Future priorities for Arctic freshwater science from the perspective of early-career researchers

Abstract

Freshwater systems are a major component of the terrestrial Arctic and are particularly sensitive to climatic and other environmental changes. Recent efforts have focussed on synthesizing and identifying gaps in the current understanding of Arctic freshwater systems. We aimed to identify research priorities for Arctic freshwater science from the perspective of early-career researchers, given their leading role as the next generation of scientists tasked with addressing these research areas. Using a discussion session and an online survey of early-career researchers, we identified five priority topics: (1) establishment of long-term monitoring sites across the Arctic, (2) improved understanding of the implications of permafrost thawing for biogeochemistry of Arctic rivers and lakes, (3) better model predictions of changes in freshwater systems and better integration with the wider modelling community, (4) improved estimates of environmental thresholds and tipping points within Arctic freshwater ecosystems, and (5) the need for community-based monitoring and assessment. These five topics underline the importance of interdisciplinary research and the necessity of developing large-scale environmental monitoring programs and data repositories. Such developments will facilitate long-term understanding of the impact of climate variability upon Arctic freshwater systems and will promote knowledge exchange between local and scientific communities.

Keywords

• river
• lake
• permafrost
• monitoring
• nutrients