Lakes in the Anthropocene: Reflections on Tracking Ecosystem Change in the Arctic

In a book that is part memoir and part textbook, John Smol reflects on his 35+ years of aquatic research in the Arctic. Working primarily on the limnology and environmental histories of lakes and ponds, he emphasizes the need for using appropriate spatial and temporal scales to understand the effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors. An overriding theme is the critical role that accelerated climate change plays as a “threat multiplier”. The book pays homage to some of the pioneers of Arctic limnology using archival photographs before summarizing a diverse array of paleoenvironmental studies that he and his colleagues have led. Highlighted research includes collaborations with Indigenous knowledge holders and archeologists, tracking past ocean flooding events, the repercussions of permafrost thaw, the effects of pollutants from both local and distant sources, as well as tracking long-term changes in salmon and bird populations. Smol emphasizes the importance of using diverse sources of information, the role that personal relationships can play in successful collaborative programs, and issues linked to environmental justice for Northern peoples.