At the Ice Edge: Ocean Impacts on Arctic Whales and Sea Ice

The Arctic is warming over three times faster than the global average, transforming marine ecosystems and climate. Sea ice extent has declined by nearly half, ocean temperatures are rising, and marine mammals are shifting their behavior and habitat use. In this seminar, I will present multidisciplinary research exploring how changing ocean conditions affect Arctic whales and sea ice. I will introduce the role of passive acoustic monitoring and its integration with ocean and sea ice observations, highlighting studies from West Greenland and the Pacific Arctic. By analyzing beluga and narwhal vocalizations, we can track seasonal movements and detect migratory shifts linked to sea ice declines. I will also discuss anticipated impacts of an increasingly ice-free Arctic on these species and the ocean’s role in sea ice formation, based on findings from NASA’s SASSIE (Salinity and Stratification at the Sea Ice Edge) campaign.