Arcticadjacent

Arcticadjacent is a term used in geography, climate science, and Arctic studies to describe regions, ecosystems, and populations that lie outside the conventional Arctic Zone but are influenced by Arctic conditions. It denotes proximity to the Arctic and the transmission of Arctic-scale processes such as sea-ice change, permafrost dynamics, and strong seasonal light regimes into neighboring areas.

Scope and definition vary. Some scholars apply Arcticadjacent to subarctic zones within 50 to 200 kilometers of the Arctic Circle, while others extend the concept to regions connected by atmospheric and oceanic teleconnections, or by shared socioeconomic linkages such as resource extraction and transport routes.

Examples include boreal forests and subarctic coastal zones in northern Europe, North America, and northern Asia, as well as urban and Indigenous communities reliant on Arctic ecosystems and weather patterns. Arcticadjacent phenomena include the presence of migrating wildlife, shifts in species ranges, permafrost thaw impacting infrastructure, and changes in precipitation and wildfire regimes.

Significance: The concept helps researchers and policymakers account for changes occurring just beyond the traditional Arctic boundary, in areas facing similar risks and opportunities, including adaptation planning, infrastructure resilience, and cross-border governance. It also highlights the continuity between Arctic and non-Arctic regions in climate and resource dynamics.

Limitations: Arcticadjacent is not a formally defined geographic classification, and its meaning varies across disciplines and studies. Users should specify criteria such as distance from the Arctic Circle, degree of Arctic influence, or share of Arctic-linked processes when applying the term.