Ecosystem change in the Arctic polynya

“北水波金亚(NOW)研究”是北冰洋科学委员会计划的“国际北极波尼雅计划”的三项波兰亚研究之一。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参与破冰船联合作业的重要国家。此外，英国、德国、丹麦、比利时和波兰也参与了NOW研究。1997-1999年，NOW研究是在加拿大海岸警卫队破冰船上进行的，我们在北水波利尼亚及其周围进行了这项研究。在三年的时间里，共有17名日本科学家在波尼亚地区进行了六次巡航。与此同时，两名日本人在波利尼亚附近的海冰场工作。开展了广泛的研究，如冰上环流和热通量的测量，沿航道的地表水叶绿素的连续测量，沉积物捕集器的长期系泊实验，浮游生物采样，船上浮游生物培养实验等。这些测量和观测的结果已在日本国内外的许多会议和研讨会上发表，并准备在国际科学期刊的专刊上发表科学论文。在巴伦支海，挪威科考船上也进行了沉积物捕集实验的对比研究。为了弄清海洋和陆地生态系统之间的关系，我们在斯皮茨卑尔根的NY-Alesund周围进行了一次陆基观测。在冰舌边缘安装了一个开顶室进行监测观测。同时，在鸟巢周围观察了海鸟及其食物的觅食行为。

"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.