A better understanding of the coastal zone (both physical and biogeochemical changes) is an important theme to help understand the impacts of climate to the open ocean marine life and biodiversity. Warming temperatures, declining sea ice, and increased duration and frequency of forcing events (storminess) are critical drivers to accelerate this change. The unprecedented change facing the Arctic coastal zone today will have a significant impact on infrastructure, communities, Inuit peoples and vulnerable ecosystems. Information to support future planning, mitigation and adaptation measures of these changing permafrost coastal landscapes is an important theme of Arctic research and Inuit project co-development. This session intends to bring together researchers, indigenous partners and community members who are studying, monitoring or experiencing environmental changes in these critical coastal and nearshore arctic areas and ecosystems.

Dustin Whalen, Hugues Lantuit, David Didier