The Arctic Water Crisis: Losing 10,000 Gallons a Day and Why It Matters for Global Sustainability

Jane Marsh

The Arctic is often the epicenter of climate change discussions, and rightfully so. Imagine a lake appearing overnight where a frozen structure had stood for millions of years. As permafrost thaws amid rising global temperatures, this phenomenon is quickly becoming the Arctic's new reality. The transformation is dramatic and startling, shedding light on a hidden water crisis that few could have predicted.

Beyond melting glaciers, the region's freshwater system is on the brink of collapse, threatening ecosystems, fisheries and water resources for the Indigenous peoples that need it the most. However, just as the Arctic's climate dilemma demonstrates environmental disruption at its worst, it is also where you can find some of the most innovative, locally-inspired solutions that serve as a blueprint for resilience across the rest of the world.

What Makes the Arctic Ocean Different

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's oceans, spanning approximately 6.1 million square miles, which is about 1.5 times the size of the United States. Its average depth is 3,953 feet, and it reaches 18,264 feet at its deepest point.

For most of the year, this region is completely covered with ice, as temperatures rarely reach above freezing. Despite the frigid conditions, the Arctic is teeming with life, with its frozen underbelly providing an essential habitat for phytoplankton and algae.

It also supports an entire food web for polar bears, crustaceans and people, such as the Inuit community. Its waters offer a channel for whales, sharks, snow crabs, sting rays and nearly 240 fish species that pass through during migration.

Its sea ice is especially vital for regulating the planet's climate — its bright surface reflecting 50% to 70% of sunlight back into space. The dark water also absorbs about 90% of the sun's radiation, driving thermohaline circulation and creating balance within global water temperatures.

Unpacking Arctic Water Loss

Arctic water loss, primarily due to sea ice melt, creates a feedback loop that propels global warming. The impacts are detrimental to marine ecosystems — from releasing stored carbon to accelerating erosion — and the wildlife and Indigenous communities that rely on ice for hunting and travel.

Permafrost, Runoff and Disappearing Lakes

Permafrost melting is a grave concern, especially since it's a reservoir for immense amounts of carbon and organic matter. In fact, the Arctic stores one-third of the soil carbon on Earth, with up to 2.5 times more than what exists in the global atmosphere. Its release upon melting could be catastrophic for the world.

Retrogressive thaw slumps are similar to landslides within iced-over ground and emit an excessive amount of previously frozen sediment, organic carbon and nutrients into rivers. The event increases calcium, magnesium and sodium levels in the water, altering its chemistry and the natural ecosystem adaptations. The actual chemical impacts of thaw slumps can last a long time, too, creating a long-term shift throughout the Arctic water system.

During rapid thawing, water tables in the rivers are particularly high. However, once the melting glacier shrinks to its tipping point, its contribution to the regional water supply declines indefinitely, leading to widespread drought.

A Community-Level Look at Water Loss — The Ukpeagvik Iñupiat Corporation

The loss of freshwater in the Arctic is a critical issue for local communities, with implications for their drinking water availability and infrastructure.

The Ukpeagvik Iñupiat Corporation supports a remote Alaskan village of 800 inhabitants that relies on the recirculation and flow of Arctic waters. The residents spend the short summer months gathering enough water supplies to last them throughout the harsh, long winter. According to one study, the village was losing 8 gallons of water per minute, equivalent to 10,000 gallons daily, which raised the risk of water insecurity.

Sadly, the challenges this community faced are not an isolated case. Across Arctic nations, over 50 million people are without access to safely managed drinking water resources. The most remote Indigenous communities in the Northern region are most affected.

The Contamination Problem

Among the most significant hazards of permafrost melting is the introduction of contaminants into the Arctic's pristine waterways. The ice holds on to more than just carbon — it also stores mercury, lead, pesticides and other dangerous substances that infiltrate the ecosystem once the ground thaws and melts.

The melting also destabilizes infrastructure, including 13,000 to 20,000 contaminated industrial sites that were built on the permafrost. This poses a dire threat to the region's water and food web.

A more open Arctic also creates new shipping routes. While this is positive for global trade, the heavy fuel oil used by these ships produces high levels of black carbon, which settles on the remaining ice, thereby accelerating ice melt by reducing the reflectivity of snow and ice. Heavy fuel oil accounts for 75% of Arctic marine fuel, with no practical approach to cleaning an oil spill in ice if one were to occur.

When the Arctic Changes, the World Feels It

The rest of the world feels when there's a change in the Arctic. From rising sea levels threatening coastal communities to disrupted fisheries and economies, the Arctic water crisis has far-reaching effects.

Rising Tides and Coastal Threats

Ice melt is directly related to global sea level rise. Climate experts say that sea levels have already risen by 20 centimeters since 1880 and could rise to 1 meter — over 3 feet — by 2100, depending on whether the world manages to reduce carbon emissions. This poses a grave threat to India, which has a coastline spanning 7,500 kilometers.

Miami, Florida, is also facing serious challenges due to sea-level rise, with some scientists predicting it could leave much of Miami-Dade County underwater. One study found that 54.7% of current residents would feel the impacts of a 1-meter to 2-meter rise, with about 41% planning to leave by 2050 with such a grim future outlook.

Disrupting Economies and Food Security

The world will also feel economic strains and food insecurity as the Arctic melts. Species are currently moving north — a process referred to as "borealization" — as the Arctic warms. This means that fish that traditionally lived in warmer, subarctic waters, such as cod and crustaceans, are moving to new locations.

For example, snow crab populations have declined by up to 90% in the Bering Sea, from 8 billion to 1 billion between 2018 and 2021. Climate change has particularly affected harvests in Alaska's Bristol Bay, which experienced the smallest catch in over 40 years.

This economic instability is particularly severe for communities that rely directly on the sea. For many Indigenous communities, the decline in fish populations is a direct threat to their cultural and spiritual traditions and food supply. In 2021, when Chinook and chum salmon populations dipped to record lows, restrictions on subsistence salmon fishing left vulnerable people hungry with adverse mental health outcomes.

The Path Forward — A Global Responsibility for a Shared Ocean

When it comes to addressing the Arctic water crisis, the world must take a collective responsibility for a shared ocean. Integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) from Indigenous peoples, such as the Iñupiat, alongside the use of modern technology and scientific research, is crucial for effective conservation efforts.

This collaborative approach, centered on Indigenous knowledge, enables real-time decision-making by leveraging critical data that the scientific community may lack. This includes identifying vital wildlife habitats, detecting diseases, and monitoring long-term changes in the marine environment. The Indigenous-led model also dictates more ethical and culturally relevant conservation.

Key policy initiatives, including the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement, are also paramount. The multinational treaty was signed in October 2018 in Greenland and prevents unregulated fishing in the high seas to safeguard marine ecosystems and sustainable fish stocks.

Navigating a Path Forward on Thin Ice

The Arctic is issuing a final warning for the world as climate change creates a water crisis with far-reaching consequences. However, with the application of proactive policies, innovations and Indigenous knowledge, it's possible to change course amid a precarious situation. Collective action is required, though, to protect against future coastal threats.

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