NASA FORTE

The Arctic is undergoing rapid and unprecedented environmental change, reshaping the connections between land, rivers, and the ocean. While scientific research has advanced our understanding of individual Arctic systems, critical gaps remain in how these systems interact as a unified continuum. Hydrological and biogeochemical exchanges across this land river ocean network are driving a fundamental regime shift with implications for biodiversity, climate processes, resource management, and the livelihoods of Arctic communities. Yet, this interconnected system remains insufficiently characterized, particularly in remote coastal regions where traditional fieldwork is limited.

Arctic Coastlines Frontlines Of Rapidly Transforming Ecosystems FORTE, a NASA Earth Venture Suborbital Mission, is designed to address this gap by capturing the complex processes linking Arctic terrestrial and marine environments. Using advanced airborne remote sensing technologies, FORTE will observe dynamic ecosystems along Alaska’s North Slope, including rivers, deltas, estuaries, and eroding coastlines. The project focuses on three key research areas: the impact of increasing river discharge on coastal systems, shifts in coupled physical and biogeochemical processes, and the response of phytoplankton populations to changing environmental conditions, including the growing risk of harmful algal blooms. Together, these efforts aim to build a clearer, mechanistic understanding of how Arctic ecosystems are evolving under climate pressure.

Through an intensive four year campaign, FORTE integrates airborne, surface, and satellite observations to capture seasonal and spatial variability across the Arctic land ocean continuum. High resolution measurements from aircraft, drones, field sampling, and autonomous monitoring systems will be combined with satellite data and advanced modeling to track changes in water quality, carbon fluxes, coastal erosion, and ecosystem dynamics. By focusing on major river systems in northern Alaska, the project will generate long term datasets and predictive models that extend beyond the study period. Ultimately, FORTE will provide critical insights to inform environmental monitoring, policy decisions, and community resilience in one of the most rapidly transforming regions on Earth.