scholarly journals White and wonderful? Microplastics prevail in snow from the Alps to the Arctic

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. eaax1157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Bergmann ◽  
Sophia Mützel ◽  
Sebastian Primpke ◽  
Mine B. Tekman ◽  
Jürg Trachsel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infrared Imaging ◽  
Atmospheric Transport ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Polymer Composition ◽  
The North ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging ◽  
Ice Floes ◽  
Snow Samples

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous, and considerable quantities prevail even in the Arctic; however, there are large knowledge gaps regarding pathways to the North. To assess whether atmospheric transport plays a role, we analyzed snow samples from ice floes in Fram Strait. For comparison, we investigated snow samples from remote (Swiss Alps) and populated (Bremen, Bavaria) European sites. MPs were identified by Fourier transform infrared imaging in 20 of 21 samples. The MP concentration of Arctic snow was significantly lower (0 to 14.4 × 103 N liter−1) than European snow (0.19 × 103 to 154 × 103 N liter−1) but still substantial. Polymer composition varied strongly, but varnish, rubber, polyethylene, and polyamide dominated overall. Most particles were in the smallest size range indicating large numbers of particles below the detection limit of 11 μm. Our data highlight that atmospheric transport and deposition can be notable pathways for MPs meriting more research.

Temporary seismic network on drifting ice in the North Barents Sea

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey Jakovlev ◽  
Sergey Kovalev ◽  
Egor Shimanchuk ◽  
Evgeniy Shimanchuk ◽  
Aleksey Nubom
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Seismic Signal ◽  
Ice Cover ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Stick Slip ◽  
Seismic Stations ◽  
The North ◽  
Drifting Ice ◽  
Ice Floes

<p>Despite the strong attention to the investigations in the Arctic its advance quite slowly. The harsh climatic conditions and big expenses slow down realization of the fieldwork in high latitudes. Therefore, scientists from over the world looks for new technologies, which could optimize and reduce the costs of the fieldworks that aimed at investigation of the geological structure beneath the Arctic Ocean. From March to May 2019 scientific expedition on the Expedition Vessel “Akademic Tryoshnikov” operated by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute that belongs to Rosgidromet were conducted in the framework of the program “TransArctica 2019” first stage. In the framework of the seismological experiments 6 temporary seismic stations at 4 different locations were installed on a drifted ice floe in the North Barents Sea. The first aim of the experiment was to elaborate technology of installation of the seismic stations on the drifting ice floes. The second aim was to check if obtained seismological records could be used for registration of the local and remote earthquakes, which are meant to investigate the lithosphere structure in the Arctic regions, and for investigation of the processes within the ice floe.</p><p>The stations were installed in the April 2019 on the ice floe near the EV “Akademik Tryoshnikov” that were “frizzed” in the ice floe and drifted together with them. After analysis of the recoded data the following types of the seismic signal generated by processes in the ice were observed:</p><ul><li>- background signal from bending-gravitational waves with periods from 1 to 30 sec. Swell waves with periods from 17 to 30 sec were observed permanently during the whole period of network operation;</li> <li>- continuous mechanical vibrations (self-oscillations) with a period of up to 2-3 sec;</li> <li>- stick-slip relaxation self-oscillations with a period from 0.1 s to several minutes;</li> <li>- mechanical movements of ice due to compression or stretching of ice caused by chaotic different scales fluctuations in the drift velocity of ice floes;</li> <li>- process of ice fracturing due to compression or stretching of ice.</li> </ul><p>Results of monitoring of the ice cover has shown that in the most cases there are no direct correlations of processes within the ice floes and local hydrometeorological condition. During the process of ice cover fracturing an increased value of the ice horizontal movement were observed. Analysis of the seismic signal from ice events has shown that stick-slip events preceded origin of the ice fractures.</p><p>As a result of the initial analysis of the seismograms several signals from remote and regional earthquakes were detected. For example, an earthquake that according to the ISC bulletin occur at 08:18:23UTC on April 11, 2019 near the Japan (40.35°N, 143.35°E, 35 km depth, MS = 6.0) were detected. A local earthquake that occur approximately at 05:58UTC on April 10, 2019 at a distance of ~500 km. Due to close location of stations to each other the localization of the earthquake is impossible.</p><p>This work is supported by the RSCF project #18-17-00095.</p>

scholarly journals Focal plane array detector-based micro-Fourier-transform infrared imaging for the analysis of microplastics in environmental samples

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Günter Joachim Löder ◽  
Mirco Kuczera ◽  
Svenja Mintenig ◽  
Claudia Lorenz ◽  
Gunnar Gerdts
Keyword(s):  
Fourier Transform ◽  
Focal Plane ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Infrared Imaging ◽  
Fourier Transform Infrared ◽  
Focal Plane Array ◽  
Particle Identification ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Array Detector ◽  
Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging

Environmental context Microplastics are of increasing environmental concern following reports that they occur worldwide from the arctic to the deep sea. However, a reliable methodology that facilitates an automated measurement of abundance and identity of microplastics is still lacking. We present an analytical protocol that applies focal plane array detector-based infrared imaging of microplastics enriched on membrane filters applicable to investigations of microplastic pollution of the environment. Abstract The pollution of the environment with microplastics (plastic pieces <5 mm) is a problem of increasing concern. However, although this has been generally recognised by scientists and authorities, the analysis of microplastics is often done by visual inspection alone with potentially high error rates, especially for smaller particles. Methods that allow for a fast and reliable analysis of microplastics enriched on filters are lacking. Our study is the first to fill this gap by using focal plane array detector-based micro-Fourier-transform infrared imaging for analysis of microplastics from environmental samples. As a result of our iteratively optimised analytical approach (concerning filter material, measuring mode, measurement parameters and identification protocol), we were able to successfully measure the whole surface (>10-mm diameter) of filters with microplastics from marine plankton and sediment samples. The measurement with a high lateral resolution allowed for the detection of particles down to a size of 20 μm in only a fractional part of time needed for chemical mapping. The integration of three band regions facilitated the pre-selection of potential microplastics of the ten most important polymers. Subsequent to the imaging the review of the infrared spectra of the pre-selected potential microplastics was necessary for a verification of plastic polymer origin. The approach we present here is highly suitable to be implemented as a standard procedure for the analysis of small microplastics from environmental samples. However, a further automatisation with respect to measurement and subsequent particle identification would facilitate the even faster and fully automated analysis of microplastic samples.

Oceanographic Features of the Canadian Archipelago

1957 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 731-769 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. B. Bailey
Keyword(s):  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Temperature Structure ◽  
Vertical Temperature ◽  
Baffin Bay ◽  
The North ◽  
The Arctic Ocean ◽  
North Water ◽  
Ice Floes

Oceanographic data collected during the first cruise of H.M.C.S. Labrador to the Canadian Arctic in August and September 1954 permit comparisons of the vertical temperature and salinity structures in Baffin Bay, the Canadian Archipelago and the Arctic Ocean. From a comparison of the temperature–salinity characteristics of the waters in the Arctic Ocean (Beaufort Sea) with those in Baffin Bay, it is found that: (a) the surface waters of the Arctic Ocean are much less saline than those in Baffin Bay, but minimum temperatures are the same (−1.8 °C), (b) the waters of the upper 200 m. in Baffin Bay are denser than those found at corresponding depths in the Arctic Ocean, (c) below 200 m., Arctic waters are the denser, and below 500 m. they are denser than any waters found in Baffin Bay, and (d) waters found at 250 m. in the Beaufort Sea, at 500 m. in Smith Sound, and at 1250 m. in central Baffin Bay, have identical temperature and salinity characteristics (−0.3 °C., 34.4‰).In addition the data permitted limited investigations into the effect of drifting ice floes on the vertical temperature structure of the water, the origin of the "north water", long-term variations in the oceanographic conditions in Baffin Bay, and dynamic calculations of currents and volume transports of the waters through the channels leading into Baffin Bay.

scholarly journals Pervasive distribution of polyester fibres in the Arctic Ocean is driven by Atlantic inputs

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter S. Ross ◽  
Stephen Chastain ◽  
Ekaterina Vassilenko ◽  
Anahita Etemadifar ◽  
Sarah Zimmermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Atmospheric Transport ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Remote Region ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Widespread Distribution ◽  
The North ◽  
Infra Red ◽  
North American Arctic

AbstractMicroplastics are increasingly recognized as ubiquitous global contaminants, but questions linger regarding their source, transport and fate. We document the widespread distribution of microplastics in near-surface seawater from 71 stations across the European and North American Arctic - including the North Pole. We also characterize samples to a depth of 1,015 m in the Beaufort Sea. Particle abundance correlated with longitude, with almost three times more particles in the eastern Arctic compared to the west. Polyester comprised 73% of total synthetic fibres, with an east-to-west shift in infra-red signatures pointing to a potential weathering of fibres away from source. Here we suggest that relatively fresh polyester fibres are delivered to the eastern Arctic Ocean, via Atlantic Ocean inputs and/or atmospheric transport from the South. This raises further questions about the global reach of textile fibres in domestic wastewater, with our findings pointing to their widespread distribution in this remote region of the world.

scholarly journals ARTISTIC FEATURES OF THE NORTHERN “WHITE NIGHT” MOTIF IN THE LANDSCAPES OF ALEXANDER BORISOV AND LOUIS APOL

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 77-87
Author(s):  
Ivetta A. Enina
Keyword(s):  
World Order ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Water Ice ◽  
Far North ◽  
The North ◽  
Living Space ◽  
Northern European ◽  
Artistic Interpretation ◽  
Ice Floes ◽  
The 19Th Century

The article examines the peculiarities of the color and light atmosphere of the phenomenon of white night in the Far North in the seascapes of the Russian and Northern European art. Attention is drawn to the period from the second third of the 19th century to the first quarter of the 20th century, when scientific and artistic exploration of the Arctic begins to take place on a regular basis. The article shows that the motive of the luminous night at the turn of the century appeared in connection with the appeal of artists to the study of natural contrasts of the Far North. Owing to the comprehending of the monotonous northern landscape, the palette of paintings was enriched with cold light shades of a lightair environment, the artists caught its special glow in the reflections in the water, ice floes and on the snow cover. The article mentions works of art by K. A. Korovin, V. A. Serov, V. V. Perepletchikov, N. V. Pinegin, A. A. Rylov and A. N. Benois, created during their participation in polar expeditions in late XIX and early XX centuries. Attention is drawn to the fact that the painters are branching out from marine pictorial art towards the study of special natural phenomena, such as images of light and dark polar nights, the northern lights, floating ice, fogs and snowy shores. It is carried out an art analysis and comparison of the works of the Russian “artist of eternal ice” Alexander Borisov and the Dutch “winter artist” Louis Apol, who were the first to depict such a phenomenon as a white night in the Far North. But their artistic interpretation of this phenomenon differs. A. Borisov perceives the North as a kind of “living” space in his own experience of figurative-symbolic comprehension of the world order, but at the same time does not lose touch with his realistic painting manner. And L. Apol impartially captures the surrounding nature, remaining in the principles of the features of compositional construction, which are characteristic of late romanticism. The European painter prefers muffled coloring, while on the canvas of the Russian artist, the paints literally ring and glow.

To the issue of application of thermoplastic reinforced pipes for the construction of oil and gas pipelines in the Arctic

2020 ◽  
pp. 88-99
Author(s):  
A. A. Tolmachev ◽  
V. A. Ivanov ◽  
T. G. Ponomareva
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Hydrocarbon Production ◽  
Environmental Disasters ◽  
The North ◽  
Reinforcing Fibers ◽  
Wear And Tear ◽  
Oil And Gas Companies ◽  
Reinforcing Layer

Ensuring the safety of oil and gas facilities and increasing their facility life are today one of the most important tasks. Emergencies related to rupture and damage of steel pipelines because of their wear and tear and external factors are still the most frequent cases of emergencies during the transportation of hydrocarbons. To expand the fuel and energy complex in the north, in the direction of the Arctic, alternative types of pipelines are needed that solve the problems of reducing energy and labor costs in oil and gas companies, reducing the risk of environmental disasters and depressurization of pipelines during hydrocarbon production. Fiber-reinforced thermoplastic pipes can be such an alternative. This article is devoted to a comparative analysis of the materials of a composite system consisting of a thermoplastic pipe (inner layer) and reinforcing fibers (outer layer); we are discussing the design of the structural system consisting of polyethylene (inner layer) and aramid fibers (outer reinforcing layer).

Healthcare System in the Arctic Zone of Russia. Known and Emerging Issues and Solutions to Them

2019 ◽  
pp. 3-20
Author(s):  
V.N. Leksin
Keyword(s):  
Metallurgical Industry ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Arctic Zone ◽  
Shift Workers ◽  
The North ◽  
Medical Institutions ◽  
Emerging Issues ◽  
The Impact

The impact on healthcare organization on the territory of Russian Arctic of unique natural and climatic, demographic, ethnic, settlement and professional factors of influencing the health of population, constantly or temporarily living on this territory is studied. The necessity is substantiated of various forms and resource provision with healthcare services such real and potential patients of Arctic medical institutions, as representatives of indigenous small peoples of the North, workers of mining and metallurgical industry, military personnel, sailors and shift workers. In this connection a correction of a number of All-Russian normative acts is proposed.

scholarly journals Holocene polynya dynamics and their interaction with oceanic heat transport in northernmost Baffin Bay

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Jackson ◽  
Anna Bang Kvorning ◽  
Audrey Limoges ◽  
Eleanor Georgiadis ◽  
Steffen M. Olsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Atlantic Water ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Baffin Bay ◽  
The North ◽  
North Water ◽  
History Of ◽  
Ocean Conditions

AbstractBaffin Bay hosts the largest and most productive of the Arctic polynyas: the North Water (NOW). Despite its significance and active role in water mass formation, the history of the NOW beyond the observational era remains poorly known. We reconcile the previously unassessed relationship between long-term NOW dynamics and ocean conditions by applying a multiproxy approach to two marine sediment cores from the region that, together, span the Holocene. Declining influence of Atlantic Water in the NOW is coeval with regional records that indicate the inception of a strong and recurrent polynya from ~ 4400 yrs BP, in line with Neoglacial cooling. During warmer Holocene intervals such as the Roman Warm Period, a weaker NOW is evident, and its reduced capacity to influence bottom ocean conditions facilitated northward penetration of Atlantic Water. Future warming in the Arctic may have negative consequences for this vital biological oasis, with the potential knock-on effect of warm water penetration further north and intensified melt of the marine-terminating glaciers that flank the coast of northwest Greenland.

scholarly journals Microplastic contamination of the drilling bivalve Hiatella arctica in Arctic rhodolith beds

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Teichert ◽  
Martin G. J. Löder ◽  
Ines Pyko ◽  
Marlene Mordek ◽  
Christian Schulbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polyethylene Terephthalate ◽  
Water Depth ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Polymer Composition ◽  
Bivalve Species ◽  
Filter Feeder ◽  
Hiatella Arctica ◽  
Long Term Consequences ◽  
Water Depths

AbstractThere is an increasing number of studies reporting microplastic (MP) contamination in the Arctic environment. We analysed MP abundance in samples from a marine Arctic ecosystem that has not been investigated in this context and that features a high biodiversity: hollow rhodoliths gouged by the bivalve Hiatella arctica. This bivalve is a filter feeder that potentially accumulates MPs and may therefore reflect MP contamination of the rhodolith ecosystem at northern Svalbard. Our analyses revealed that 100% of the examined specimens were contaminated with MP, ranging between one and 184 MP particles per bivalve in samples from two water depths. Polymer composition and abundance differed strongly between both water depths: samples from 40 m water depth showed a generally higher concentration of MPs and were clearly dominated by polystyrene, samples from 27 m water depth were more balanced in composition, mainly consisting of polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene. Long-term consequences of MP contamination in the investigated bivalve species and for the rhodolith bed ecosystem are yet unclear. However, the uptake of MPs may potentially impact H. arctica and consequently its functioning as ecosystem engineers in Arctic rhodolith beds.

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