Modern sedimentation in the Northern Barents Sea : input, dipersal and deposition of suspended sediments from glacial meltwater

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution August 1984The modern depositional environment of the northern epicontinental Barents Sea varies from proximal to distal glaciomarine. The regional surface sediment distribution is controlled by erosion of shallow banks of the Pleistocene glaciated surface, with the fine material deposited in the deep basins. Near-bottom nepheloid layers are often observed indicating that fine grained sediments are being transported under present conditions. Minor additional sediment is supplied by iceberg rafting englacial material and sea-ice containing aeolian, resuspended, and beach sediments. Glacial flour is supplied by several large stable meltwater outflow locations along the ice front. Because the water is fresh and nearly the same temperature as the ambient coastal water, it is bouyant. Although the traction load deposits as the meltwater plume rises to the sea surface, sand (as well as finer material) may be suspended. This material deposits from suspension at some distance from the discharge location (dependent on both the sediment settling velocity and the velocity of the ambient coastal water, resulting in well-sorted deposits near the outflow location). Most of the sediment in suspension is observed to deposit within a 5km radius of the outflow location, and suspended matter samples obtained 18km offshore were at background levels. However, meltwater plumes can often be observed in the surface water (in satellite photographs) at distances of 30km downstream, indicating transport of glacial sediments along the ice front. Near the Nordaustlandet glacier front surface sediments are disturbed by glaciers advances and retreats which mechanically rework the sediment surface. The southwestern portion of the glacier front, Brasvellbreen, surged 18km between 1936 and 1938. An end moraine was deposited at the maximum extent of the surge. The ice then stagnated and disintegrated through calving. At present on the eastern portion of the Brasvellbreen ice front is active with frequent small (less than 50m) glacier advances and retreats. Evidence for this is shown by the minor ridge and swale moraines in this eastern area.The Office of Naval Research supported my thesis research

Germany's New Research Center for Marine Geosciences (GEOMAR)

GEOMAR was founded in June 1987 as an institution dedicated to marine geosciences and technological development. The institution consists of three interacting organizations: the Research Center for Marine Geosciences, the “Technologie GmbH,” and the Technology Park. The GEOMAR Research Center for Marine Geosciences is central to this new institution. The director of the Research Center is Joern Thiede

Eyes Off the Earth?

Survey researchers have observed significant political divisions in the United States with regard to public trust of science related to evolution, the environment, vaccines, genetically modified organisms, and other topics. Conservatives are less likely than moderates or liberals to say they trust scientists for information on any of these topics

Bridging the Poles: Education Linked with Research: A Report on the Workshop: 23-25 June 2004, Washington, D.C.

The goals of the "Bridging the Poles" workshop of June 23-25, 2004 were to define strategies to engage the next generation of polar scientists, engineers and leaders, and inspire and educate the general public. The timeframe considered was the next five years, including maximizing the educational impact of the International Polar Year (IPY) in 2007-2009 (see inset below). The ca. 65 participants included K-12 educators, undergraduate professors, Arctic and Antarctic research scientists, Alaskan natives and residents, museum curators, representatives from agencies, the media and international programs. The workshop focused on four major themes: Reaching different levels; Engaging diverse communities; Possibilities for thematic areas; and Programs to feature nationally and internationally. The 22 roundtable discussions on these topics resulted in numerous recommendations to engage both future scientists and the general public. This report synthesizes opportunities for polar education and outreach identified at the workshop, recommends ways to maximize the impact of the IPY, and proposes "Next Steps" to develop polar education and outreach over the next five years

Education and Outreach for the International Polar Year

If the 65 educators, scientists, and media specialists who gathered at the "Bridging the Poles" workshop in Washington, D.C. last June have their way a semitrailer truck labeled "Got Snow?" would traverse the country during the International Polar Year (IPY) of 2007-2009 loaded with polar gear, interactive activities, and a snowmaker. We would significantly increase the number of Arctic residents—especially indigenous Alaskans—with Ph.D.s. We would build exchange programs between inner city youths and polar residents. Polar exhibitions would open at natural history and art museums and zoos. And polar postage stamps, interactive polar computer games, national polar book-of-the-month recommendations, made-for-TV polar documentaries, and a polar youth forum would bring the poles front and center to the public's attention

Particle-laden Eurasian Arctic sea ice: observations from July and August 1987

During the summer 1987 expedition of the polar research vessel‘Polarstern’in the Eurasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean, sea ice at about 84-86°N and 20-30°E was found to have high concentrations of particulate material. The particle-laden ice occurred in patches which often darkened more than half the ice surface at our northernmost positions. Much of this ice appeared to be within the Siberian Branch of the Transpolar Drift stream, which transports deformed, multi-year ice from the Siberian shelves westward across the Eurasian Basin. Lithogenic sediment, which is the major component of the particulate material, may have been incorporated during ice formation on the shallow Siberian seas. Diatoms collected from the particle-rich ice surfaces support this conclusion, as assemblages were dominated by a marine benthic species similar to that reported from sea ice off the coast of northeast Siberia. Based on drift trajectories of buoys deployed on the ice it appears that much of the particle-laden ice exited the Arctic Ocean through the Fram Strait and joined the East Greenland Current. Very different sea ice characteristics were found east of the Yermak Plateau and north of Svalbard and Frans Josef Land up to about 83-84°N. Here sea ice was thinner, less deformed, with lower amounts of lithogenic sediment and diatoms. The diatom assemblage was dominated by planktonic freshwater species. Trajectories of buoys deployed on sea ice in this region indicated a tendency for southward transport to the Yermak Plateau or into the Barents Sea

A 5˚C Arctic in a 2°C World. Challenges and recommendations for immediate action from the July 21-22, 2016 Workshop: Briefing Paper for Arctic Science Ministerial, September 20, 2016

The Columbia Climate Center, in partnership with World Wildlife Fund, Woods Hole Research Center, and Arctic 21, held a workshop titled A 5˚C Arctic in a 2˚C World on July 20 and 21, 2016. The workshop was co-sponsored by the International Arctic Research Center (University of Alaska Fairbanks), the Arctic Institute of North America (Canada), the MEOPAR Network (Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction, and Response), and the Future Ocean Excellence Cluster. The goal of the workshop was to advance thinking on the science and policy implications of the temperature change in the context of the 1.5 to <2˚C warming expected for the globe, as discussed during the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at Paris in 2015. For the Arctic, such an increase means an anticipated increase of roughly 3.5 to 5˚C. An international group of 41 experts shared perspectives on the regional and global impacts of an up to +5˚C Arctic, examined the feasibility of actively lowering Arctic temperatures, and considered realistic timescales associated with such interventions. The group also discussed the science and the political and governance actions required for alternative Arctic futures

White Arctic vs. Blue Arctic: A case study of diverging stakeholder responses to environmental change

Recent trends and climate models suggest that the Arctic summer sea ice cover is likely to be lost before climate interventions can stabilize it. There are environmental, socioeconomic, and sociocultural arguments for, but also against, restoring and sustaining current conditions. Even if global warming can be reversed, some people will experience ice‐free summers before perennial sea ice begins to return. We ask: How will future generations feel about bringing sea ice back where they have not experienced it before? How will conflicted interests in ice‐covered vs. ice‐free conditions be resolved? What role will science play in these debates

Increased Transnational Sea Ice Transport Between Neighboring Arctic States in the 21st Century

The Arctic is undergoing a rapid transition toward a seasonal ice regime, with widespread implications for the polar ecosystem, human activities, as well as the global climate. Here we focus on how the changing ice cover impacts transborder exchange of sea ice between the exclusive economic zones of the Arctic states. We use the Sea Ice Tracking Utility, which follows ice floes from formation to melt, in conjunction with output diagnostics from two ensembles of the Community Earth System Model that follow different future emissions scenarios. The Community Earth System Model projects that by midcentury, transnational ice exchange will more than triple, with the largest increase in the amount of transnational ice originating from Russia and the Central Arctic. However, long‐distance ice transport pathways are predicted to diminish in favor of ice exchanged between neighboring countries. By the end of the 21st century, we see a large difference between the two future emissions scenarios considered: Consistent nearly ice‐free summers under the high emissions scenario act to reduce the total fraction of transnational ice exchange compared to midcentury, whereas the low emissions scenario continues to see an increase in the proportion of transnational ice. Under both scenarios, transit times are predicted to decrease to less than 2 yr by 2100, compared to a maximum of 6 yr under present‐day conditions and 2.5 yr by midcentury. These significant changes in ice exchange and transit time raise important concerns regarding risks associated with ice‐rafted contaminants.</p

Impact of gameplay vs. reading on mental models of social-ecological systems: a fuzzy cognitive mapping approach

Climate change is a highly complex social-ecological problem characterized by system-type dynamics that are important to communicate in a variety of settings, ranging from formal education to decision makers to informal education of the general public. Educational games are one approach that may enhance systems thinking skills. This study used a randomized controlled experiment to compare the impact on the mental models of participants of an educational card game vs. an illustrated article about the Arctic social-ecological system. A total of 41 participants (game: n = 20; reading: n = 21) created pre- and post-intervention mental models of the system, based on a "fuzzy cognitive mapping" approach. Maps were analyzed using network statistics. Both reading the article and playing the game resulted in measurable increases in systems understanding. The group reading the article perceived a more complex system after the intervention, with overall learning gains approximately twice those of the game players. However, game players demonstrated similar learning gains as article readers regarding the climate system, actions both causing environmental problems and protecting the Arctic, as well as the importance of the base- and mid-levels of the food chain. These findings contribute to the growing evidence showing that games are important resources to include as strategies for building capacity to understand and steward sustainable social-ecological systems, in both formal and informal education