摘要：In the Arctic, permafrost extends up to 500 m below the ground surface, and it is generally
just the top metre that thaws in summer. Lakes, rivers, and wetlands on the arctic
landscape are normally not connected with groundwater in the same way that they are in
temperate regions. When the surface is frozen in winter, only lakes deeper than 2 m and
rivers with significant flow retain liquid water. Surface water is largely abundant in
summer, when it serves as a breeding ground for fish, birds, and mammals. In
winter, many mammals and birds are forced to migrate out of the Arctic. Fish
must seek out lakes or rivers deep enough to provide good overwintering habitat. Humans in the Arctic rely on surface water in many ways. Surface water meets domestic
needs such as drinking, cooking, and cleaning as well as subsistence and industrial
demands. Indigenous communities depend on sea ice and waterways for transportation
across the landscape and access to traditional country foods. The minerals, mining, and
oil and gas industries also use large quantities of surface water during winter
to build ice roads and maintain infrastructure. As demand for this limited, but
heavily-relied-upon resource continues to increase, it is now more critical than ever to
understand the impacts of climate change on food and water security in the Arctic.
