Fig 1.
Left panel: approximate geographic extent of the polar regions, marked by the dashed pink line. Right panel: examples of the challenges identified in this and previous studies, with the border to the countries/regions affected by such challenges marked in brown together with relevant references. Some challenges were exemplified in specific regions (e.g., geopolitical conflicts in Svalbard, Norway, [63]), whereas many others were presented as ubiquitous in previous studies (e.g., tourism and western colonial approaches in the Arctic, [54]). Bathymetric map (depth and elevation) extracted from the 15 arc-second GEBCO 2020 bathymetric grid [109].
Fig 2.
Main challenges (left) outlined in this review alongside the corresponding proposed solutions (right). Challenges are categorized into physical, social, political, environmental, or a combination of these categories. Additionally, early career researchers (ECRs) confront these challenges with heightened urgency due to the inherent constraints associated with their career stage.
Fig 3.
Examples of fieldwork challenges encountered by the authors (a-f). A) Navigating terrain between snow and soil data loggers poses challenges, requiring rugged transportation modes (e.g., skis; photo credit: Ulrika Ervander). Climate change introduces variability, altering avalanche risks and transportation routines. B) UAV battery failure due to low temperatures during aerial surveying of a Norwegian river led to an early career researcher (ECR) crossing the cold, slippery river barefoot for data retrieval (photo credit: ©Adina Moraru). ECRs risk personal safety in unpredictable conditions due to their higher career stakes. C) Extracting marine sediment cores in East Greenland (MSM110 Expedition—ECOTIP Project; photo credit: ©Olivia Rempel/GRID-Arendal). ECRs collecting data on marine research vessels face risks in unpredictable marine weather conditions (e.g., strong winds, large waves). D) Surveying hydraulic parameters in a Norwegian river (photo credit: ©Ana Juárez). Limited accessibility motivates ECRs to take risks, like working on unstable floodplains and climbing steep terrain with heavy equipment. E) Greenland’s rapidly evolving weather conditions, such as high wind speeds and whiteout conditions, especially in the absence of closed vehicles, increase the risk of getting lost or accidental vehicle damage (photo credit: ©Filippo Calì Quaglia). F) Glacier ice fieldwork involves acknowledging risks associated with working around crevasses; shorter snow seasons may increase bridge instability, increasing the risks for researchers, while a more extended snow-free season may improve crevasse visibility, facilitating safer navigation (photo credit: ©Laura Helene Rasmussen).
Fig 4.
Illustration of proposed solutions addressing physical and environmental challenges, highlighting the importance of field monitoring strategies to optimize fieldwork planning, reduce costs and ecological impact, and improve safety for early career researchers (ECRs).
ECRs can remotely collect data on fluvial processes (a-c), minimizing exposure to risks in areas affected by the summer 2023 storm Hans. However, deep snow coverage (d) is suboptimal for fluvial flood risk studies, necessitating different logistical considerations. Remote monitoring also supplements weather forecasts, crucial in regions with limited monitoring or distinctive and unpredictable local climates (e.g., mountain valleys). Photo credit: Adina Moraru.