In 2015 ASP team members have the opportunity to collaborate with the Canadian led ArcticNet Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) and the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) on a research program examining the North Open Water (NOW) polynya.  Sea ice and cold nutrient rich ocean waters exit the Arctic through both Fram and Nares Strait.  Station Nord provides an ideal access point for studies in Fram Strait and the Canadian research icebreaker CCGS Amundsen will be used to study the Nares Strait region.  Sampling will be conducted in the late summer of 2015 with stations being situated within the usual NOW polynya extent and extending north from there into Kane Basin and Nares Strait.  Plans will be to work as far north as the Peterman Fiord and the Lincoln Sea (ice depending). Focus of our work with be on meteorology, glaciology, oceanography, biogeochemistry, microbiology, and marine ecosystem function (including nutrients, and energy exchange up the trophic system to marine mammals).