NEW LONDON, Conn. — “What happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic,” according to Dr. Abbie Tingstad.
Tingstad, a renowned Arctic analyst, is a trusted voice on the challenges posed by the changing environment in the region. She is also the first Visiting Research Professor at the Center for Arctic Study and Policy (CASP) at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
CASP serves as the U.S. Coast Guard’s Arctic think tank by facilitating a variety of activities including conducting independent research, fostering relationships with other Arctic-focused organizations, and even sponsoring cadet internships within the Arctic.
Tingstad’s fascination with the Arctic began in her childhood, spent between Michigan and Finland. Tingstad’s expertise spans a wide range of disciplines including a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from MIT, a masters in geomorphology from Oxford University, and a Ph.D. in physical geography from UCLA.
Prior to joining CASP in the fall of 2023, Tingstad spent 13 years at the RAND Corporation, where she still serves as an Adjunct Senior Physical Scientist. At RAND Tingstad focused on national security and climate security issues, her research on Arctic capabilities has been instrumental in guiding U.S. Coast Guard policies and Congressional reports.
As part of her ongoing research into Arctic capabilities, Tingstad noted, “The opening of the Arctic is a misnomer, partly because receding ocean ice is a seasonal event and will be for the next several decades. Over time, there will be longer summers with larger ice-free zones; however, there has not yet been a “blue water event,” meaning there are no large areas without ocean ice. Arctic scientists think such occurrences will begin sometime during the 2030s.”
Tingstad continues to stress the need for the U.S. to bolster its Arctic infrastructure, such as increasing the number of key assets such as middle and heavyweight icebreakers, to ensure effective presence within the region.
“Education is at the forefront,” stated Tingstad, when discussing CASP’s role within the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. “We help students learn about the complex history of the Arctic and the diverse cultures, economies, and languages of the various regions that have developed over the centuries as well as the economic and strategic importance of the Arctic.”
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Tingstad continues her Arctic-focused research with interests including hazards within the high latitudes, as well as governance and international cooperation within the region.
Tingstad underscored the interconnectedness of national security, environmental protection, sustainable economic growth, and energy development in the Arctic. “Climate change is occurring nearly four times faster in the Arctic than in much of the rest of the Earth,” she said. “Climate change in the Arctic has global repercussions; for example, methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, can be released as permafrost melts and less snow and ice increases earth’s absorption of the sun’s energy.
Tingstad also highlights the importance of including indigenous voices in policy decisions, as their livelihoods are directly impacted by Arctic developments.
“As the climate changes it may become possible to expand regional fishing, agriculture and mariculture,” she said. “Indigenous people and other Arctic residents must be included in deciding if and how socio-economic change occurs in the region as these decisions have a direct effect on their lives.”
As she moves into her second year as a Visiting Research Professor, Tingstad said, “I joined CASP because I always enjoyed working with the U.S. Coast Guard and its personnel. It’s better than I had expected, I couldn’t ask for better colleagues.”
Tingstad’s dedication to advancing Arctic knowledge and policy continues to inspire her colleagues and Academy cadets, ensuring a brighter, more informed future for Arctic research and stewardship.
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