The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of April 13, 2020
New Report Illustrates Increase in Arctic Shipping
The Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME), under the supervision of the Arctic Council, has published a report showing a 25% increase in ship traffic across the Arctic, and a 75% increase in distance travelled by these ships since 2013. The report found that 41% of the ships that entered the Arctic in 2019 were fishing vessels (Nunatsiaq News).
Take 1: The decline in sea ice across the Arctic has been beneficial for vessels traversing the waters. However, this comes at cost. Increased shipping activity increases the likelihood of oil spills, gives way to underwater noise pollution that can impact the migration of fish, and a surge in fossil fuel emissions. The Inuit Circumpolar Council of Canada has been vocal on the issue of stricter Arctic shipping guidelines to maintain the lifestyle of remote Inuit communities and protection of the environment as a whole.
Coronavirus Halts Arctic Climate Change Research
The state-imposed travel ban in Greenland due to the coronavirus is disrupting climate change research. Every year, scientists bore deep into Greenland’s largest glacier to collect data on how ice streams impact the greater ocean. This year, no data will be collected, leaving important gaps in our understanding. Furthermore, the current equipment stationed at the site will likely be damaged and require costly repairs. This pause in research activities will also impact the career of junior scientists working on more stringent guidelines, as they may not have sufficient data for their research (DW).
Take 2: While the coronavirus is resulting in clearer skies by virtue of a temporary reduction in carbon emissions, the virus has some underlying consequences for climate change research. Albeit necessary, the negative impact of lockdown on the status of ongoing projects is significant. For climate scientists, gathering data now is crucial given the dramatic changes our environment is undergoing.
Melting Ice May Release the Next Pandemic
Ice that has lain dormant in the Arctic for centuries is melting. Water pockets squeezed between the ice are growing and releasing the microscopic organisms embedded within. While permafrost was once a reservoir for ancient microbes, the rapid thawing of the ice has set them free again. These microbes have the potential to threaten humanity and wildlife, and may even contain genetic information that can resist antibiotics and other medicines our society relies on (Narwhal).
Take 3: With coronavirus being on the headline of almost every single news channel, perhaps the public will be more receptive to policy that would slow the melting of the Arctic sea ice. Although experts predict there is a low probability that the ice will release a virus as deadly or contagious as COVID-19, slowing global warming would ultimately be a win for public health and the environment.
An Element of Randomness in Modeling Arctic Ice Cover
Researchers have created a model that incorporates random variations of temperature, humidity, and wind in predicting when Arctic sea ice will disappear. Prior models without stochastic variations and the current random-enhanced model disagree about the exact timing of the abrupt drop in wintertime Arctic sea ice cover, but both approaches conclude that it will likely be a time around the year 2100 (EOS).
Take 4: Increasingly accurate climate modelling allows us to develop a better picture of what is to come. These models should work hand in hand to inform policy decisions that will protect our Arctic ecosystem as well as the vulnerable populations that are most susceptible to the impact of a warming climate.
Tracking Trace Elements Across the Arctic Ocean
A study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research uses data from a pan-Arctic survey of carbon and trace elements to relate the movement of these nutrients to primary production. Primary production is the conversion of energy from the sun into organic material, a process many organisms rely on, and the basis of the trophic levels. The warming climate presents the Arctic Ocean with a unique challenge, where increased stratification in the water column and changing ocean currents can affect nutrient availability (EOS).
Take 5: As the Arctic transitions to an increasingly ice-free region, nutrient availability for organisms is an area of research that is yet to be fully understood. While more data is necessary to track the elemental composition of the Arctic waters, these expeditions often require a nontrivial amount of resources such as icebreakers and government funding.