Development of Field Research Marine Infrastructure: The Beaufort Lagoon Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research Program

The Beaufort Lagoon Ecosystems (BLE) LTER site spans a 500 km stretch of coastline along the Alaskan Beaufort Sea of which half is skirted by irregular and discontinuous barrier islands, which enclose numerous shallow (< 7 m) lagoons and sounds. The BLE LTER comprises lagoon ecosystems within three geographic domains (nodes) along the coast. These systems vary in terrestrial/freshwater inputs, ocean connectivity, and geomorphology. The western domain includes lagoon systems adjacent to the native Inupiat village of Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow), a central node, situated at Deadhorse (Prudhoe Bay), and an eastern node, based at the native Inupiat village of Kaktovik on Barter Island. The BLE LTER) program was established in 2017 to improve fundamental understanding of land-sea coupling and coastal ecosystem dynamics in the Arctic, and to track amplified climate change effects at the top of the world. These ecosystems are hotspots of biogeochemical cycling and biological productivity that support an astonishing abundance of migratory birds and fish, which are critical to the subsistence lifestyles of the Inupiat residents. One of the central goals of the BLE LTER is to track how variations in terrestrial inputs and water exchange with the open ocean over different time scales influence food web relationships and productivity within the lagoons. To address these goals, the BLE LTER program incorporates a research program that takes advantage of long-term collaborations and existing infrastructure at Utqiagvik, Prudhoe Bay and Kaktovik. The location of these nodes was also designed to foster strong communication and involvement of Inupiat citizens in our studies and implement long-term K-12 field-oriented programs. Experimental work is coupled with a network of oceanographic sensors, cameras, and weather stations that collect in situ observations for continuous 12-month periods annually across the Beaufort Sea coast. Annual field trips during ice covered, ice break-up, and open water periods provide critical information on the strong seasonal nature of these coastal ecosystems. This presentation will highlight the establishment of our coast-wide research infrastructure for the Beaufort Sea that addresses concerns of food security, maritime safety, and increased erosion in a rapidly changing environment.