Community-based nearshore wave and water level monitoring along the Nunavut coast of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (2021-2023)

The Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) lies within Inuit Nunangat, the homeland of the Inuit, and encompasses extensive coastal regions of Nunavut where communities depend on shorelines shaped by sea ice, icebergs, permafrost, and oceanographic dynamics during the open-water season. Inuit knowledge provides deep insight into coastal change, but systematic observational data on ocean waves and water levels remain lacking. This limits the ability to model nearshore processes and shoreline response, which are essential for coastal management and adaptation. Here we present a dataset of water levels and wave statistics collected between 2021 and 2023 in partnership with three coastal communities: Ausuittuq (Jones Sound), Canada’s northernmost community; Ikaluktutiak; and Kugluktuk (both in Coronation Gulf). The dataset comprises 19 calibrated pressure sensors moored in the nearshore zone and six deepwater wave buoys deployed in collaboration with Inuit boat operators, capturing over 427 days of hourly observations. The wave climate in this Arctic observational dataset is characterized by maximum significant wave heights ranging from 0.56 to 1.69 m and peak wave periods between 3.3 and 6.0 s. This dataset supports Arctic coastal research, wave model validation, and climate impact assessments in the CAA. All files are published in open formats with structured documentation to ensure transparency, accessibility, and reuse.