Ecosystem change in the Arctic polynya

“北水波基尼亚（NOW）研究”是“国际北极冰利尼亚计划”的三个冰利尼亚研究之一，该计划由北冰洋科学委员会计划。NOW研究是国际合作研究，加拿大是领导国家。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、比利时和波兰参与了NOW研究。1997-1999年，NOW研究在加拿大海岸警卫队破冰船上在北水冰间及其周围进行。在三年中，共有17名日本科学家参加了在冰间湖地区的六次航行。与此同时，两名日本人在冰穴附近的海冰上工作。开展了冰上环流和热通量测量、沿着航线表层水叶绿素连续测量、沉积物捕集器长期系泊试验、浮游生物取样、船上浮游生物培养试验、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，并编写了科学论文，在国际科学期刊的特刊上发表。在巴伦支海，还在挪威研究船上进行了沉积物捕获实验的比较研究。为了阐明海洋生态系统和陆地生态系统之间的关系，在斯匹茨卑尔根的新奥勒松进行了陆基观测。在冰舌边缘安装了一个顶部敞开的冰室进行监测观测。同时观察了海鸟在鸟类栖息地周围的觅食行为和食物种类。

"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.