Ecosystem change in the Arctic polynya

“北水波谷（NOW）研究”是由北冰洋科学委员会策划的“国际北极波谷计划”的三个波谷研究之一。现在的研究是国际合作研究，加拿大是领先的国家。日本和美国是与加拿大共同实施破冰船联合行动的重要国家。此外，英国、德国、丹麦、比利时和波兰也参与了NOW的研究。1997年至1999年，加拿大海岸警卫队的破冰船在北水冰湖及其周围进行了这项研究。在三年中，共有17名日本科学家在冰湖地区进行了六次巡航。与此同时，两名日本人在冰湖附近的海冰上工作。开展了冰上环流和热通量测量、巡航航道地表水叶绿素连续测量、沉积物捕集器长期系泊实验、浮游生物取样、船上浮游生物养殖实验等广泛的研究。这些测量和观察的结果已在日本国内外的许多会议和专题讨论会上提出，并准备在国际科学杂志的特刊上发表科学论文。在巴伦支海，挪威科考船也进行了沉积物捕集器实验的对比研究。为了弄清海洋和陆地生态系统之间的关系，在斯匹茨卑尔根的新奥勒松周围进行了陆地观测。在冰舌边缘设置了一个开顶室，用于监测观测。同时，观察了海鸟在鸟类栖息地周围的觅食行为及其食物种类。

"North Water Pokynya(NOW) Study" is one of three polynya studies of the "International Arctic Polynya Program, which was planned by the Arctic Ocean Sciences Board. The NOW study was the international collaborative research and Canada was the leading nation. Japan and USA were important countries to share a joint operation of icebreaker together with Canada. In addition, UK, Germany, Denmark, Belgium and Poland participated in the NOW study. In 1997-1999, the NOW study was carried our in and around the North Water polynya on board the Canadian Coast Guard Icebreakers. A total of 17 Japanese scientists were on board six cruises in polynya areas during three years. At the same time, two Japanese worked on the sea ice field adjacent to the polynya. A great wide range of research was carried out such as circulation and heat flux measurement on ice, continuous measurement of surface water chlorophyll along cruise tracks, long-term mooring experiment of sediment traps, plankotn samplings, cultivation experiments of plankton on board, and so on. Results of these measurements and observations have been presented at many meetings and symposia in and outside Japan and scientific papers are prepared to be published in a special volume of international scientific journal. In the Barents Sea, a comparative study of sediment trap experiment was also carried out on board the Norwegian research ship. To clarify a relationship between marine and terrestiral ecosystems, a land-based observation was carried our around Ny-Alesund, Spitzbergen. An open top chamber was installed at the margind of glacial tongue for monitoring observation. At the same time, foraging behavior of sea birds and their food items were observed around bird rookery.