Polar Research (E-Journal)
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On the long-ignored scientific achievements of the Belgica expedition 1897–1899
No full textThe Belgica expedition, which left Belgium in August 1897, was the first to spend 13 months continuously in Antarctic waters, before returning in late 1899. This was not only an exploratory venture, as new lands and oceans were charted, but more importantly it was an exceptional and successful scientific voyage. After the return of the expedition, a vast array of scientific data was processed and eventually 92 publications in some nine volumes funded by the Belgica Commission appeared over 40 years as a series called Résultats du voyage de la Belgica en 1897–99 sous le commandement de A. de Gerlache de Gomery – rapports scientifiques. Disappointingly, those significant results have been mostly ignored in the scientific literature and the paper here aims to inform scientists of the achievements of the Belgica expedition and where to obtain the information. Many of the climatological and oceanographic data obtained by the expeditioners ought to be examined in line with the changes that are occurring today in the Antarctic Peninsula region as a result of global warming. Some of the Belgica data form an important database to critically assess environmental changes over 120 years in the region of the Antarctic Peninsula
The number and distribution of polar bears in the western Barents Sea
No full textPolar Research, Vol 36, 1374125 https://doi.org/10.1080/17518369.2017.1374125
Within the abstract of this Research Article, the following sentence displays incorrect data:
The pack ice and the total (Svalbard + pack ice, 973 bears, 95% CI = 334 – 1026) both had higher estimates compared to August 2004 (444 and 685 bears, respectively), but the increase was not significant.
The correct sentence is provided below (updated text in boldface):
The pack ice and the total (Svalbard + pack ice, 973 bears, 95% CI = 665 – 1884) both had higher estimates compared to August 2004 (444 and 685 bears, respectively), but the increase was not significant.
The article has been updated online
Multi-temporal variation of the Ross Sea Polynya in response to climate forcings
No full textThe multi-temporal scales of two physical characteristics (areas and occurrence time) of the Ross Sea Polynya (RSP) in Antarctica were analysed using a sea-ice concentration data set (1979–2014) derived from the Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer, the Special Sensor Microwave Imager and Sensor Microwave Imager Sounder. Then, the Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) was applied to the data sets to decompose signals into finite numbers of intrinsic mode functions and a residual mode: long time trend. This approach allowed us to understand the long-term variability of the RSP area and occurrence in response to atmospheric forcing through teleconnections between low and high latitudes by comparing the Nino3.4 and Southern Annular Mode (SAM) indices. The nonlinear trend of the RSP areas derived from the EEMD residual had an upward trending shift in the early 1990s and was fairly consistent with the nonlinear trend of Nino3.4. However, the trend of RSP occurrence time progressively increased and had a significant effect on the long time scale. The trend of the RSP area is significantly correlated (+0.98) with the ratio of the trend of the meridional to zonal wind components related with the nonlinearity of Nino3.4, suggesting that meridional wind stress dominated the changes of the polynya area in the Ross Sea. In addition, the nonlinear trends between the SAM and RSP occurrence time show a strong positive correlation, contributing to the earlier onset of polynya expansion and delayed connection with the open ocean owing to enhanced southerly winds
Radiogenic isotope (Nd, Pb, Sr) signatures of surface and sea ice-transported sediments from the Arctic Ocean under the present interglacial conditions
No full textUnder modern conditions, sediments from the large continental shelves of the Arctic Ocean are mixed by currents, incorporated into sea ice and redistributed over the Arctic Basin through the Beaufort Gyre and Trans-Polar Drift major sea-ice routes. Here, compiling data from the literature and combining them with our own data, we explore how radiogenic isotopes (Sr, Pb and Nd) from Arctic shelf surface sediment can be used to identify inland and coastal sediment sources. Based on discriminant function analyses, the use of two-isotope systematics introduces a large uncertainty (ca. 50%) that prevents unequivocal identifications of regional shelf signatures. However, when using all three isotopic systems, shelf provinces can be distinguished within a ca. 23% uncertainty only, which is mainly due to isotopic overlaps between the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and the Barents–Kara seas areas. Whereas the Canadian Arctic shelf seems mostly influenced by Mackenzie River supplies, as documented by earlier studies, a clear Lena River signature cannot be clearly identified in the Laptev–Kara seas area. The few available data on sediments collected in sea-ice rafts suggest sea ice originating mostly from the Laptev Sea area, along with non-negligible contributions from the East Siberian and Kara seas. At last, whereas a clear radiogenic identity of the Mackenzie River in sediments can be identified in the Beaufort Sea margin, isotopic signatures frommajor Russian rivers cannot be deciphered in modern Siberian margin sediments because of an intense mixing by sea ice and currents of inland and coastal supplies
Description of plant communities on Half Moon Island, Antarctica
No full textDuring February–March of the austral summers of 2013/14 and 2014/2015, fieldwork was performed on Half Moon Island, South Shetland Archipelago, Antarctica, to evaluate the distribution and abundance of mosses and lichens, as well as to describe and map the plant communities there. The quadrat (20 × 20 cm) sampling method was employed in a phytosociological study that aimed to describe these communities. The area was mapped using an Astech Promark II® DGPS, yielding sub-metric precision after post-processing with software. The number of species totalled 38 bryophytes, 59 lichens, only one flowering plant (Deschampsia antarctica Desv.), and two macroscopic terrestrial algae. Five types of plant communities were identified on the island, as follows: (1) fruticose lichen and moss cushion, (2) moss carpet, (3) muscicolous lichen, (4) crustose lichen and (5) moss turf
Investigation of Babesia sp. in pygoscelid penguins at the South Shetland Islands
No full textBabesia spp. are tick-borne parasites, and 16 avian-infecting species have been described to date, including one species ( Babesia peircei ) that infects penguins. Considering the results of a recent study reporting Babesia sp. in penguins on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, we re-examined the samples obtained in a previous investigation on the occurrence of blood parasites in adult Adélie ( Pygoscelis adeliae ), chinstrap ( Pygoscelis antarcticus ) and gentoo penguins ( Pygoscelis papua ) on King George and Elephant islands, South Shetland Islands. Notwithstanding a comprehensive re-examination of the blood smears, Babesia sp. was not detected. When we employed two nested PCR tests targeting the 18S rRNA gene of Babesia , a considerable proportion of the samples produced positive results; however, gene sequencing revealed these were due to cross-amplification of non-target organisms. We therefore did not detect Babesia sp. infection in penguins on King George and Elephant islands. Additional studies will be valuable to clarify the distribution and epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic seabirds
Mapping glacier-related research in polar regions: a bibliometric analysis of research output from 1987 to 2016
No full textWe carried out a bibliometric analysis of literature related to glaciers in polar regions from the period 1987–2016 indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded database. A comprehensive review was performed by analysing the research output trends, publication categories, main journals, leading countries and their collaborations, leading scientists, author keywords and Keywords Plus. The results indicated that the number of publications related to glaciers in polar regions has increased rapidly. The USA and several European countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Switzerland, are the leaders in the field of glacial studies, as reflected both in the productivity measures and in the distribution of core scientists. Quaternary Science Reviews, the Journal of Glaciology, and Geophysical Research Letters were the most productive journals for glacial studies. The synthesized analysis of the keywords demonstrated the current research emphases and hinted at future research trends. Reconstructing past climate changes through studies of ice-core records is one of the most important research subjects. Numerical modelling has become a commonly used tool in polar region glacial research. A better understanding of the responses of glaciers to widespread climatic warming is needed now and in the future
Facing the climate change conundrum at the South Pole: actors’ perspectives on the implications of global warming for Chilean Antarctic governance
No full textAntarctica is recognized as being geopolitically and scientifically important, and as one of the regions with the greatest potential to affect and be affected by global climate change. Still, little is known in practice about how climate change will be handled within the main governance framework of the continent: the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS). Using qualitative interviews, participant observations and policy document analysis, this paper explores the perspectives of Chilean scientific, political and non-governmental actors regarding the implications of climate change for the current Antarctic governance framework. Results corroborate a misalignment of the climate change agenda and the ATS, stemming from the divergent views displayed by a wide network of actors. From the interviews, two predominant visions emerge: (i) climate change as an opportunity, where actors recognize the role of Antarctica in regulating global climate and stress greater opportunities to conduct Antarctic-based climate change research, the need for strategic international collaboration, and the reinforcement of Chile’s position in Antarctica through science; (ii) climate change as a burden where actors acknowledge climate change as a global problem, largely external to Antarctica, express disbelief regarding the effectiveness of local actions to tackle climate change and do not associate with climate change governance. The study concludes that climate change may become a dividing, rather than a unifying, field of action in Chilean Antarctic governance, reinforcing previously existing geopolitical tendencies
Planktonic food web structure at SSTF and PF in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean during austral summer 2011
No full textThis study aims to describe the planktonic food web structure with respect to phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a ) and prevailing environmental conditions at the South Subtropical Front (SSTF) and the Polar Front (PF) in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean. Sampling was carried out at each front for 72 hrs, at 6-hr intervals, during the austral summer 2011. Considerable variations were observed in the hydrography between these two fronts. A strong temperature minimum layer was observed at the PF. Although the surface primary production and chlorophyll a values showed similar trends at both the fronts, the water column values of these parameters showed major disparities. The phytoplankton composition also revealed marked difference between the fronts. A deep chlorophyll maximum concordant with the upper limit of the temperature minimum layer was prominent at the PF. The microzooplankton abundance at the SSTF was twice as high as at the PF. The mesozooplankton biovolume and population density also showed considerable variations between these fronts. Noticeable diel variations were observed in the surface mesozooplankton biovolumes at both the fronts and the copepod Pleuromamma gracilis showed active diel vertical migration at SSTF. Both the grazing and senescence indices showed significant variations between these fronts, suggesting a disparity in the ecological efficiency of the two regions. The variability observed in the plankton community structure with respect to the hydrography and the biological components measured suggests that a multivorous food web at the SSTF and a conventional food web at the PF prevailed during the period of study
Polar bears observed climbing steep slopes to graze on scurvy grass in Svalbard
No full textIt is well known that polar bears feed on vegetation. Here, I report novel observations of polar bears grazing on polar scurvy grass (Cochlearia groenlandica) at the foot of a large seabird colony on a cliff on Spitsbergen, Svalbard, in the summers of 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014 and 2015. Why they choose such energy-costly climbing to feed on plants is not clear. One possibility is that they may be suffering from vitamin C deficiency and are searching for this particular plant, which has a high level of this vitamin. Another, but not exclusive reason, is that vegetation containing scurvy grass is abundant enough to be efficiently grazed by such unspecialized plant-eaters as polar bears only on such relatively inaccessible, steep slopes below seabird colonies. Most of the lowland and gently sloping tundra areas in Svalbard are overgrazed by geese and reindeer, the populations of which have increased considerably as a consequence of climate amelioration. Large seabird colonies are known to attract animals from different trophic levels, but this is the first description of their attractiveness to polar bears as grazing areas