Connecting scientific observations to stakeholder needs in sea ice social-environmental systems: the institutional geography of northern Alaska

• Published in: Polar geography (1995) 2013-03, Vol.36 (1-2), p.105-125
• Main Authors: Lovecraft, Amy Lauren, Meek, Chanda, Eicken, Hajo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Global warming; Ice; Marine; Stakeholders
• ISSN: 1088-937X; 1939-0513
• DOI: 10.1080/1088937X.2012.733893

The institutions governing sea ice system services in the Arctic are associated with particular places, species, and environments. Yet scholars rarely consider the way these associations may present barriers to, or facilitate, effective translation of scientific data into broadly available information for stakeholders to create and debate policy. In light of rapidly changing arctic environments how can data best be collected and disseminated to affected stakeholders as usable information to facilitate effective planning? This article explores the linkages between scientific data production and policy implementation related to sea ice loss in the Arctic. The rapid decline of arctic summer sea ice is currently tracked and studied intensively but a comprehensive approach to address the changes is lacking. Our work builds upon earlier research establishing the need to approach sea ice as a complex multi-jurisdictional geophysical-social-ecological feature from a services standpoint. Our research catalogs the geography of sea ice institutions in northern Alaska to demonstrate the fragmentation in data production and distribution. We then examine two case studies. The first is a newly established cross-scale information bridge improving sea-ice and weather information relevant to walrus hunting and management. The second is the case of the emerging arctic marine traffic regime. We argue that in order to maximize data production, dissemination, and participatory capacity across stakeholders: (1) scientific observations should be tied to institutional density and sea ice services, and (2) information bridges should exist across major institutional actors.