Change in Arctic Habitat Suitability for Caribou

This research aims to understand the impact of climate change on Arctic habitat suitability for Caribou by investigating trends in spatial and temporal rain-on-snow (ROS) occurrence and associated ice crusts presence that inhibit access to foraging grounds. The study encompasses two key objectives: (1) identifying patterns in environmental conditions leading to ROS events in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago using passive microwave data and (2) developing a novel dual Ku band radar methodology to detect ROS-associated ice crusts within the snowpack.

The accelerated warming currently witnessed in Arctic regions poses a threat to ungulates species such as Peary caribou, as ice crusts prevent their foraging activities, leading to nutrient deficiencies and, in extreme cases, death.

To bridge knowledge gaps, the research integrates indigenous knowledge from current and existing collaborations in seven Inuit communities to build a ROS events database and associated changes in surface state affecting foraging conditions. This community-informed approach will provide insights on which climate variables might be drivers of ROS events and help analyze current climate projections more efficiently.

The study will distinguish regional variations in ROS drivers across the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

The project's significance lies in improving our empirical understanding of changing weather patterns (i.e. ROS events), and their implications for caribou populations. Collaborations with local communities and the scientific community will facilitate data collection through a community-based approach.

This project strongly aligns with ONE Planet research themes by bringing together earth system processes and environmental analytics to advance our understanding of extreme climate events in the Arctic, which is the fastest warming region on the planet.