Icing-over Event on the Yamal Peninsula

Dr. Florian Stammler of the Arctic Centre, University of Lapland discusses a icing-over event on the Yamal Peninsula and how it impacted Nenets reindeer husbandry.

Reindeer herders have been confronted with extreme weather events as long as they have been practicing their nomadic way of life. However, now that climate change has been 'discovered' as a top priority for science and politics, their responses to such events like icing-over of pastures have become of increased interest for the research and media community.

In this particular clip, Florian Stammler witnessed such an icing-over event at the end of November 2006 on the West Siberian Yamal Peninsula. He found that the crucial way for herders to respond to such challenges is to flexibly change their migration routes and thus avoid the iced-over areas spatially.

More information

• Bartsch, A., T. Kumpula, B.C. Forbes and F. Stammler (2010) Detection of snow surface thawing and refreezing using QuikSCAT: implications for reindeer herding. Ecological Applications doi:10.1890/09-1927.1. 
• Forbes, B.C. & Stammler, F. (2009): Arctic climate change discourse: the contrasting politics of research agendas in the West and Russia. Polar Research 28: 28-42
• W. G. Rees & F. M. Stammler & F. S. Danks & P. Vitebsky, 2008. Vulnerability of European reindeer husbandry to global change. Climatic Change DOI 10.1007/s10584-007-9345-1
• Russian Arctic region copes well with rapid land use and climate change
• Environmental and Social Impacts of Industrialization in Northern Russia (ENSINOR)
• Assessing senses of place, mobility and viability in industrial northern communities (BOREAS - MOVE INNOCOM)