Canopy-forming kelp beds serve an important role in coastal resilience by providing critical habitat for many marine species of both economic and conservation value.
Their physical structure also serves to stabilize the water column, dampening wave action and buffering marine communities from thermal extremes. In northern latitudes, where climate change impacts are projected to be most pronounced, understanding factors that contribute to, or inhibit, kelp growth will be critical to the management and stewardship of coastal resources and to building resilient coastal communities in these regions.
The U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) and Sitka Sound Science Center initiated a long-term study to monitor the relationship between the spatial extent of giant kelp canopy cover and specific environmental variables in Sitka Sound. Leading this field effort were undergraduate students from the USCGA in New London, CT. Each June through July, two cadets traveled to Sitka for a 6 week science internship at SSSC, with room and board provided by the USCG Air Station Sitka. Through direct participation in scientific research, these four cadet interns deepened their understanding of climate change and coastal resilience, while developing a lasting appreciation for the importance of healthy marine ecosystems, especially in southeast Alaska.