Abstract
Human populations are increasingly impacted by climate change,
especially in the Arctic, where Polar Amplification is accelerating
climate impacts to more than four times the global average. The complex,
interconnected risks that result from climate change need to be
measured, tracked and prioritized, to characterize highly impacted
areas. We reviewed a cross section of published vulnerability indices
developed to characterize change in the Alaskan Arctic, including
ecosystem dynamics like permafrost thaw, water availability, animal
habitat and migration, and anthropogenic risks from marine & aviation
infrastructure, and oil spill impacts. Further, we evaluated the
spatiotemporal relationship of vulnerability indices within the context
of industrial development in the Arctic, including shipping, mining, and
energy extraction. While this cross section offers a diversity of
analysis, the accessibility of the indices to Arctic communities needs
improvement. Increasing accessibility of these tools will allow further
evaluation of these interconnected vulnerabilities, and understanding
feasibility and limitations.