Examination of permafrost degradation in the Canadian Artic by means of drone and satellite data incorporating Local Knowledge of Artic communities and distribute image analysis
The Arctic is undergoing significant changes in its landscapes due to climate change, especially through the thawing of permafrost. This not only affects the living conditions of the indigenous population, but also leads to rising greenhouse gas emissions, as thawing permafrost releases additional methane and carbon dioxide, and has negative effects on the Arctic ecosystem. Within the framework of the project "UndercoverEisAgenten" funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), reliable and current data on the state and thaw rate of permafrost are being collected in collaboration with students to gain a deeper understanding of landscape disturbances and the resulting impacts on the residents of the Arctic as well as on global greenhouse gas emissions.
The changes are being examined using a combination of data from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), local knowledge, and satellite remote sensing in Aklavik (Northwest Territories, Canada). "UndercoverEisAgenten" is structured around two main objectives: 1. To demonstrate the significance of UAV data in remote Arctic regions, and 2. To involve students from schools in Canada and Germany to broaden the horizon of remote sensing application in these areas while simultaneously offering educational opportunities to the participating students.
Through the use of cost-effective and easy-to-operate drones, aerial images are taken, from which orthomosaics and surface models are created, enabling a more in-depth analysis of the permafrost structures. These datasets are processed and analyzed in manageable and easily accomplishable mapping tasks, the so-called "micro-tasks." The processing is supported by a user-friendly web-based crowd mapping application.
By involving students in the processes of data collection, classification, and evaluation, the project aims to spread knowledge and raise awareness about global warming, permafrost, and the associated regional and global challenges. The collected scientific data are expected to provide new insights for modeling biophysical processes in the Arctic regions, could lay the foundation for creating a digital twin of these regions, and contribute to a better understanding of the state and changes of the permafrost in the Arctic. Additionally, image processing methods are being developed to support the mapping process.
Aklavik im Mackenzie Delta und Permafroststrukturen, September 2022. Bild von C.Thiel
