1928 research outputs found
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Chinese science diplomacy in Arctic climate governance based on a survey and interviews with Chinese scientists
Full text linkScience diplomacy is attracting increasing attention in the international relations literature. This study investigates how Chinese scientists understand this term and explores China’s dynamic praxis in Arctic climate governance. It conducts a theoretical and practical examination of science diplomacy in terms of three dimensions—science in diplomacy, diplomacy for science, and science for diplomacy—thus achieving a high degree of consistency. A multi-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and involving the adoption of a literature review, participant interviews, and questionnaires, is adopted. Data were collected from interviews with 16 Chinese scientists involved in Arctic climate governance and from 130 valid questionnaires collected from Chinese natural scientists working in the climate change field. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative findings, the study reveals that the three-dimensional framework of science diplomacy can provide insight into Chinese scientists’ understandings of the topic. In contrast to the participants’ vague theoretical responses, the outlines of China’s Arctic climate governance can be clearly identified within this framework. The study concludes by underlining the tension between theory and practice in terms of science diplomacy and highlighting the emerging challenges for China in developing its Arctic science diplomacy against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine conflict. Moreover, it is suggested that, to further develop China’s Arctic science diplomacy, it is vital to take account of the deficiencies in China’s science diplomacy. The study’s empirical results contribute to an understanding of the dynamic nature of science diplomacy in the Chinese context
The Faroe Islands in the Arctic
Full text linkOne key reason is that there are few other regions in the world where the climate is changing as fast as in in the Arctic, and the clear and tangible consequences are felt more keenly with every passing day. As an Arctic country the Faroe Islands, alongside the other countries in the region, have a special role in working together to limit climate change, while also securing a robust knowledge-based foundation to make the necessary adaptations
Community structure of mesopelagic fauna and the length-weight relationships of three common fishes in the Cosmonaut Sea, Southern Ocean
Full text linkThis study used specimens of marine organisms caught by rectangular midwater trawl in the Cosmonaut Sea, Southern Ocean, in austral summer 2019/2020, to determine species composition and spatial distributions of mesopelagic fauna in this sea. The data were also used to calculate the length-weight relationships of three common fishes captured during the survey (Electrona antarctica, Bathylagus antarcticus, and Cyclothone microdon). A total of 385 individual organisms with a total weight of 15462.2 g and representing 17 species were collected across the 11 stations visited. The small-sized crown jellyfish Atolla wyvillei (order Coronatae) was the most-dominant species by number (96 individuals), and the zooplankton Cyllopus lucasii (Amphipoda) also showed high abundance (54 individuals). Among fishes, 81 individuals of Notolepis coatsorum (Paralepididae) were caught, followed by 71 individuals of E. antarctica (Myctophidae), 25 individuals of B. antarcticus (Bathylagidae), and 16 individuals of C. microdon (Gonostomatidae). Clustering analysis divided the mesopelagic community into “west” and “east” groups, and a greater number of individuals were collected in the western part of the sea. The length-weight relationships of the three common fishes revealed positive allometric growth for B. antarcticus (b=3.16), and negative allometric growth for E. antarctica and C. microdon (both b=2.53). Our descriptions of the mesopelagic-zone community structure and biological features of three common fishes provide basic information on the ecology of the Cosmonaut Sea, Southern Ocean, and will be useful for ecosystem-based fisheries management in this region
Dissolved nutrient distributions in the Antarctic Cosmonaut Sea in austral summer 2021
Full text linkDissolved nutrients are essential to marine productivity and ecosystem structures in the Southern Ocean. The spatial distributions of dissolved nutrients in the Cosmonaut Sea were studied during the 37th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition in 2021. The relative standard deviations of the nitrate (NO3-N), nitrite (NO2-N), ammonium (NH4-N), phosphate (PO4-P), and silicate (SiO3-Si) concentrations found in duplicate samples (n=2) were 1.01%, 9.04%, 6.45%, 0.94%, and 0.67%, respectively. The mean NO3-N, NO2-N, NH4-N, PO4-P, and SiO3-Si concentrations in the mixed layer were 26.41±4.13, 0.15±0.09, 0.51±0.22, 1.73±0.23, and 41.48±6.94 μmol·L−1, respectively, and were higher than the relevant limitation concentrations. The concentrations were generally bounded horizontally by the Southern Boundary (SB) of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the NO3-N, NO2-N, NH4-N, and PO4-P concentrations being higher northeast than southwest of the SB but the SiO3-Si concentrations being higher southwest than northeast, indicating that the SB dominates nutrient distributions in the mixed layer. The NO3-N, NH4-N, and PO4-P concentrations gradually increased moving vertically down from the mixed layer to 200 m deep and then remained at 33.73±3.51, 0.26±0.13, and 2.28±0.10 μmol·L−1, respectively, to the bottom. The SiO3-Si concentration increased as depth increased and reached a maximum in the bottom layer. The NO2-N concentration decreased rapidly as depth increased and was ~0 μmol·L−1 at >150 m deep. Circumpolar Deep Water upwelling may cause high nutrient concentrations in shallower layers up to the 100 m layer between 62.5°S and 64°S
What Arctic Breakdown means for WEF 2022
Full text linkLife and business as we know it are both in trouble.
As human-made CO2 keeps rising and the world warms, signs of the climate crisis are intensifying across the world
Spatial variability of δ18O and δ2H in North Pacific and Arctic Oceans surface seawater
Full text linkThis study presents new observations of stable isotopic composition (δ18O, δ2H and deuterium excess) in surface waters of the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans that were collected during the sixth Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) from mid-summer to early autumn 2014. Seawater δ18O and δ2H decrease with increasing latitudes from 39°N to 75°N, likely a result of spatial variability in evaporation/precipitation processes. This explanation is further confirmed by comparing the δ18O–δ2H relationship of seawater with that of precipitation. However, effects of freshwater inputs on seawater stable isotopic composition are also identified at 30°N–39°N. Furthermore, we find a non-significant relationship between the isotopic parameters (δ2H and δ18О) and salinity from 73°N northwards in the Arctic Ocean, implying that sea ice melting/formation may have some effect. These results suggest that the isotopic parameters δ2H and δ18О are useful for tracing marine hydrological processes
Potential suitable sites for the calibration of Scientific Echo Sounder in the marginal seas around Antarctica
Full text linkThe in situ calibration of Scientific Echo Sounders (SESs) in the Southern Ocean is crucial for accurate assessments of Antarctic krill and fishery biomasses. Because of the occurrence of strong winds, waves, and sea ice coverage in most seasons, SES calibration is usually difficult to perform in the Southern Ocean. Accordingly, it is essential to identify potential sites suitable for SES calibration in the marginal seas around Antarctica to successfully calibrate SESs in the Southern Ocean. Using synthetic analyses of the wind, surface current, and sea ice concentration in the targeted seas, we found that the polynya in the southeast Prydz Bay, close to the Chinese Zhongshan Station, is an ideal location to calibrate SESs based on its weak wind and surface current and its ice-free coverage during Antarctic cruises. Calibrations of the SESs onboard the research vessels of Xuelong and Xuelong 2 during the 36th and 37th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expeditions indicate that this location is a potential suitable site for conducting SES calibration with the vessel in a drifting mode
Development of the International Polar Years and their benefits for China
Full text linkInternational Polar Years, which have been held four times, have greatly promoted human understanding of the polar regions. The development of the International Polar Years has the following features: increasing interdisciplinary trend; importance of international organizations in initiating and participating in projects; and science diplomacy playing an important role in promoting cooperation and resolving differences. China was highly involved in the fourth International Polar Year in 2007–08, and the PANDA project which as a China-led international project marked a gradual shift in China’s polar activities. China could play a bigger role in the fifth International Polar Year, including the following: initiating a new International Polar Year; initiating more international projects; promoting international organizations; actively conducting science diplomacy; and publicizing its polar activities in different ways