Pollutants present in different components of the Svalbard archipelago environment / Zanieczyszczenia obecne w różnych komponentach środowiska archipelagu Svalbard

Abstract During last years an interest in the processes of transport and fate of pollutants to the polar regions located distantly from industrial centers, has significantly increased. The current analytical techniques enabling conducting studies prove that the Arctic regions (in the past considered as a pollution free area) have become an area of highly intensive anthropopresion. Svalbard archipelago stands out from the other polar regions due to its specific environmental conditions and geographic location, which results in becoming a reservoir of contamination in this area. Systematic environmental monitoring of arctic regions is extremely important due to an unique opportunity of observing a direct impact of pollution on the ongoing processes in the area of interest. In this way measurement data obtained are a valuable source of information, not only on changes occurring in the Arctic ecosystem, but also on estimated global impact of certain xenobiotics present in the environment. Furthermore, qualitative and quantitative studies on particular chemicals deposited in different regions of the Arctic ecosystem may constitute the basis for undertaking actions aimed at preventing negative effects caused by these pollutants.

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Bifidochaetus, a new Arctic genus of freshwater Chaetonotida (Gastrotricha) from Spitsbergen revealed by an integrative taxonomic approach

Invertebrate Systematics ◽

10.1071/is16001 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 398 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Małgorzata Kolicka ◽

Miroslawa Dabert ◽

Jacek Dabert ◽

Tobias Kånneby ◽

Jacek Kisielewski

Keyword(s):

Sequence Data ◽

Sister Group ◽

New Combination ◽

The Arctic ◽

Polar Regions ◽

28S Rrna ◽

Svalbard Archipelago ◽

Terrestrial Invertebrates ◽

Intestine Length ◽

Taxonomic Research

Gastrotricha is a cosmopolitan phylum of aquatic and semi-terrestrial invertebrates that comprises ~820 described species. To date, freshwater gastrotrichs have not been the subject of faunistic or taxonomic research in the polar regions. In this paper, we present the first species-level description of a freshwater gastrotrich from the Arctic (Svalbard Archipelago). Evidence from morphology, morphometry and molecular analyses reveals that the species represents a new genus in Chaetonotidae: Bifidochaetus arcticus, gen. et sp. nov. Taking into consideration many morphological similarities to Chaetonotus (Primochaetus) veronicae Kånneby, 2013 we propose to include C. (P.) veronicae in the newly established genus under the new combination Bifidochaetus veronicae (Kånneby, 2013), comb. nov. In the phylogenetic analysis based on nuclear 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequence data, B. arcticus, gen. et sp. nov. is nested within the family Chaetonotidae, as the sister group to the genus Lepidochaetus Kisielewski, 1991. In this paper we also present new taxonomic characters useful for gastrotrich taxonomy: the pharynx-to-intestine length ratio (I) and the spine bifurcation ratio (B).

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SourcE and impact of greeNhousE gasses in AntarctiCA: the Seneca project

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-1431 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Livio Ruggiero ◽

Alessandra Sciarra ◽

Adriano Mazzini ◽

Claudio Mazzoli ◽

Valentina Romano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Global Climate ◽

The Arctic ◽

Polar Regions ◽

Dry Valleys ◽

Global Climate Changes ◽

Greenhouse Gasses ◽

Arctic Regions ◽

Geological Discontinuities ◽

The Stability ◽

Shallow Strata

Current global climate changes represent a threat for the stability of the polar regions and may result in cascading broad impacts. Studies conducted on permafrost in the Arctic regions indicate that these areas may store almost twice the carbon currently present in the atmosphere. Therefore, permafrost thawing may potentially cause a significant increase of greenhouse gases concentrations in the atmosphere, exponentially rising the global warming effect. Although several studies have been carried out in the Arctic regions, there is a paucity of data available from the Southern Hemisphere. The Seneca project aims to fill this gap and to provide a first degree of evaluations of gas concentrations and emissions from permafrost and/or thawed shallow strata of the Dry Valleys in Antarctica. The Taylor and Wright Dry Valleys represent one of the few Antarctic areas that are not covered by ice and therefore represent an ideal target for permafrost investigations.Here we present the preliminary results of a multidisciplinary field expedition conducted during the Antarctic summer in the Dry Valleys, aimed to collect and analyse soil gas and water samples, to measure CO2 and CH4 flux exhalation, to investigate the petrological soil properties, and to acquire geoelectrical profiles. The obtained data are used to 1) derive a first total emission estimate for methane and carbon dioxide in this part of the Southern Polar Hemisphere, 2) locate the potential presence of geological discontinuities that can act as preferential gas pathways for fluids release, and 3) investigate the mechanisms of gas migration through the shallow sediments. These results represent a benchmark for measurements in these climate sensitive regions where little or no data are today available.

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Impact of seasonal variations of ambient seismic noise level on the number of registered earthquakes in the Arctic regions

Arctic Environmental Research ◽

10.3897/issn2541-8416.2019.19.3.123 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 123-128

Author(s):

ER Morozova ◽

AP Turova

Keyword(s):

Seasonal Variations ◽

The Arctic ◽

Svalbard Archipelago ◽

Russian Academy Of Sciences ◽

Arctic Regions ◽

European Arctic ◽

Academy Of Sciences ◽

International Seismological Centre ◽

The Impact

Researchers at the Seismological Laboratory of the Institute of Geodynamics and Geology of the Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FCIARctic) have been engaged in the seismological monitoring of the European Arctic sector since 2011. In this paper, we present a comparative assessment of the earthquakes spatial distribution in this region based on the data from the International Seismological Centre (ISC) and the FCIARctic’s Arkhangelsk Seismic Network (ASN) obtained in 2012–2016. The paper presents the waveforms of earthquakes occurred at the Gakkel Ridge and the Svalbard archipelago processed with the use of a Russian software package WSG (Windows Seismic Grafer) recommended by the Unified Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences. A standard 4–8 Hz bandpass filter was used for the processing of regional Arctic earthquakes. The impact of seasonal variations on the quality of earthquakes registration was analysed based on the seismograms recorded by the ASN’s island-based Arctic stations from 2012 to 2014 The same analysis was done for the central broadband sensor SPA0 of the Norwegian NORSAR-owned SPITS group installed at the Svalbard archipelago. A correlation has been established between the number of earthquakes recorded by the ASN’s island Arctic stations and SPA0 station. The number of regional earthquakes, recorded by ASN’s island Arctic stations is is smaller in summer-autumn periods than in winter periods. Forthe SPA0 station, which is part of SPITS group, there is not seasonality in the number of registered earthquakes. Generally, earthquakes are recorded uniformly, exception on January. This might be due to the increased seismic activity in the Svalbard archipelago during that period.

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Japan and 100 Years of Antarctic Legal Order: Any Lessons for the Arctic?

The Yearbook of Polar Law Online ◽

10.1163/2211-6427_002 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 1-54

Author(s):

Akiho Shibata

Keyword(s):

Learning Processes ◽

Legal Order ◽

The Arctic ◽

Polar Regions ◽

Mutual Learning ◽

Arctic Regions ◽

End Products ◽

International Legal Order ◽

History Of ◽

The Antarctic

This paper examines whether core foundational principles can be distilled from the 100 years of history of the legal order-making in the polar regions. Despite differences in geo-physical, socio-historical, and legal circumstances conditioning the Antarctic and the Arctic regions, the examination of the processes of legal order-making in both polar regions demonstrates that there are some foundational principles being assessed and applied in designing their respective legal regimes. The identification of those core foundational principles would not necessarily lead to similar end products, nor would such examination necessarily advocate, for example, an Arctic Treaty System. This paper, instead, submits that between the Antarctic and the Arctic there are mutual learning processes already discernible at the foundational level of process legitimacy in international legal order-making. This examination also provides a broader framework to assess the existing literature that sees certain interactions between the two regimes at the level of substantive principles and rules.

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Differentiation of coarse-mode anthropogenic, marine and dust particles in the high Arctic Islands of Svalbard

10.5194/acp-2021-94 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Congbo Song ◽

Manuel Dall’Osto ◽

Angelo Lupi ◽

Mauro Mazzola ◽

Rita Traversi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Arctic ◽

The Arctic ◽

Dust Particles ◽

Sea Spray ◽

Polar Regions ◽

Long Distance ◽

Svalbard Archipelago ◽

Coarse Mode ◽

Arctic Haze ◽

Natural Aerosol

Abstract. Understanding aerosol-cloud-climate interactions in the Arctic is key to predict the climate in this rapidly changing region. Whilst many studies have focused on submicron aerosol (diameter less than 1 μm), relatively little is known about the climate relevance of supermicron aerosol (diameter above 1 μm). Here, we present a cluster analysis of multiyear (2015–2019) aerodynamic volume size distributions with diameter ranging from 0.5 to 20 μm measured continuously at the Gruvebadet Observatory in the Svalbard archipelago. Together with aerosol chemical composition data from several online and offline measurements, we apportioned the occurrence of the coarse-mode aerosols to anthropogenic (two sources, 27 %) and natural (three sources, 73 %) origins. Specifically, two clusters are related to Arctic haze with high levels of black carbon, sulfate and accumulation mode (0.1–1 μm) aerosol. The first cluster (9 %) is attributed to ammonium sulfate-rich Arctic haze particles, whereas the second one (18 %) to larger-mode aerosol mixed with sea salt. The three natural aerosol clusters were: open ocean sea spray aerosol (34 %), mineral dust (7 %), and an unidentified source of sea spray-related aerosol (32 %). The results suggest that sea spray-related aerosol in polar regions may be more complex than previously thought due to short/long-distance origins and mixtures with Arctic haze, biogenic and likely snow-blowing aerosols. Studying supermicron natural aerosol in the Arctic is imperative for understanding the impacts of changing natural processes on Arctic aerosol.

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Edge displacement scores

10.5194/tc-2020-361 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Arne Melsom

Keyword(s):

Sea Ice ◽

Geographic Location ◽

Ice Cover ◽

The Arctic ◽

Polar Regions ◽

Ice Edge ◽

Sea Ice Edge ◽

Edge Displacement ◽

Thermodynamic Processes

Abstract. As a consequence of a diminishing sea ice cover in the Arctic, activity is on the rise. The position of the sea ice edge, which is generally taken to define the extent of the ice cover, changes in response to dynamic and thermodynamic processes. Forecasts for sea ice expansion due to an advancing ice edge will provide information that can be of significance for operations in polar regions. However, the value of this information depends on the quality of the forecasts. Here, we present methods for examining the quality of forecasted sea ice expansion and the geographic location where the largest expansion are expected from the forecast results. The algorithm is simple to implement, and an examination of two years of model results and accompanying observations demonstrates the usefulness of the analysis.

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Differentiation of coarse-mode anthropogenic, marine and dust particles in the High Arctic islands of Svalbard

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-21-11317-2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (14) ◽

pp. 11317-11335

Author(s):

Congbo Song ◽

Manuel Dall'Osto ◽

Angelo Lupi ◽

Mauro Mazzola ◽

Rita Traversi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

The Arctic ◽

Dust Particles ◽

Sea Spray ◽

Polar Regions ◽

Blowing Snow ◽

Long Distance ◽

Svalbard Archipelago ◽

Coarse Mode ◽

Arctic Haze ◽

Natural Aerosol

Abstract. Understanding aerosol–cloud–climate interactions in the Arctic is key to predicting the climate in this rapidly changing region. Whilst many studies have focused on submicrometer aerosol (diameter less than 1 µm), relatively little is known about the supermicrometer aerosol (diameter above 1 µm). Here, we present a cluster analysis of multiyear (2015–2019) aerodynamic volume size distributions, with diameter ranging from 0.5 to 20 µm, measured continuously at the Gruvebadet Observatory in the Svalbard archipelago. Together with aerosol chemical composition data from several online and offline measurements, we apportioned the occurrence of the coarse-mode aerosols during the study period (mainly from March to October) to anthropogenic (two sources, 27 %) and natural (three sources, 73 %) origins. Specifically, two clusters are related to Arctic haze with high levels of black carbon, sulfate and accumulation mode (0.1–1 µm) aerosol. The first cluster (9 %) is attributed to ammonium sulfate-rich Arctic haze particles, whereas the second one (18 %) is attributed to larger-mode aerosol mixed with sea salt. The three natural aerosol clusters were open-ocean sea spray aerosol (34 %), mineral dust (7 %) and an unidentified source of sea spray-related aerosol (32 %). The results suggest that sea-spray-related aerosol in polar regions may be more complex than previously thought due to short- and long-distance origins and mixtures with Arctic haze, biogenic and likely blowing snow aerosols. Studying supermicrometer natural aerosol in the Arctic is imperative for understanding the impacts of changing natural processes on Arctic aerosol.

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Pedogenic Zonation in the Well-Drained Soils of the Arctic Regions

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1016/0033-5894(86)90086-4 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 100-120 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Fiorenzo C. Ugolini

Keyword(s):

Arctic Region ◽

The Arctic ◽

Polar Regions ◽

Arctic Regions ◽

Arctic Alaska ◽

Latitudinal Transect ◽

Conjugate Bases ◽

Pedogenic Processes ◽

First Time

Pedogenic zonation in the soils of the polar regions is a result of gradients in environmental factors and attendant chemical processes. Along a latitudinal transect, it is best manifested at well-drained sites and by soils developed on predominantly silicate rocks. Selected sites in arctic Alaska, in the Canadian arctic, Greenland, and Svalbard adequately fulfill these prerequisites. The processes of podzolization, decarbonization-carbonization, pervection, and salinization as models of arctic pedogenesis demonstrate that processes occurring in the temperate region also operate in the Far North. Brunification, melanization, and oxidation are recognized for the first time as current geochemical and pedogenic mechanisms of the Arctic region. Traditional genetic soil names have been retained because they represent a closer relationship to pedogenic processes than the more modern nomenclature. The identification, the chemical behavior, the strength, abundance, and mobility of the proton donors and conjugate bases are keys to the genesis of soils and the distinction of contrasting soil processes. This new approach to the understanding of arctic pedogenesis can be better fulfilled by collecting, analyzing, and interpreting soil solution obtained in situ.

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Edge displacement scores

The Cryosphere ◽

10.5194/tc-15-3785-2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (8) ◽

pp. 3785-3796

Author(s):

Arne Melsom

Keyword(s):

Sea Ice ◽

Geographic Location ◽

Ice Cover ◽

The Arctic ◽

Polar Regions ◽

Ice Edge ◽

Sea Ice Edge ◽

Edge Displacement ◽

Thermodynamic Processes

Abstract. As a consequence of a diminishing sea ice cover in the Arctic, activity is on the rise. The position of the sea ice edge, which is generally taken to define the extent of the ice cover, changes in response to dynamic and thermodynamic processes. Forecasts for sea ice expansion on synoptic timescales due to an advancing ice edge will provide information that can be of significance for open ocean operations in polar regions. However, the value of this information depends on the quality of the forecasts. Here, we present methods for examining the quality of forecasted sea ice expansion on sub-seasonal timescales and the geographic location where the largest expansions are expected from the forecast results. The algorithm is simple to implement, and an examination of 2 years of model results and accompanying observations demonstrates the usefulness of the analysis.

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Svalbard and Conflict Management in a Changing Climate

Nordlit ◽

10.7557/13.5027 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

John Ash

Keyword(s):

Conflict Management ◽

Armed Conflict ◽

Analytical Techniques ◽

Interstate Conflict ◽

The Arctic ◽

Short Term ◽

Svalbard Archipelago ◽

Group Violence ◽

Conflict Risk ◽

Catalytic Effects

Conflict in the Arctic is nothing new, and Svalbard is a geographical confluence of factors that create the potential for inter-group violence. The purpose of this paper is to explore those factors, identifying approaches to the evaluation of their associated risk. The emphasis is on biomarine resources, which at present constitute the most likely focus for escalating disputes. Contributory factors, including the catalytic effects of climate change, will also be considered. Given the political progress that has been achieved recently, the most likely situation for an intense interstate conflict in the short term is one that spreads tothe Arctic, rather than one igniting within it. However, as the century progresses, dormant problems relating to the Svalbard archipelago will combine with environmental, economic and political trends to exacerbate conflict risk. Traditionally, armed conflict has been viewed as a phenomenon that cannot be predicted. This view is identified as dangerously misleading. Using a risk based approach and noting advances in analytical techniques, representative scenarios in which conflict may occur are examined and prospective methods of risk management identified.

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