The cruise tourism industry in the Canadian Arctic: analysis of activities and perceptions of cruise ship operators

ABSTRACTWith the melting of sea ice in the Arctic, the potential for higher shipping access has markedly changed. Shipping activity in the Arctic is increasing, including tourism and exploration activities, underlining the need for reliable communication and monitoring. This article examines the interactions between climate and sea ice change, the patterns of cruise ship tourism through Arctic Canada and the interest of operators to increase their activities in the cruise tourism market in the region. Since 1995, the melting of the summer pack ice in the offers the possibilities of increased shipping in this region while encouraging speculation regarding the potential of the northwest passage (NWP) and the Canadian Arctic to become a major cruise maritime highway. Integrating research from both human and transport geography, this article presents an analysis of vessel movements. It also analyses perceptions of charters and cruise ship operators and of their interests in the cruise tourism market. Discussion is focused on issues associated with the lack of available vessels and maritime infrastructure, regulations in the Canadian arctic waters, security and search and rescue. This research could prove useful for communities, and policy makers, as well as the cruise sector itself, with regard to response to change in these remote locations.

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Tracing One Warm Line: Climate Stories and Silences in Northwest Passage Tourism

Journal of Canadian Studies ◽

10.3138/jcs-2020-0006 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. e20200006

Author(s):

Jenny Kerber

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Environmental Justice ◽

Canadian Arctic ◽

Geographic Range ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

The Arctic ◽

Northwest Passage ◽

Cruise Tourism ◽

Significant Measure ◽

Bear Witness

This article examines representations of polar cruise tourism in the Northwest Passage as climate change extends the geographic range of open waters and increases the number of ice-free days in the Canadian Arctic. It connects current cruise promotion to earlier exploration histories and investigates the paradoxes that arise in the drive to bear witness to climate change while accelerating its impacts through carbon-intensive travel. It also examines some of the ways that Franklin expedition tourism in particular is being used to reinforce claims of Canadian sovereignty over Arctic resources. Overall, the promotion of this kind of maritime tourism highlights many of the key fault lines between visitor expectations and geophysical and cultural realities in a changing North, raising doubts about whether expanded development of such tourism can succeed in creating climate change ambassadors. The article concludes that the potential for developing cross-cultural environmental justice solidarities depends in significant measure on the tourism industry’s greater inclusion of Inuit perspectives that understand the Arctic not merely as a place to travel through, but as a homeland of earth, sea, and the shifting ice between.

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Recent extreme light sea ice years in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago: 2011 and 2012 eclipse 1998 and 2007

The Cryosphere Discussions ◽

10.5194/tcd-7-1313-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 1313-1358 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S. E. L. Howell ◽

T. Wohlleben ◽

A. Komarov ◽

L. Pizzolato ◽

C. Derksen

Keyword(s):

Sea Ice ◽

Arctic Ocean ◽

Atmospheric Circulation ◽

Canadian Arctic ◽

Surface Air Temperature ◽

Ice Cover ◽

The Arctic ◽

First Year ◽

Canadian Arctic Archipelago ◽

Northwest Passage

Abstract. Record low mean September sea ice area in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) was observed in 2011 (146 × 103 km2), a level that was nearly exceeded in 2012 (150 × 103 km2). These values eclipsed previous September records set in 1998 (200 × 103 km2) and 2007 (220 × 103 km2) and are ∼60% lower than the 1981–2010 mean September climatology. In this study, the driving processes contributing to the extreme light years of 2011 and 2012 were investigated, compared to previous extreme minima of 1998 and 2007, and contrasted against historic summer seasons with above average September ice area. The 2011 minimum was driven by positive July surface air temperature (SAT) anomalies that facilitated rapid melt, coupled with atmospheric circulation in July and August that restricted multi-year ice (MYI) inflow from the Arctic Ocean into the CAA. The 2012 minimum was also driven by positive July SAT anomalies (with coincident rapid melt) but further ice decline was temporarily mitigated by atmospheric circulation in August and September which drove Arctic Ocean MYI inflow into the CAA. Atmospheric circulation was comparable between 2011 and 1998 (impeding Arctic Ocean MYI inflow) and 2012 and 2007 (inducing Arctic Ocean MYI inflow). However, evidence of both preconditioned thinner Arctic Ocean MYI flowing into CAA and maximum landfast first-year ice (FYI) thickness within the CAA was more apparent leading up to 2011 and 2012 than 1998 and 2007. The rapid melt process in 2011 and 2012 was more intense than observed in 1998 and 2007 because of the thinner ice cover being more susceptible to positive SAT forcing. The thinner sea ice cover within the CAA in recent years has also helped counteract the processes that facilitate extreme heavy ice years. The recent extreme light years within the CAA are associated with a longer navigation season within the Northwest Passage.

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Changes in shipping navigability in the Canadian Arctic between 1972 and 2016

FACETS ◽

10.1139/facets-2020-0096 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 1069-1087

Author(s):

Luke Copland ◽

Jackie Dawson ◽

Adrienne Tivy ◽

Frances Delaney ◽

Alison Cook

Keyword(s):

Sea Ice ◽

System Analysis ◽

Canadian Arctic ◽

Middle Part ◽

Ice Age ◽

The Arctic ◽

Hudson Bay ◽

Northwest Passage ◽

Arctic Ice ◽

Southern Route

There have been rapid recent reductions in sea ice age and extent in the Canadian Arctic, but little previous analysis of how this has impacted the navigability of Arctic shipping. In this study we analyze how navigability changed over the period 1972–2016 by converting Canadian Ice Service ice charts to shipping navigability charts for different hull strength classifications based on the Arctic Ice Regime Shipping System. Analysis focuses on the southern route of the Northwest Passage, and the Arctic Bridge route across Hudson Bay, for changes in early-season (∼25 June), mid-season (∼3 September), and late-season (∼15 October) conditions. Results reveal that there has been a marked easing in shipping navigability for all vessels over the past decade, driven by reductions in the area and age of sea ice, particularly across the southern route of the Northwest Passage. Both medium (Type B) and little (Type E) ice strengthened vessels were able to transit the full length of this route in the middle part of the shipping season in 2012–2016, but not in 1972–1976 or 1992–1996.

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Ice over troubled waters: Navigating the Northwest Passage using Inuit Knowledge and scientific information

10.31230/osf.io/bzywv ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Bindu Panikkar ◽

Benjamin Lemmond ◽

Brent Else ◽

Maribeth Murray

Keyword(s):

Sea Ice ◽

Scientific Information ◽

Rapid Change ◽

Canadian Arctic ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

The Arctic ◽

Northwest Passage ◽

Ice Conditions ◽

Inuit Knowledge ◽

Coppermine River

Sea ice throughout the Arctic is undergoing profound and rapid change. While ice conditions in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago have historically been more stable than conditions in the open ocean, a growing body of evidence indicates that the major thoroughfares in much of the western and central Canadian Arctic, including the Northwest Passage, are increasingly vulnerable to climatic forcing events. This is confirmed by the observations of Inuit elders and experienced hunters in the communities of Cambridge Bay, a hamlet along Dease Strait, and Kugluktuk, a hamlet situated at the mouth of the Coppermine River where it meets Coronation Gulf. People in these hamlets now face new navigational challenges due to sea-ice change. Navigation practices described by elders and hunters reflect an intimate knowledge of the land and ice topography, currents, and weather conditions for hundreds of kilometers around their communities, although people reported increasing unpredictable weather and ice conditions, making travel more treacherous. Many emphasized the importance of traditional knowledge and survival skills as necessary to adapt to ongoing and impending changes. They expressed particular concern that younger generations are untrained in traditional navigation practices, landscape- and weather-reading abilities, and survival practices. However, elders and hunters also stressed the need for more localized weather information derived from weather stations to help with navigation, as current weather and ice conditions are unprecedented in their lifetimes.

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Recent extreme light sea ice years in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago: 2011 and 2012 eclipse 1998 and 2007

The Cryosphere ◽

10.5194/tc-7-1753-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 1753-1768 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

S. E. L. Howell ◽

T. Wohlleben ◽

A. Komarov ◽

L. Pizzolato ◽

C. Derksen

Keyword(s):

Sea Ice ◽

Arctic Ocean ◽

Atmospheric Circulation ◽

Canadian Arctic ◽

Surface Air Temperature ◽

Ice Cover ◽

The Arctic ◽

Canadian Arctic Archipelago ◽

Northwest Passage ◽

The Arctic Ocean

Abstract. Remarkably low mean September sea ice area in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) was observed in 2011 (146 × 103 km2), a record-breaking level that was nearly exceeded in 2012 (150 × 103 km2). These values were lower than previous September records set in 1998 (200 × 103 km2) and 2007 (220 × 103 km2), and are ∼60% lower than the 1981–2010 mean September climatology. In this study, the processes contributing to the extreme light years of 2011 and 2012 were investigated, compared to previous extreme minima of 1998 and 2007, and contrasted against historic summer seasons with above average September ice area. The 2011 minimum was associated with positive June through September (JJAS) surface air temperature (SAT) and net solar radiation (K*) anomalies that facilitated rapid melt, coupled with atmospheric circulation that restricted multi-year ice (MYI) inflow from the Arctic Ocean into the CAA. The 2012 minimum was also associated with positive JJAS SAT and K* anomalies with coincident rapid melt, but further ice decline was temporarily mitigated by atmospheric circulation which drove Arctic Ocean MYI inflow into the CAA. Atmospheric circulation was comparable between 2011 and 1998 (impeding Arctic Ocean MYI inflow) and 2012 and 2007 (inducing Arctic Ocean MYI inflow). However, preconditioning was more apparent leading up to 2011 and 2012 than 1998 and 2007. The rapid melt process in 2011 and 2012 was more intense than observed in 1998 and 2007 because of the thinner ice cover being more susceptible to anomalous thermodynamic forcing. The thinner sea ice cover within the CAA in recent years has also helped counteract the processes that facilitate extreme heavy ice years. The recent extreme light years within the CAA are associated with a longer navigation season within the Northwest Passage.

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An early nineteenth century meteorological register from the eastern Canadian Arctic

Polar Record ◽

10.1017/s0032247400013887 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 31 (178) ◽

pp. 335-342 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Paul A. Kay

Keyword(s):

Nineteenth Century ◽

Canadian Arctic ◽

The Arctic ◽

Research Centre ◽

Historical Reconstruction ◽

Early Nineteenth Century ◽

Northwest Passage ◽

Time Periods ◽

Modern Experience ◽

Eastern Canadian Arctic

AbstractSignificant warming in the Arctic is anticipated for doubled-CO2 scenarios, but temperatures in the eastern Canadian Arctic have not yet exhibited that trend in the last few decades. The spatial juxtaposition of the winter station in 1822–1823 of William Edward Parry's Northwest Passage expedition with the modern Igloolik Research Centre of the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories affords an opportunity for historical reconstruction and comparison. Parry's data are internally consistent. The association of colder temperatures with westerly and northerly winds, and wanner temperatures with easterly and southerly winds, is statistically significant. Temperatures are not exactly comparable between the two time periods because of differences in instrumentation, exposure, and frequency of readings. Nevertheless, in 1822–1823, November and December appear to have been cold and January to March mild compared to modern experience. Anomalously, winds were more frequently northerly (and less frequently westerly) in the latter months than in recent observations. Parry recorded two warm episodes in mid-winter, but, overall, it appears that the winter of 1822–1823 was not outside the range of modern experience.

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Arctocyclopina pagonasta, a new genus and species of the family Cyclopinidae (Cyclopoida, Copepoda) from the annual sea ice in the Canadian Arctic

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z85-353 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 63 (10) ◽

pp. 2389-2394 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

A. A. Mohammed ◽

Vidar Neuhof

Keyword(s):

Sea Ice ◽

New Genus ◽

Canadian Arctic ◽

Arctic Sea Ice ◽

The Arctic ◽

New Genus And Species ◽

Arctic Sea ◽

The Family

A new genus and species of Cyclopoida is described; Arctocyclopina pagonasta is found inhabiting the arctic sea ice. Comparison is made with Cyclopina gracilis Claus, with which it may be confused.

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Synoptic climatological approach associated with three recent summer heatwaves in the Canadian Arctic

Journal of Water and Climate Change ◽

10.2166/wcc.2020.281 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (S1) ◽

pp. 233-250 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Farahnaz Fazel-Rastgar

Keyword(s):

Sea Ice ◽

Canadian Arctic ◽

Arctic Region ◽

Low Pressure ◽

Arctic Sea Ice ◽

The Arctic ◽

The North ◽

Pressure Centre ◽

Temperature Records ◽

Arctic Temperature

Abstract The observed unusually high temperatures in the Arctic during recent decades can be related to the Arctic sea ice declines in summer 2007, 2012 and 2016. Arctic dipole formation has been associated with all three heatwaves of 2007, 2012 and 2016 in the Canadian Arctic. Here, the differences in weather patterns are investigated and compared with normal climatological mean (1981–2010) structures. This study examines the high-resolution datasets from the North American Regional Reanalysis model. During the study periods, the north of Alaska has been affected by the low-pressure tongue. The maximum difference between Greenland high-pressure centre and Alaska low-pressure tongue for the summers of 2012, 2016 and 2007 are 8 hPa, 7 hPa and 6 hPa, respectively, corresponding and matching to the maximum summer surface Canadian Arctic temperature records. During anomalous summer heatwaves, low-level wind, temperatures, total clouds (%) and downward radiation flux at the surface are dramatically changed. This study shows the surface albedo has been reduced over most parts of the Canadian Arctic Ocean during the mentioned heatwaves (∼5–40%), with a higher change (specifically in the eastern Canadian Arctic region) during summer 2012 in comparison with summer 2016 and summer 2007, agreeing with the maximum surface temperature and sea ice decline records.

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Exploring the final frontiers: Cruise tourism in polar regions.

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc130183 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 183

Author(s):

Ayesha Tulloch

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Use ◽

Social Sustainability ◽

The Arctic ◽

Polar Regions ◽

Cruise Ship ◽

Cruise Industry ◽

Large Numbers ◽

Cruise Tourism ◽

Negative Impacts

CRUISE ship tourism is expanding rapidly in both the Arctic and Antarctic, with increased numbers and types of vessels, more demanding routes, and yearround activity as the final frontiers are opened to all types of visitors. The increase in access and in cruise activities, risks of accidents and negative impacts, and the effects of the large numbers of tourists in the polar regions bring significant management challenges for sustainable use of polar regions. In this timely context, Lück, Maher and Stewart have collected a range of discussions and viewpoints of the environmental and social sustainability issues concerning the cruise industry in polar regions.

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