Ice algae are a critical component of the Arctic ice-covered ecosystem, providing the sole source of primary production in the early spring. At the beginning of their growth season, ice algal phenology is governed by light limitation. As the season progresses and the ice algae population exponentially increases, nutrients can become limiting. Past studies have examined the entire community to identify which processes are important to algal production and when.

Ice algae are a critical component of the Arctic ice-covered ecosystem, providing the sole source of primary production in the early spring. At the beginning of their growth season, ice algal phenology is governed by light limitation. As the season progresses and the ice algae population exponentially increases, nutrients can become limiting. Past studies have examined the entire community to identify which processes are important to algal production and when.

Meltwater ponds form at the surface of Arctic sea ice in the spring and significantly modify the partitioning of radiant solar energy between the atmosphere, ice and ocean. Past observations have shown that melt pond coverage can be highly variable over a single melt season, between years at the same location, and between locations. Results from a recent study in Resolute, NU, indicate that the evolution of melt ponds on first-year sea ice is controlled by several physical mechanisms.

Sea ice pressure ridges are important ice features to navigation, climatological studies, and offshore exploration.  Ice operations such as these prefer to operate in areas of open water or thin ice, and to completely avoid potentially unmanageable rough ice features, such as icebergs, multiyear ice floes, and sea ice pressure ridges.  This field project aims to undertake a first of a kind experiment that will look in situ at how microwave backscatter over sea ice pressure ridges changes when snow cover, radar incidence angle, and ridge height parameters change.  Understanding how

The winter 2013/2014 season is year 3 of SERF. Data collection will focus on regularly scheduled measurements linking the geophysical and electromagnetic (EM) properties of sea ice as it progresses through distinct growth and ablation phases. Measurements of sea ice biogeochemical properties will also be acquired. Three experiments are planned:

The winter 2013/2014 season is year 3 of SERF. Data collection will focus on regularly scheduled measurements linking the geophysical and electromagnetic (EM) properties of sea ice as it progresses through distinct growth and ablation phases. Measurements of sea ice biogeochemical properties will also be acquired. Three experiments are planned:

This project investigates the distribution, abundance and physiological adaptation of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) along the West Greenland coast. Blue mussels are an ecologically well-studied species that often dominates the coastal zone where it forms a specific habitat with a distinct associated fauna. Such habitat formers which influence ecosystem structure have the potential for wide impacts if they are able to migrate into new areas due to changing climate.

This project investigates the distribution, abundance and physiological adaptation of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) along the West Greenland coast. Blue mussels are an ecologically well-studied species that often dominates the coastal zone where it forms a specific habitat with a distinct associated fauna. Such habitat formers which influence ecosystem structure have the potential for wide impacts if they are able to migrate into new areas due to changing climate.

The project will make the first measurements of the exchange of heat, water and salinity at the entrance to Godthåbsfjord. Continuous measurements will be obtained by deploying moorings off Godthåbsfjord in the relatively shallow shelf area together with hydrographic sections made across the shelf. These measurements will determine the seasonal variation of coastal water masses and their role in the formation of the intermediate water masses in the fjord.

This project aims to study the carbon dynamics in the Godthåbsfjord during a full annual cycle. With the projected changes like increased oceanic CO₂ uptake, strong changes in the carbon dynamics and marine chemistry are expected. This is likely to have a fundamental impact on many ecosystem processes as well. Recent studies indicate that Arctic fjord systems are a strong sink for CO₂ but the driving factors for this uptake and implication on water chemistry (e.g. pH) are still unknown.