- May 4, 2015
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Changes in the Arctic Ocean in the Arctic are so profound that we can talk about the beginning of a new geological era, Norwegian scientists say.
The Norwegian Polar Institute has for several years has been the study of the Arctic ice cover in the coldest months of the year.
Experts note the gradual transition of ice in the Arctic in another state when the permanent ice cover previously covered the ocean all year, is replaced by the melting of ice in the summer and even the disappearance of the ice on an enormous part of the area.
The Norwegian scientists have to for a few months to live on ice at low temperatures and polar night.
Their mission – to collect data on the state of the ice in the winter months.
The research vessel “Lance” wintered in the Arctic region, 800 km from the North Pole and drifted with the pack ice.
Director of the Institute Gunmar Jan Winther says that the understanding of what is happening with Arctic ice in the winter, will help scientists to improve the accuracy of future predictions of changes occurring in the global climate.
Record low sea ice
Meanwhile, US scientists reported that they had evidence the lowest area of glaciers in the Arctic during the winter months in the history of satellite observations.
Main line of research this year, conducted by the expedition – the study of the effects of reducing the weight of years of pack ice and an increase in the mass of ice over the young and thin.
Among the researchers studying the impact of these changes on polar biology, highlighted Dr. Haakon Hop, which is headed a group of biologists working under the ice.
“Beneath the young ice is almost no signs of life – and that’s a long pack ice, the back of which is covered with cracks and fissures, life is much more diverse,” – he said.
“We can see that with a decrease in the area of pack ice is reduced biodiversity: a young ice is difficult to find the same cluster crustaceans as perennial heavy ice” – adds Hope.
“This is a very serious problem, because These small crustaceans are at the bottom of the food chain, and their availability depends on the survival of many of the polar birds and marine animals, “- he says.
The expedition is going to provide a comprehensive assessment of all the most important aspects of life in this region of the Arctic Ocean.
The data collected on the ice, used to calibrate measurements from satellites and aircraft.
This is not an easy job. Scientists coming months to live in conditions of extremely low temperatures. During our visit to the vessel “Lance”, the temperature was kept at around 21 degrees minutes, and with the wind – minus 47 degrees.
Another danger, which we have seen with their own eyes – the polar bears.
Dr. Jennifer King, along with a small group of colleagues were working on the ice in the spotlight from the ship when the illuminated area on the border there was a polar bear.
“It is from us at a distance of 25 meters, at the top hummock, and persistently looked in our direction, “- says Jennifer. Bear managed to ward off flares.
In addition, the scientists have to constantly be on the alert in connection with the movements of the ice. During the expedition in the pack ice continuously arose deep cracks and movement of ice floes and ridges created sastrugi.
Several times, we have witnessed how the scientist had to quickly extract from the ice his instruments so as not to lose them . One day during the filming began a strong movement of ice fields, and we urgently had to go back to the ship.
says Jan Winther Gunmar young ice in the Arctic is becoming more drifts at a higher rate: “We know that now the ice is drifting faster than a hundred years ago. In a strongly affect the wind and weather conditions “.
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