Transcript Alaskan Climate Affairs

Circle of Knowledge:
Climate, Weather, and Environmental Change
An exploratory community-based research project
****************************************
Shannon McNeeley
Environmental and Societal Impacts Group
National Center for Atmospheric Research
303-497-8122 phone
303-497-8125 fax
[email protected]
Alaskan Climate Affairs
Project Goal
To co-develop a research plan for documenting Native
observations of changes in the weather, climate and
related environmental changes; examine impacts,
coping mechanisms and adaptations; and exchanging
complementary information and knowledge on climate,
weather and environmental changes between Natives
and scientists.
Community Participatory Research
Co-develop with interested communities along the
Koyukuk River (Huslia, Hughes, Koyukuk, Alatna,
Allakaket) and scientists who study Arctic and global
climate change in order to better understand the changes
that are happening, plan for coping with future changes
and create opportunities for education that combines
elements of Native Knowledge and western science.
Community Participatory Research
Researcher is a collaborator who works with local
participants to define research questions, describe
experiences in their own terms, and use the research
results to effect change
Principles of Community
Participatory Research
• Process of mutual inquiry and problem solving
• Community has control and ownership of intellectual
property concerning them by asking them questions they think
are important, speaking in their own terms, and deciding for
themselves how to use the results
• Involve all who are interested in participating
• Build capacity within the community for self sufficiency
• Develop local researchers
• Outside researcher gives back to community
Weather: Day to day conditions of temperature,
precipitation, humidity, winds, etc.
Climate: These conditions averaged over time
that characterize a region – average weather
Climate change: Unusual environmental
changes in weather and related to weather that
are different from what is expected based on the
past or what is considered “normal” for the area
Weather is more variable, less
predictable, and there is an
increased frequency of extreme
events.
Changes are happening
so quickly that
understanding and
adaptation are more
challenging than in the
past
Some Observed Environmental Changes
Related to Changes in Climate and Weather
Temperature rise
Melting permafrost
Sea ice retreat/thinner ice
Changes in weather patterns and severity
Wildlife migration patterns changes
Dried up waterways
Changes in access to hunting grounds
Less snow
Shifting seasons
More clouds/precipitation during summer
Sea level rise
Increased fire and pest infestations
Societal Concerns about Climate Change
•Health Impacts
•Food Security
•Public Safety
•Infrastructure
•Economic Impacts
•Cultural Integrity
•Adaptation/Mitigation strategies and resources
Project Activities
January – August 2004
•Meet with tribal councils (Hughes, Huslia, Koyukuk, Alatna,
Allakaket)
•Identification of and communication with project developers
•Meetings with project developers in villages
•Acquire letters of support from tribal councils
•Meet with scientists at UAF and NCAR to discuss project
•Literature review
•Develop research design and report for long-term project
•Get approval from communities on research design
Timeline 2004
Action Item
Jan
Meetings with tribal
council(s)
X
Identification of
project developers
Meetings with village
participants
X
Feb
X
Approval from
Communities
Report Preparation
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Extensive literature
review
Research Design
Apr
X
Letters of support
Visit scientists at
UAF
Mar
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X…
Possible Research Questions
What unusual changes (“anomalies”) are being seen related to weather and climate such as
timing of seasons, extreme weather events, freezing and thaws, etc.?
What are some of the feedbacks or indirect impacts being seen, for example, what
are hunters seeing in wildlife that seem to be manifestations of climate change?
How are expectations of how the weather behaves still tied to the past and how does
this result in negative impacts in terms of subsistence activities, food availability,
health and safety, etc.?
How have tribes along the Koyukuk adapted to these changes they are experiencing?
What future impacts might require planning for coping or adapting into the future, for example,
if there is less snow.
Possible Research Questions continued…
What can traditional knowledge tell us about changes in the interior that western
science cannot? How can TK help climate modelers think about their data collection,
analysis, and model structure?
What scientific knowledge on climate and weather is useful to Natives in the villages?
Where are the gaps in knowledge that neither TK nor western science can explain at
this stage?
How far back in time can TK be useful to provide records of changes in climate and
weather?