Annual Observations of the Biological and Physical Marine Environment in the Chukchi and Nearshore Beaufort Seas near Barrow, AK

The Arctic Ocean ecosystem may respond dramatically to climate change through already observed modification of the physical environment (e.g., hydrography and ice cover). A better understanding of the coupled biological-physical ocean ecosystem, and its interannual variability, is necessary to predict and understand these potential impacts of climate change on the Arctic ecosystem. The Chukchi-Beaufort Sea region near Barrow, AK, including coastal waters, has been identified as key because it lies at the junction of several ocean regions and downstream of the Pacific Arctic gateway and hence is influenced physically and ecologically by input from Bering Strait. Researchers have conducted oceanographic sampling of the coupled physical and biological marine environment in the Chukchi and near-shore Beaufort Seas for five years (2005 - 2009), including coastal waters, using boat-based surveys during late summer and short-term (month) and year-long bottom-mounted moorings, and have observed significant interannual variability. They will now establish annual surveys of the pelagic marine environment and deploy a year-round mooring in Barrow Canyon as components of the Arctic Observing Network (AON). The surveys will measure a range of biological and physical parameters including hydrography, currents, plankton standing stocks, nutrients, and plankton genetics. The mooring will measure ocean currents, near bottom temperature and salinity, and acoustic backscatter (zooplankton proxy) in Barrow Canyon at a location typically within or beneath the Alaska Coastal Current. Results from this AON component will provide a 10-year record and enable a better understanding of inter-annual variability in the physical and biological characteristics of the Barrow area ocean confluence. Based on these data, changes in biological characteristics that respond to larger climate change can be detected. This proposed AON component includes measurements of key oceanic biological and chemical parameters, and their coupling to physical parameters from a region sensitive to climate change. The researchers will actively communicate plans and results with the community of Barrow through formal and informal discussions and presentations. They will also support the participation of a teacher in fieldwork for two of the years. Sponsor:University of Rhode Island, Research Office, Kingston, RI 02881-1967

北极海洋生态系统或因已观测到的物理环境（如水文状况（hydrography）与海冰覆盖（ice cover））改变，对气候变化产生剧烈响应。为预测并理解气候变化对北极生态系统的潜在影响，亟需更深入认识生物-物理耦合海洋生态系统及其年际变率。
位于阿拉斯加州巴罗附近的楚科奇-波弗特海（Chukchi-Beaufort Sea）海域（含近岸水域）被认定为关键研究区域：该海域地处多个大洋区域的交汇处，且位于北极太平洋通道下游，因此其物理与生态过程受白令海峡（Bering Strait）输入的影响显著。
研究人员已针对楚科奇海及近岸波弗特海的生物-物理耦合海洋环境开展了为期五年（2005-2009年）的海洋学采样，采样覆盖近岸水域，采用夏季末乘船调查、短期（月度）与长期（全年）海底锚系观测的方式，并观测到显著的年际变率。
目前，研究团队计划将巴罗峡谷（Barrow Canyon）的全年锚系观测与远洋海洋环境年度调查纳入北极观测网（Arctic Observing Network, AON）。本次调查将测定一系列生物与物理参数，包括水文状况、海流、浮游生物现存量、营养盐及浮游生物遗传学（plankton genetics）特征；锚系观测则将在阿拉斯加沿岸流（Alaska Coastal Current）通常流经或其下方的巴罗峡谷区域，测定海流、近底温度与盐度，以及声学背散射（acoustic backscatter，浮游动物替代指标）。
该北极观测网项目组分的观测数据将形成长达10年的记录，助力我们更深入理解巴罗海域汇流区物理与生物特征的年际变率。依托这些数据，可检测到响应全球气候变化的生物特征变化。本拟建的北极观测网项目组分将测定关键海洋生物与化学参数，并分析其与气候变化敏感区域的物理参数间的耦合关系。
研究团队将通过正式与非正式交流、学术报告等形式，与巴罗当地社区积极共享研究计划与成果；同时还将支持一名教师参与其中两年的野外调查工作。
资助方：罗德岛大学研究办公室，金斯敦，罗得岛州02881-1967