial and glaciolacustrine, (iv) supraglacial and (v) other non-glacial and contemporary features. These detailed maps provide a geomorphological insight into the past and present characteristics of glaciers on Svalbard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the transformation of the glacial isthmus between Sørkapp Land (southern peninsula) and the remainder of Spitsbergen from 1900 to 2023. The region distinguishes itself with notable environmental and landscape transformations since the early twentieth century, the post-Little Ice Age. These ongoing transformations are poised to swiftly convert the Sørkapp Land peninsula into an island, driven by the decline of the glacial isthmus connecting Sørkapp Land to the rest of Spitsbergen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the geopolitical and geostrategic significance of the GIUK (Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom) Gap, a region of the North Atlantic Ocean between those respective islands, part of the broader Arctic realm known as the High North. It begins with a short overview of the historical development of the GIUK Gap's geopolitical and geostrategic significance, followed by an analysis of the region's current geopolitical and geostrategic dynamics. For the analysis, Walt's balance of threat was employed as a neorealistic theoretical framework, with four specific variables chosen. This theory assumes that states try to balance potential threats. The study highlights the growing importance of the GIUK Gap for both NATO and the Russian Federation, whose interests have increasingly clashed in recent years. The paper argues that the deteriorating relations between NATO and Russia following the annexation of Crimea in 2014 have causally contributed to the growing importance of the GIUK Gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sources and fluxes of methane to the atmosphere from permafrost are significant but poorly constrained in global climate models. We present data collected from the variable permafrost setting of the outer Mackenzie River Delta, including observations of aquatic methane seepage, core determinations of in situ methane occurrence and seep gas isotope geochemistry. The sources and locations of in situ geologic methane occurrence and aquatic and atmospheric gas release appear to be controlled by the regional geology and permafrost conditions. Where permafrost is >250 m thick, thermogenic gas deposits at depth are isolated by laterally continuous, low permeability ice‐bearing sediments with few through‐going thawed taliks. Thus, the observed in situ methane and aquatic gas seepage appears to be dominated by microbial methane. In contrast, where permafrost is <80 m thick, taliks are more likely to be through‐going, providing permeable conduits from depth and migration pathways for both thermogenic and biogenic gas. Continuous annual fluid sampling of two lakes and a river channel documents aquatic methane flux from microbial sources, more deeply buried thermogenic sources, and mixtures of both. Using estimates of in situ methane concentration from deep core samples and observations of in situ free gas occurrences, we conclude that the reservoir of in situ geologic methane within ice bonded permafrost is substantial and that this methane is presently migrating with ongoing atmospheric release. It is our assessment that the permafrost setting, and processes described are sensitive to future climate change as the permafrost warms. Plain Language Summary: Methane is released from permafrost, yet the amount and sources of the methane are poorly understood. This paper presents data on methane released from water environments and stored in soil from the permafrost areas of the outer Mackenzie River Delta, NWT. It also uses isotope geochemistry to determine the source (type) of the methane ‐ either biogenic (produced by living organisms) or thermogenic (produced by breaking down of organic matter by heat). The sources and locations of the methane gas release appear to be controlled by the regional geology and permafrost conditions. We conclude that the methane stored within and beneath the ice bonded permafrost is substantial and that this methane is presently migrating to aquatic systems with ongoing atmospheric release. It is our assessment that this permafrost setting and the potential for increased methane release are sensitive to future climate change as the permafrost warms. Key Points: A unique annual record of dissolved methane geochemistry documents active microbial and geologic methane sources in a delta lake and channelSeep gas chemistry, geophysical, and core data allow appraisal of permafrost controls on subsurface methane dynamics in the Mackenzie DeltaThe large inventory of stored methane and the dynamic permafrost processes described are potentially responsive to future climate change [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal water supply through truck-to-cistern systems is common in northern Canada. Household satisfaction and concerns about water services likely impact user preferences and practices. This case study explores household perspectives and challenges with regard to domestic access to water in a decentralized truck-to-cistern system. A case study was conducted in the Northern Village of Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik (Quebec, Canada). A paper-based questionnaire was completed by 65 households (one quarter of the population). Many households (37%) reported not drinking tap water from the truck-to-cistern system. Chlorine taste was a frequently reported concern, with those households being significantly less likely to drink water directly from the tap (p = 0.002). Similarly, households that reported a water shortage in the previous week (i.e., no water from the tap at least once) (33%) were more likely to express dissatisfaction with delivered water quantity (rs = 0.395, p = 0.004). Interestingly, 77% of households preferred using alternative drinking water sources for drinking purposes, such as public tap at the water treatment plant, natural sources or bottled water. The study underscores the importance of considering household perspectives to mitigate the risks associated with service disruptions and the use of alternative sources for drinking purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MET Norway Ice Service (NIS) celebrated its fiftieth year as a formal operational sea ice information provider in 2020. Prior to the 1970’s, support to navigation had started off with ad-hoc observations from coastal stations on Svalbard in the 1930’s, before developing as a research programme in the 1960’s. Activity in the region has steadily increased, and now the NIS also supports a large number of research, tourist, and resource exploration vessels, in addition to the ice chart archive being a resource for climate change research. The Ice Service has always been at the forefront in the use of satellite Earth Observation technologies, beginning with the routine use of optical thermal infrared imagery from NASA TIROS and becoming a large user of Canadian RADARSAT-2 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and then European Copernicus Sentinel-1, in the 2000’s and 2010’s. Initially ice charts were a weekly compilation of ice information using cloud-free satellite coverage, aerial reconnaissance, and in situ observations, drawn on paper at the offices of the Norwegian Meteorological Institute (MET Norway) in Oslo. From 1997 production moved to the Tromsø office using computer-based Geographical Information System (GIS) software and the NIS developed the ice charting system Bifrost. This allowed the frequency of production to be increased to every weekday, with a greater focus on detailed sea ice concentrations along the ice edge and coastal zones in Eastern Greenland and in the Svalbard fjords. From 2010, the NIS has also provided a weekly austral summer ice chart for the Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula. To further develop its capabilities, NIS engages in a number of national and international research projects and led the EU Horizon 2020 project, Key Environmental monitoring for Polar Latitudes and European Readiness (KEPLER). This paper summarises the overall mandate and history of the NIS, and its current activities including the current state of routine production of operational ice charts at the NIS for maritime safety in both the Arctic and Antarctic, and future development plans.

After describing how the marine environment is tottering in the face of the triple environmental crisis, this article explores the limited governance progressions at the global and regional levels in addressing the threats of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss in the especially vulnerable Arctic. For pollution, key limitations include slow and arduous processes to add chemicals for control under the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions and reliance at the regional level on a fragmented array of pollution studies and projects but without specific region-wide legally binding pollution standards. For climate change, the world is not on track to meet the Paris Agreement's temperature targets which is especially problematic for the Arctic cryosphere while the Arctic Council has largely been limited to providing general statements of concern and aspirational calls for enhanced climate mitigation and adaptation actions. For marine biodiversity losses, a pan-Arctic network of marine protected areas has yet to be developed and various implementation challenges surround the Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean including the need to ensure adequate financial, human resource and technical support. The paper concludes by highlighting some promising future governance directions. They include: the conclusion of a global treaty on plastic pollution; implementation of a new Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste; expected further clarifications from international tribunals on State responsibilities to address climate change; and regional implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the new agreement under the UN Convention on Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For underwater vehicles navigating in Arctic Sea ice-covered waters, fatigue damage is a crucial issue. Many scholars have conducted low-temperature fatigue analysis on low-temperature materials and substrate platforms for ships, and the results show that low temperature is beneficial for improving the mechanical properties of materials. However, they have mainly focused on low-temperature performance experiments and simulation analysis of standard components of materials, and there are very few fatigue life experimental studies on underwater vehicle mechanical structures. This paper conducts experimental investigations on a scaled model of an underwater vehicle rudder mechanism in a polar environment laboratory. Using a comparative analysis method involving simulations and experiments, the low-temperature fatigue test data of the scaled underwater vehicle rudder mechanism are analyzed, and the quantified analysis between fatigue and different low-temperature loading cycles, as well as the influence of icing on the fatigue life, is explored. It is indicated that the Arctic environment can decrease the fatigue life of the underwater vehicle rudder mechanism by deteriorating its material properties. The paper builds the foundation for the fatigue life of an underwater vehicle rudder mechanism in Arctic low-temperature environments.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 ruptured Europe's security constellation, leading to historically neutral Finland and Sweden to seek NATO memberships. While there is literature on how NATO influences country's security apparatus, the impact of NATO on smaller states' securitization capacity remains unclear. We undertake 1) a discourse analysis of Norway and Finland's three respective Arctic strategies, 2) a discourse analysis of two online Arctic newspapers 'High North News' and 'The Barents Observer', and 3) an analysis of the allocation of Finnish and Norwegian military spending from 2014-2022. We explore both countries as cases where one is a historic member of NATO and the other is not. Despite this, both states share similar structural security risks such as Russia's geographic proximity. We periodize securitizing dynamics related to the Arctic, matching it to changes in the Finnish and Norwegian military sectors. Given small states lack relative material capabilities, we argue there is a systematic deadlock in transforming securitizing moves into material action. However, as a NATO state, Norway exhibits a significantly higher level of participation in military maneuvers and additional securitizing behavior compared to Finland. By contrast, Finland relies more heavily on intense securitizing rhetoric without accompanying material actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beluga whales play a critical role in the subsistence economies and cultural heritage of Indigenous communities across the Arctic, yet the effects of Indigenous hunting on beluga whales remain unknown. Here, we integrate paleogenomics, genetic simulations, and stable δ13C and δ15N isotope analysis to investigate 700 y of beluga subsistence hunting in the Mackenzie Delta area of northwestern Canada. Genetic identification of the zooarchaeological remains, which is based on radiocarbon dating, span three time periods (1290 to 1440 CE; 1450 to 1650 CE; 1800 to 1870 CE), indicates shifts across time in the sex ratio of the harvested belugas. The equal number of females and males harvested in 1450 to 1650 CE versus more males harvested in the two other time periods may reflect changes in hunting practices or temporal shifts in beluga availability. We find temporal shifts and sex-based differences in δ13C of the harvested belugas across time, suggesting historical adaptability in the foraging ecology of the whales. We uncovered distinct mitochondrial diversity unique to the Mackenzie Delta belugas, but found no changes in nuclear genomic diversity nor any substructuring across time. Our findings indicate the genomic stability and continuity of the Mackenzie Delta beluga population across the 700 y surveyed, indicating the impact of Inuvialuit subsistence harvests on the genetic diversity of contemporary beluga individuals has been negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic and boreal regions are experiencing a rapid increase in temperature, resulting in a changing cryosphere, increasing human activity, and potentially increasing high-latitude methane emissions. Satellite observations from Sentinel-5P TROPOMI provide an unprecedented coverage of a column-averaged dry-air mole fraction of methane (XCH4) in the Arctic, compared to previous missions or in situ measurements. The purpose of this study is to support and enhance the data used for high-latitude research through presenting a systematic evaluation of TROPOMI methane products derived from two different processing algorithms: the operational product (OPER) and the scientific product (WFMD), including the comparison of recent version changes of the products (OPER, OPER rpro, WFMD v1.2, and WFMD v1.8). One finding is that OPER rpro yields lower XCH4 than WFMD v1.8, the difference increasing towards the highest latitudes. TROPOMI product differences were evaluated with respect to ground-based high-latitude references, including four Fourier Transform Spectrometer in the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) and five EM27/SUN instruments in the Collaborative Carbon Column Observing Network (COCCON). The mean TROPOMI–TCCON GGG2020 daily median XCH4 difference was site-dependent and varied for OPER rpro from −0.47 ppb to 22.4 ppb, and for WFMD v1.8 from 1.2 ppb to 19.4 ppb with standard deviations between 13.0 and 20.4 ppb and 12.5–15.0 ppb, respectively. The TROPOMI–COCCON daily median XCH4 difference varied from −26.5 ppb to 5.6 ppb for OPER rpro, with a standard deviation of 14.0–28.7 ppb, and from −5.0 ppb to 17.2 ppb for WFMD v1.8, with a standard deviation of 11.5–13.0 ppb. Although the accuracy and precision of both TROPOMI products are, on average, good compared to the TCCON and COCCON, a persistent seasonal bias in TROPOMI XCH4 (high values in spring; low values in autumn) is found for OPER rpro and is reflected in the higher standard deviation values. A systematic decrease of about 7 ppb was found between TCCON GGG2014 and GGG2020 product update highlighting the importance of also ensuring the reliability of ground-based retrievals. Comparisons to atmospheric profile measurements with AirCore carried out in Sodankylä, Northern Finland, resulted in XCH4 differences comparable to or smaller than those from ground-based remote sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the mechanisms responsible for the origin, evolution, and failure of pingos with explosive gas emissions and the formation of craters in the Arctic permafrost requires comprehensive studies in the context of fluid dynamic processes. Properly choosing modeling methods for the joint interpretation of geophysical results and analytical data on core samples from suitable sites are prerequisites for predicting pending pingo failure hazards. We suggest an optimal theoretically grounded workflow for such studies, in a site where pingo collapse induced gas blowout and crater formation in the Yamal Peninsula. The site was chosen with reference to the classification of periglacial landforms and their relation to the local deformation pattern, according to deciphered satellite images and reconnaissance geophysical surveys. The deciphered satellite images and combined geophysical data from the site reveal a pattern of periglacial landforms matching the structural framework with uplifted stable permafrost blocks (polygons) bounded by eroded fractured zones (lineaments). Greater percentages of landforms associated with permafrost degradation fall within the lineaments. Resistivity anomalies beneath pingo-like mounds presumably trace deeply rooted fluid conduits. This distribution can be explained in terms of fluid dynamics. N–E and W–E faults, and especially their junctions with N–W structures, are potentially the most widely open conduits for gas and water which migrate into shallow sediments in the modern stress field of N–S (or rather NEN) extension and cause a warming effect on permafrost. The results obtained with a new workflow and joint interpretation of remote sensing, geophysical, and analytical data from the site of explosive gas emission in the Yamal Peninsula confirm the advantages of the suggested approach and its applicability for future integrated fluid dynamics research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The models that participated in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) exhibit large biases in Arctic sea ice climatology that seem related to biases in seasonal atmospheric and oceanic circulations. Using historical runs of 34 CMIP6 models from 1979 to 2014, we investigate the links between the climatological sea ice concentration (SIC) biases in September and atmospheric and oceanic model climatologies. The main intermodel spread of September SIC is well described by two leading EOFs, which together explain ∼65% of its variance. The first EOF represents an underestimation or overestimation of SIC in the whole Arctic, while the second EOF describes opposite SIC biases in the Atlantic and Pacific sectors. Regression analysis indicates that the two SIC modes are closely related to departures from the multimodel mean of Arctic surface heat fluxes during summer, primarily shortwave and longwave radiation, with incoming Atlantic Water playing a role in the Atlantic sector. Local and global links with summer cloud cover, low-level humidity, upper or lower troposphere temperature/circulation, and oceanic variables are also found. As illustrated for three climate models, the local relationships with the SIC biases are mostly similar in the Arctic across the models but show varying degrees of Atlantic inflow influence. On a global scale, a strong influence of the summer atmospheric circulation on September SIC is suggested for one of the three models, while the atmospheric influence is primarily via thermodynamics in the other two. Clear links to the North Atlantic oceanic circulation are seen in one of the models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Recent increases in extreme events, especially those near and beyond previous records, are a new index for Arctic and global climate change. They vary by type, location, and season. These record-shattering events often have no known historical analogues and suggest that other climate surprises are in store. Twenty-six unprecedented events from 2022, 2023, and early 2024 include record summer temperatures/heatwaves, storms, major Canadian wildfires, early continental snow melt, Greenland melt, sea temperatures of 5–7 °C above normal, drought in Iceland, and low northern Alaskan salmon runs. Collectively, such diverse extremes form a consilience, the principle that evidence from independent, unrelated sources converge as a strong indicator of ongoing Arctic change. These new behaviors represent emergent phenomenon. Emergence occurs when multiple processes interact to produce new properties, such as the interaction of Arctic amplification with the normal range of major weather events. Examples are typhon Merbok that resulted in extensive coastal erosion in the Bering Sea, Greenland melt, and record temperatures and melt in Svalbard. The Arctic can now be considered to be in a different state to before fifteen years ago. Communities must adapt for such intermittent events to avoid worst-case scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic changes of sea ice exhibit spatial clustering, and this clustering has characteristics extending from its origin, through its development, and to its dissipation. Current research on sea ice change primarily focuses on spatiotemporal variation trends and remote correlation analysis, and lacks an analysis of spatiotemporal evolution characteristics. This study utilized monthly sea ice concentration (SIC) data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) for the period from 1979 to 2022, utilizing classical spatiotemporal clustering algorithms to analyze the clustering patterns and evolutionary characteristics of SIC anomalies in key Arctic regions. The results revealed that the central-western region of the Barents Sea was a critical area where SIC anomaly evolutionary behaviors were concentrated and persisted for longer durations. The relationship between the intensity and duration of SIC anomaly events was nonlinear. A positive correlation was observed for shorter durations, while a negative correlation was noted for longer durations. Anomalies predominantly occurred in December, with complex evolution happening in April and May of the following year, and concluded in July. Evolutionary state transitions mainly occurred in the Barents Sea. These transitions included shifts from the origin state in the northwestern margin to the dissipation state in the central-north Barents Sea, from the origin state in the central-north to the dissipation state in the central-south, and from the origin state in the northeastern to the dissipation state in the central-south Barents Sea and southeastern Kara Sea. Various evolutionary states were observed in the same area on the southwest edge of the Barents Sea. These findings provide insights into the evolutionary mechanism of sea ice anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Food insecurity is a social determinant of health linked with elevated HIV exposure. Safer sex efficacy (SSE), the ability to navigate sexual decision-making and condom use, is an important marker of sexual wellbeing. Pathways from food insecurity to SSE are understudied, particularly among adolescents in Arctic regions who are at the nexus of food insecurity and sexual health disparities. We examined pathways from food insecurity to SSE among adolescents in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada. Methods: We implemented cross-sectional surveys with adolescents aged 13–18 recruited through venue-based sampling in 17 NWT communities. We conducted multivariable logistic regression to assess socio-demographic factors associated with food insecurity. We then conducted structural equation modeling (SEM) using maximum likelihood estimation to assess direct effects of food insecurity on SSE and indirect effects via resilience, depression, and relationship power inequity. We assessed both condom use SSE (e.g., confidence in using condoms) and situational SSE (e.g., SSE under partner pressure). Results: Most participants (n = 410) identified as Indigenous (79%) and 45% reported experiencing food insecurity. In SEM, we did not find a significant direct effect from food insecurity to SSE; however, we found indirect effects from food insecurity to condom use SSE through resilience and depression and from food insecurity to situational SSE through resilience. Conclusions: Findings call for structural interventions to address food insecurity, alongside resilience-focused strategies that address the intersection of sexual and mental health. Sexual health strategies focused on individual behavior change are insufficient to address larger contexts of poverty among Northern youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic is one of the most important regions in the world's oceans for understanding the impacts of a changing climate. Yet, it is also difficult to measure because of extreme weather and ice conditions. In this work, we directly compare four datasets from the Group for High-Resolution Sea Surface Temperature (GHRSST) with a NASA Saildrone deployment along the Alaskan Coast and the Bering Sea and Bering Strait. The four datasets used are the Remote Sensing Systems Microwave Infrared Optimally Interpolated (MWIR) product, the Canadian Meteorological Center (CMC) product, the Daily Optimally Interpolated Product (DOISST), and the Operational Sea Surface Temperature and Ice Analysis (OSTIA) product. Spatial sea surface temperature (SST) gradients were derived for both the Saildrone deployment and GHRSST products, with the GHRSST products collocated with the Saildrone deployment. Overall, statistics indicate that the OSTIA product had a correlation of 0.79 and a root mean square difference of 0.11 °C/km when compared with Saildrone. CMC had the highest correlation of 0.81. Scatter plots indicate that OSTIA had the slope closest to one, thus best reproducing the magnitudes of the Saildrone gradients. Differences increased at latitudes > 65°N where sea ice would have a greater impact. A trend analysis was then performed on the gradient fields. Overall, positive trends in gradients occurred in areas along the coastal regions. A negative trend occurred at approximately 60°N. A major finding of this study is that future work needs to revolve around the impact of changing ice conditions on SST gradients. Another major finding is that a northward shift in the southern ice edge occurred after 2010 with a maxima at approximately 2019. This indicates that the shift of the southern ice edge is not gradual but has dramatically increased over the last decade. Future work needs to revolve around examining the possible causes for this northward shift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metrological field intercomparison of thermometer radiation shields in the Arctic was conducted with the aim of obtaining information to increase the worldwide comparability of air temperature measurements. Air temperature measurements are performed by different combinations of thermometers and shields. The response of each system (thermometer + shield) to local meteorological conditions depends on the system itself, limiting the comparability of air temperature measurements. Ten different models of radiation shields were included in the intercomparison, involving two campaigns: (1) the laboratory campaign, where all the instrumentation was calibrated just before and just after the field campaign, and (2) the field campaign that lasted 14 months where 41 thermometers were sampled every 2 min. All the delivered data were subjected to quality control to assure the robustness of the conclusions. A reference shield was defined, and the other shields were compared to the reference one for the conditions where maximum divergences were expected, solar irradiance being the highest impact factor. A maximum divergence value of 1.29 °C was derived for one of the shields and, for all the shields, the difference from the reference one decreases with wind speed. Finally, the uncertainties associated with the shields intercomparison were calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of theoretical analysis and practical implementation of seismoacoustic methods developed for monitoring ice-covered regions in the Arctic are presented and discussed. Special attention is paid to passive seismoacoustic tomography as a unique method of studying the deep structure of the lithosphere and hydrosphere without the use of powerful sources. One of the distinctive features of the considered approach is the use of receivers located on the ice surface to recover characteristics of Arctic-type seismoacoustic waveguide "lithosphere-hydrosphere-ice cover". In passive monitoring, special attention is paid to reducing the noise signal accumulation time required to obtain seismoacoustic wave propagation times, as well as expanding the analyzed frequency bandwidth. The presented results can be used to develop technologies for seasonal and long-term monitoring of the currently observed variability of large areas of the Arctic region due to climatic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]