1928 research outputs found
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International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic
No full textINTERACT is an infrastructure project under the auspices of SCANNET, a circumarctic network of 33 terrestrial field bases in northern Europe, Russia, US, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Scotland. INTERACT specifically seeks to build capacity for research and monitoring in the European Arctic and beyond, and is offering access to numerous research stations through the Transnational Access program
Content analysis of documents using neural networks: A study of Antarctic science research articles published in international journals
Get PDFContent analysis of scientific papers emanating from Antarctic science research during the 25 years period (1980— 2004) has been carried out using neural network based algorithm–CATPAC. A total of 10 942 research articles published in Science Citation Indexed (SCI) journals were used for the study. Normalized co-word matrix from 35 most-used significant words was used to study the semantic association between the words. Structural Equivalence blocks were constructed from these 35 most-used words. Four-block model solution was found to be optimum. The density table was dichotomized using the mean density of the table to derive the binary matrix, which was used to construct the network map. Network maps represent the thematic character of the blocks. The blocks showed preferred connection in establishing semantic relationship with the blocks, characterizing thematic composition of Antarctic science research. The analysis has provided an analytical framework for carrying out studies on the content of scientific articles. The paper has shown the utility of co-word analysis in highlighting the important areas of research in Antarctic science
Preliminary investigations on Arctic microalgae by joint application of fluorescent instruments
Get PDFIn vivo fluorescence has a wide application in analyzing microalgae, including assessing phytoplankton biomass, rates of primary production and physiological status. This study describes a preliminary investigation on the joint application of the three kinds of fluorescence analysis in the physiological study of microalgae. Flow cytometry and fluorescence spectrometry were used to obtain the in vivo static fluorescence information of pigments, and a Pulsed-Amplitude-Modulation chlorophyll fluorometer was used to detect the dynamic fluorescence of chlorophyll. The validity of the joint application was proved by analyzing two laboratory cultured Arctic microalgae, Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima (Bacillariophyceae) and Thalassiosira sp. The higher value of minimum fluorescence yield in dark-adapted state (Fo), actual photochemical efficiency of PSII (ΦPSII), and electron transport rate (ETR) exhibited positive results in a higher cell abundance and chlorophyll a content of P. delicatissima; whereas higher β-carotene content of Thalassiosira sp. played an important role in the protection of photosynthesis
Characteristics and variations of the picophytoplankton community in the Arctic Ocean
Get PDFPicophytoplankton are responsible for much of the carbon fixation process in the Arctic Ocean, and they play an important role in active microbial food webs. The climate of the Arctic Ocean has changed in recent years, and picophytoplankton, as the most vulnerable part of the high-latitude pelagic ecosystem, have been the focus of an increasing number of scientific studies. This paper reviews and summarizes research on the characteristics of picophytoplankton in the Arctic Ocean, including their abundance, biomass, spatial distribution, seasonal variation, community structure, and factors influencing their growth. The impact of climate change on the Arctic Ocean picophytoplankton community is discussed, and future research directions are considered
Eco-environmental spatial characteristics of Fildes Peninsula based on TuPu models
Get PDFThis study applies a TuPu analysis to investigate ecological and environmental aspects of an Antarctic ice-free area, using Fildes Peninsula as an example. The TuPu unit was determined using a vector-grid mixed data model. Information from the eco-environment elements was effectively extracted, and was generalized into different classes by means of data mining technology. A series of single-factor thematic information TuPu models, such as topography, soil, animal and vegetation, and human activities for Fildes Peninsula were built in this study. The topography TuPu model contained information on elevation and slope. The soil TuPu model involved soil development stages and soil thickness information. The animal and vegetation TuPu model contained the distribution of animals, plant types, lichen cover and lichen height. The human activities TuPu model included population density and human disturbance index information. The landscape comprehensive information TuPu model of Fildes Peninsula also was established, and contains twenty-nine landscape units and twelve types of combined environments. The study quantitatively revealed the spatial morphology and correlation of the regional eco-environment based on the analysis of these TuPu models. From these models, we can draw the conclusion that there is a regular differentiation of eco-environment from the coastal bands to the central hills in Fildes Peninsula, and that the eco-environment condition of the eastern coasts is different from that of the western coasts. The eco-environmental spatial variation also differs greatly from north to south. Based on analysis of spatial correlation, the vegetation in Fildes Peninsula has the greatest correlation with human activity, and has a certain correlation with topography and soil. This research may provide a new technical approach and scientific basis for the in-depth study of Antarctic
eco-environments
Interaction between sea ice/iceberg and ship structures: A review
Get PDFFor ship structural design and good maneuverability in an ice-covered sea, the local and global load of ice cover on ships should be well understood. This paper reviews the extensive work done on ice loads on ships, including: (a) Ice pressure and local load determination based on field and model tests; (b) Global ice loads on ships from full-scale field observations, model tests and numerical models under different ice conditions (level ice and pack ice) and ship operations (maneuvering and mooring). Special attention is paid to the discrete element simulation of global ice loads on ships; and (c) Analytical solutions and numerical models of impact loads of icebergs on ships for polar navigation. Finally, research potential in these areas is discussed
Proceedings: Arctic Transportation Infrastructure: Response Capacity and Sustainable Development
Get PDFThe Arctic Maritime and Aviation Transportation Infrastructure Initiative (AMATII) serves as an initial platform for inventorying critical assets in the Arctic’s aviation and maritime environment. The Initiative facilitates ongoing and increased communication and collaboration throughout the Circumpolar North. It serves as a coordination point for future research and has the potential to facilitate technology transfer within the Arctic region.
AMATII builds on and responds to past efforts and projects of two working groups within the Arctic Council—the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment’s 2009 Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment Report and the Sustainable Development Working Group’s Circumpolar Infrastructure Task Force (CITF), which hosted the Arctic Aviation Experts conferences in 2005 (Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia) and 2006 (Winnipeg, Manitoba,
Canada). More directly, it follows on the strategic plan set forth at the 2010 Arctic Aviation Experts Conference (AAEC) in Fairbanks, Alaska
The intensity ratio I (557.7 nm) / I (427.8 nm) at Zhongshan Station in Antarctica
Get PDFAuroral intensity ratios at Zhongshan Station in Antarctica on 8 April 1999 are studied, along with variations in penetrated electron energy. Ratios of I (557.7 nm)/ I (427.8 nm) during the quiet period were from 5 to 22, and I (630.0 nm) / I (427.8 nm) ranged from 1 to 2.76. These variations were not caused by changes of atomic oxygen concentration, but rather by penetrated electron energy variability, or other mechanisms. Ratios decreased sharply during the auroral substorm, ranging from 1.66–6.5 and 0.071–1, respectively, mainly because of the increase in penetrated electron energy. At the onset of the substorm, the ratios reached their minima. This means that penetrated electron energy was maximized. When the substorm weakened, the penetrated electron energy returned to the pre-substorm level
Russian researchers reach subglacial Lake Vostok in Antarctica
Get PDFOpening a new scientific frontier lying under the Antarctic ice, Russian researchers have drilled down and finally reached the surface of the gigantic freshwater lake, Lake Vostok. The mission chief likened the achievement to placing a man on the moon. Drilling in the area of the lake began 22 years ago in 1990, but progressed slowly as a result of funding shortages, equipment breakdowns, difficulties of drilling in the “warm” ice, and environmental concerns. In 1996, six years after drilling was started, a group of Russian and British scientists discovered the lake believed to be one of the largest fresh water reservoirs on the planet. This lake is among the last unexplored places on Earth. Sealed from the Earth’s atmosphere for millions of years, it may provide vital information about microbial evolution, the past climate of the Earth, and the formation of the Antarctic ice sheet. Russian experts waited several years for international approval of their drilling technology before proceeding. As anticipated, lake water under pressure rushed up the borehole, pushing the drilling fluid up and away, then froze, forming a protective plug that prevented contamination of the lake. In December of the next Antarctic season, 2012—2013, researchers plan to re-drill the frozen sample of subglacial water for analysis
The distribution and concentration of particulate biogenic silica in surface waters of Prydz Bay, Antarctica, during the austral summer of 2011
Get PDFThe concentrations and distributions of particulate biogenic silica (PBSi) in the upper surface waters of Prydz Bay, Antarctica, were investigated during the 27th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition cruises of January 2011. We aimed to characterize the correlations between PBSi and plankton, nutrients and particulate organic carbon. The results showed that the concentrations of biogenic silica ranged from 0.76—19.72 μmol∙dm-3 and the average concentration of biogenic silica was 6.06 μmol∙dm-3. The distribution of surface PBSi had significant regional characteristics: The concentrations were higher south of 67°S than to the north. The distribution of PBSi, chlorophyll a and particulate organic carbon showed similar patterns, and PBSi distribution had a negative correlation with that of silicate. In the vertical direction, the mole ratio of PBSi and POC (Sibio/Corg) decreased with increasing depth. This trend indicated a higher rate of PBSi dissolution, or a lower rate of organic matter remineralization rate, in the upper 200 m