More than 50 experts to examine the effects of climate change in the sea’s depths.
More than 50 experts to examine the effects of climate change in the sea’s depths.
The German research icebreaker Polarstern has set off for the Arctic where dozens of scientists will investigate the effects of environmental change in the deep-sea’s ecosystem.
Over 50 scientists from the Alfred-Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Germany will continue research that started more than two decades ago in the Farm Strait passage between the islands of Greenland and Svalbard.
The researchers hope to investigate the effects of environmental changes that occurred in the deep Arctic Ocean’s ecosystem.
The Polarstern (Polestar in German) is mainly used for research in the Arctic and Antarctica. The double-hulled ship, which is 387 feet long, set sail May 24 on its way to the Hausgarten observatory, which consists of 21 permanent stations covering depths ranging from 250 to 5,500 meters (820 to 18,000 feet).
Thomas Soltwedel, a marine biologist at the research institute, said that the changes in the Arctic due to rising water temperatures and disappearing sea ice are contributing to ecosystem shifts.
“Our aim is to identify and quantify the changes in the ecosystem and to investigate feedback effects on oceanographic processes,” he said.
Significant changes have occurred in the Arctic in the past, according to institute data, but scientists have not determined whether these changes are temporary or long-term or if they will create a new equilibrium.
In any case, these alterations are expected to have a direct influence on the food chain and the ecosystem.
“Our investigations include identifying spatial and temporal changes in the functions of selected plankton and benthic communities,” Soltwedel said.
The team of scientists said their goal is to use data obtained from the current and former observations to create a database to help future research.
Further installations as part of the FRAM (FRontiers in Arctic marine Monitoring) Ocean Observing System will be set up during the expedition.
The marine monitoring group’s aim is to start at the ocean’s surface and go to deep sea levels to obtain fresh data on Earth system dynamics as well as on environmental changes related to the climate and its influence on ecosystems.
“The data from the observing system will contribute to a better understanding of changes in ocean circulation, the characteristics of the water masses and sea-ice retreat, as well as their impact on the Arctic’s marine ecosystem,” Soltwedel said.
The team plans to use an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle and various autonomous underwater vehicles on the ocean floor.
The scientists also plan to study plastic waste in the ocean by monitoring the flow of plastic at the surface and on the ocean floor and observe interactions between plastics and marine organisms.
The Polarstern is expected to arrive back in its home port at Bremerhaven on June 28.
(Edited by Judith Isacoff and Matthew B. Hall)
