Article
Engineering, Environmental
Geraint A. Tarling, Jennifer J. Freer, Neil S. Banas, Anna Belcher, Mayleen Blackwell, Claudia Castellani, Kathryn B. Cook, Finlo R. Cottier, Malin Daase, Magnus L. Johnson, Kim S. Last, Penelope K. Lindeque, Daniel J. Mayor, Elaine Mitchell, Helen E. Parry, Douglas C. Speirs, Gabriele Stowasser, Marianne Wootton
Summary: The changing Arctic environment is influencing key zooplankton species such as Calanus finmarchicus, with areas near the ice-edge in the Fram Strait becoming more favorable for their habitat. This increase in suitable habitat is likely due to the long-term retreat of the ice-edge, allowing for earlier and longer phytoplankton blooms and higher temperatures that enhance copepod developmental rates. These changes can have significant implications for community structure and regional food-webs.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Henry P. Huntington, Andrey Zagorsky, Bjorn P. Kaltenborn, Hyoung Chul Shin, Jackie Dawson, Maija Lukin, Parnuna Egede Dahl, Peiqing Guo, David N. Thomas
Summary: The changing Arctic Ocean is impacting Arctic societies and the global community, with threats to food security and culture for Indigenous Peoples, as well as new opportunities and challenges arising from resource development and tourism growth. Additionally, geopolitical tensions and economic shifts are emerging as interest in the Arctic increases.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Bing Qing Huang, Xiao-Ming Li
Summary: This study investigates the attenuation of ocean waves in the marginal ice zone (MIZ) in Svalbard and Greenland using spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar. The results show that the attenuation rate is significantly related to wave height and peak wave period. It is found that waves decay faster in areas with thicker ice. Comparing with previous studies, the research reveals a lower attenuation rate, indicating that waves are becoming less attenuated by ice in the Arctic.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Christian Marz, Felipe S. Freitas, Johan C. Faust, Jasmin A. Godbold, Sian F. Henley, Allyson C. Tessin, Geoffrey D. Abbott, Ruth Airs, Sandra Arndt, David K. A. Barnes, Laura J. Grange, Neil D. Gray, Ian M. Head, Katharine R. Hendry, Robert G. Hilton, Adam J. Reed, Saskia Ruhl, Martin Solan, Terri A. Souster, Mark A. Stevenson, Karen Tait, James Ward, Stephen Widdicombe
Summary: The Arctic is undergoing unprecedented and dramatic transformations in response to climate change, with a disproportionate focus on visible aspects like sea ice melt and the fate of megafauna. However, the importance of the shelf seafloor in regulating nutrients and sequestering carbon is often overlooked. Climate change and regional adjustments to human activities may alter the biogeochemical and ecological dynamics of the Arctic shelf seafloor, impacting ecosystem function, carbon burial, and nutrient recycling. Mitigating climatic and anthropogenic change requires recognizing the vital role of the Arctic benthic system.
Review
Fisheries
Kenneth F. Drinkwater, Naomi Harada, Shigeto Nishino, Melissa Chierici, Seth L. Danielson, Randi B. Ingvaldsen, Trond Kristiansen, George L. Hunt, Franz Mueter, Jan Erik Stiansen, Emory Anderson
Summary: Recent studies have shown a significant decrease in sea-ice coverage at the two major inflow gateways to the Arctic under climate change. Projections indicate higher air and sea temperatures, resulting in less sea ice and increased precipitation in these regions. Other anticipated changes include lower water pH, decreased surface nutrient levels, and potential impacts on Arctic coastal communities.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Igor V. Polyakov, Randi B. Ingvaldsen, Andrey V. Pnyushkov, Uma S. Bhatt, Jennifer A. Francis, Markus Janout, Ronald Kwok, Ostein Skagseth
Summary: This study shows that the atmospheric Arctic Dipole (AD) modulates the inflows of warm subarctic waters, affecting sea ice, oceanic circulation, and heat fluxes in the Nordic Seas. The AD+ phase slows sea-ice loss, while a transition to the AD- phase may accelerate the decline of Arctic sea ice.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
David G. Babb, Ryan J. Galley, Stephen E. L. Howell, Jack C. Landy, Julienne C. Stroeve, David G. Barber
Summary: Research shows that there has been an increasing loss of multiyear sea ice in the Arctic region in recent years. Data from 1997 to 2021 reveals that while the import of multiyear ice into the Beaufort Sea has increased, less of it now survives through the summer and is transported in the Gyre. The annual average loss of multiyear ice has quadrupled over the study period, accounting for about 33% of the annual Fram Strait multiyear ice export. The loss of multiyear ice is attributed to the ice-albedo feedback and the transition towards younger, thinner ice.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Hui Li, Alexey Fedorov, Wei Liu
Summary: This study compares the impacts of Arctic sea ice decline on the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) in two different configurations of the Community Earth System Model. The results show that in the lower-resolution configuration, the AMOC weakens gradually and approaches a new equilibrium, while in the higher-resolution configuration, the AMOC fully recovers after an initial weakening, driven by deep water formation in the Labrador Sea and adjacent regions.
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2021)
Review
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Mary-Louise Timmermans, John M. Toole
Summary: The Beaufort Gyre, a wind-driven circulation in the Arctic Ocean, is a key indicator of climate change and may play a role in high-latitude climate control. This review examines the state of knowledge on the Beaufort Gyre, including its driving forces, relationship with sea-ice cover, source waters, circulation, and energetics. Recent years have witnessed significant changes in the Beaufort Gyre system, with increased circulation, heat, and freshwater content accompanying sea-ice losses. The understanding of these changes is evaluated, and updated time series data on heat and freshwater content are provided.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Oceanography
Angelina Cassianides, Camille Lique, Anne-Marie Treguier, Gianluca Meneghello, Charly De Marez
Summary: In this study, comprehensive data sets from Ice Tethered Profilers and moorings were analyzed to understand the dynamics of the ocean under sea ice in the Arctic Basin. It was found that the surface dynamics in seasonally ice-covered regions were greatly influenced by the presence of sea ice, while the influence of sea ice conditions on first order dynamics beyond these regions was less clear. The analysis also revealed a large variety of regimes in the sea ice pack, independent of time and space variations of sea ice conditions. The study highlighted the presence of hundreds of eddies in the subsurface layer, with potential impacts on sea ice locally.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Haakon Hop, Anette Wold, Amelie Meyer, Allison Bailey, Maja Hatlebakk, Slawomir Kwasniewski, Peter Leopold, Piotr Kuklinski, Janne E. Soreide
Summary: The impact of the rapidly changing Arctic on zooplankton community structure and seasonal behavior is not yet understood. Zooplankton in the Arctic region is more dependent on surrounding water mass characteristics, such as salinity and depth, rather than geographical location. Seasonal changes in the community are closely linked to algal food availability and seasonal changes from winter to spring.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nastasia J. Freyria, Nathalie Joli, Connie Lovejoy
Summary: The study shows the seasonal dynamics of microbial communities in the North Water region, indicating that summer communities are more variable, while autumn communities favor undescribed dinoflagellates. Despite nutrient input, autumn chlorophyll concentrations remained low.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Editorial Material
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Benjamin Rabe, Torge Martin, Amy Solomon, Karen M. Assmann, Louise C. Biddle, Thomas Haine, Tore Hattermann, F. Alexander Haumann, Alexandra Jahn, Theodoros Karpouzoglou, Georgi Laukert, Alberto Naveira Garabato, Erica Rosenblum, Elisabeth Sikes, Liping Yin, Xiangdong Zhang
Summary: The NORP-SORP Workshop focused on the sources, pathways, and impacts of freshwater in both polar regions. It brought together 60 participants from 20 nations and discussed future research directions and collaborations between the Arctic and Southern Ocean research communities.
BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
E. Valkonen, J. Cassano, E. Cassano
Summary: The study found an increasing trend in cyclone counts in the Arctic region, with cold season cyclone counts related to decreased sea ice concentration throughout the year. There is a relationship between cyclone intensity measured by ACE and surface conditions.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
David Docquier, Torben Koenigk
Summary: Arctic sea ice has been rapidly retreating, influenced by ocean heat transport and atmospheric processes. Recent studies show a significant impact of poleward Atlantic and Pacific Ocean heat transports on Arctic sea ice. Further research is needed to understand the impact of sea ice changes on ocean heat transport.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Fokje L. Schaafsma, Carmen L. David, Doreen Kohlbach, Julia Ehrlich, Giulia Castellani, Benjamin A. Lange, Martina Vortkamp, Andre Meijboom, Anna Fortuna-Wunsch, Antonia Immerz, Hannelore Cantzler, Apasiri Klasmeier, Nadezhda Zakharova, Katrin Schmidt, Anton P. Van de Putte, Jan Andries van Franeker, Hauke Flores
Summary: This study summarizes the allometric relationships of zooplankton and nekton species in polar marine food webs. It fills knowledge gaps on relationships between length and mass for understudied animals, seasons, and maturity stages. Intra-specific variation in length-mass relationships is observed for several species depending on season. Generalized regression models show potential use but need further investigation regarding sex, maturity stages, or age classes. Other allometric measurements provide useful models for estimating length or mass in diet studies, but their suitability may depend on species or developmental stages.
Article
Microbiology
Anabel von Jackowski, Kevin W. Becker, Matthias Wietz, Christina Bienhold, Birthe Zancker, Eva-Maria Noethig, Anja Engel
Summary: The seasonal variations in biopolymers, microbial abundance, and microbial composition in the upper 100 meters of the Fram Strait were investigated during summer and fall. The study found a shift in the autotrophic community from picoeukaryotes dominating in summer to an increase of Synechococcus by fall. Additionally, a decline in biopolymers concentrations was observed along with increasing microbial diversity and a community shift towards fewer polymer-degrading genera in fall.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Charles Bachy, Lisa Sudek, Change Jae Choi, Charlotte A. Eckmann, Eva-Maria Noethig, Katja Metfies, Alexandra Z. Worden
Summary: There are critical questions regarding the abundance and export of picophytoplankton in the Arctic. This study analyzes samples from the Fram Strait and reveals the importance of the prasinophyte Micromonas in the Arctic marine ecosystem, despite its small size.
Article
Ecology
Jennifer Provencher, Tanja Kogel, Amy Lusher, Katrin Vorkamp, Alessio Gomiero, Ilka Peeken, Maria Granberg, Sjurdur Hammer, Julia Baak, Jan Rene Larsen, Eivind Farmen
Summary: Lack of knowledge on litter and microplastics in the Arctic hinders global efforts to reduce their presence. To address this, monitoring in four priority compartments is recommended, with refinement of methods for other compartments to monitor future sources and effects. Community-based local components should be included, and coordination for pan-Arctic assessments is important.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Carmen L. David, Martin P. Marzloff, Antony M. Knights, Phillipe Cugier, Flavia L. D. Nunes, Celine Cordier, Louise B. Firth, Stanislas F. Dubois
Summary: This study examines the importance of connectivity and network coherence in conservation efforts for Sabellaria alveolata reefs. The research reveals the role of larval dispersal in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. 0.000657
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Simon Ramondenc, Eva-Maria Nothig, Lili Hufnagel, Eduard Bauerfeind, Kathrin Busch, Nadine KnUppel, Angelina Kraft, Franz Schroter, Miriam Seifert, Morten H. Iversen
Summary: The collection of zooplankton swimmers and sinkers in time-series sediment traps provides unique insight into year-round and interannual trends in zooplankton population dynamics. The study investigated zooplankton composition based on swimmers and sinkers collected by sediment traps, displaying seasonal and interannual variations in dominant zooplankton groups.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Review
Oceanography
Doreen Kohlbach, Lukas Smik, Simon T. Belt, Haakon Hop, Anette Wold, Martin Graeve, Philipp Assmy
Summary: Microalgae growing within and attached to Arctic sea ice can serve as a nutritious food resource for under-ice fauna, particularly during the bottom ice-algal bloom in spring. Trophic marker analysis of pelagic and ice-associated organic matter, as well as amphipods and polar cod, revealed dietary preferences and trophic associations to the sea-ice habitat during spring, indicating a valuable role of ice algae as a nutritional carbon source.
PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jean-Pierre Desforges, Doreen Kohlbach, Cody G. Carlyle, Christine Michel, Lisa L. Loseto, Bruno Rosenberg, David J. Yurkowski, Steven H. Ferguson
Summary: The study explores dietary resource competition between ringed seals and harp seals in the Canadian Arctic. The analysis of dietary tracers shows little overlap in their diet, indicating that ringed seals rely more on ice-derived carbon and benthic/coastal prey while harp seals rely more on pelagic prey. This suggests that ringed seals may be more vulnerable to changes in sea-ice dynamics in the rapidly changing Arctic.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Cody G. Carlyle, James D. Roth, David J. Yurkowski, Doreen Kohlbach, Brent G. Young, Thomas A. Brown, Frank F. Riget, Rune Dietz, Steven H. Ferguson
Summary: Anthropogenic climate change is causing changes to the Arctic sea-ice system, which in turn affects the diet and trophic dynamics of ringed seals. This study investigated spatial variation in carbon source use and trophic position of ringed seals across latitudes in the Arctic using stable isotope analysis and lipid biomarker measurements. The results revealed that higher latitude ringed seals had a higher proportion of ice-associated carbon in their diet and a higher trophic position compared to lower latitude seals. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the impact of climate change on Arctic food webs.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Erin H. Kunisch, Martin Graeve, Rolf Gradinger, Hauke Flores, Oystein Varpe, Bodil A. Bluhm
Summary: During the productive polar day, zooplankton and sea-ice amphipods play a critical role in transferring energy from primary producers to higher trophic-level species. Recent studies suggest higher biological activity of these invertebrates during polar night than previously assumed, but the mechanisms behind their activity remain unknown.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Valerie Gros, Bernard Bonsang, Roland Sarda-Esteve, Anna Nikolopoulos, Katja Metfies, Matthias Wietz, Ilka Peeken
Summary: Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and methanethiol (MeSH) were quantified in North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean surface waters, revealing unique spatial patterns. DMS had higher concentrations in polar waters due to its origin from sea ice, while MeSH showed decoupled processes of production and conversion. The contribution of MeSH to the sulfur budget was higher than previously observed, indicating its potential importance as a sulfur source. Correlations with bacterial taxa and isoprene-producing phytoplankton further highlighted the significance of MeSH and isoprene in the marine ecosystem.
Review
Ecology
Julian Gutt, Stefanie Arndt, David Keith Alan Barnes, Horst Bornemann, Thomas Brey, Olaf Eisen, Hauke Flores, Huw Griffiths, Christian Haas, Stefan Hain, Tore Hattermann, Christoph Held, Mario Hoppema, Enrique Isla, Markus Janout, Celine Le Bohec, Heike Link, Felix Christopher Mark, Sebastien Moreau, Scarlett Trimborn, Ilse van Opzeeland, Hans-Otto Poertner, Fokje Schaafsma, Katharina Teschke, Sandra Tippenhauer, Anton Van de Putte, Mia Wege, Daniel Zitterbart, Dieter Piepenburg
Summary: Systematic long-term studies on ecosystem dynamics are lacking in the East Antarctic Southern Ocean. This study proposes a framework for a cross-disciplinary long-term study in the eastern Weddell Sea and adjacent areas, which have so far experienced comparatively muted climate and environmental change. By establishing an observatory and conducting regular surveys, researchers aim to explore and map long-term changes in ocean dynamics, geochemistry, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions and services. The integrated approach will provide crucial data for understanding and projecting the consequences of climate change and supporting conservation efforts in the Southern Ocean.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pauline Snoeijs-Leijonmalm, Hauke Flores, Serdar Sakinan, Nicole Hildebrandt, Anders Svenson, Giulia Castellani, Kim Vane, Felix C. Mark, Celine Heuze, Sandra Tippenhauer, Barbara Niehoff, Joakim Hjelm, Jonas Hentati Sundberg, Fokje L. Schaafsma, Ronny Engelmann
Summary: The retreating ice cover of the Central Arctic Ocean has raised concerns about the future fisheries in the region. However, little is known about the presence of harvestable fish stocks in this vast ecosystem. A recent study found a 3170-kilometer-long deep scattering layer (DSL) with zooplankton, small fish, and low abundances of Atlantic cod in the Atlantic water layer of the Eurasian Basin. The potential fish abundance was found to be far below sustainable levels and is expected to remain so due to the low productivity of the Central Arctic Ocean.