Cold shores in warming times – current state and future challenges in High Arctic coastal geomorphological studies
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Date
2011
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Wydział Nauk Geograficznych i Geologicznych Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza
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Abstract
Many of the existing intellectual paradigms regarding the functioning of the polar coastal zone are
now out-dated, based on descriptive geomorphology and a limited process-based understanding. Currently,
among many components of Arctic landscape adjusting to global warming, the coastal zone is probably the most
critical one both in terms of rapidity of environmental change as well as importance for human communities
living in circumpolar regions. This issue was often raised during the 4th International Polar Year 2007-2008 and
encouraged the scientific community to focus on the state of cold region coasts in more detail. In this paper I
summarize the most recent developments in Arctic coastal geomorphology with a particular focus on the Svalbard
Archipelago and draw attention to the research challenges awaiting further investigation. This paper highlights
the need for a greater understanding of the controls on High Arctic coastal geoecosystems, especially given
the potential for accelerated warming and sea-level rise in the coming decades and centuries. Many of presented
views benefited from discussions with Professor Andrzej Kostrzewski – to whom this volume is dedicated.
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Keywords
cold region coastal geomorphology, global warming, sea-level change, High Arctic landscape dynamics, Svalbard
Citation
Quaestiones Geographicae vol. 30 (3), 2011, pp. 101-113
ISBN
978-83-62662-62-3