Arctic Research

Home , Banks Island, Victoria Island (Russia)

Arctic Research

Cassiope tetragona Papaver radicatum Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Polygonum viviparum Melandrium apetalum Dryas octopetala

Huperzia arctica Splachnum ampullaceum Eriophorum scheuchzeri

www.nipr.ac.jp National Institute of Polar Research 10-3 Midori-cho, Tachikawa-shi, Tokyo 190-8518, JAPAN 1903G5000(3) Polar bear

The polar bear is largest land-based Ocean. The current polar bear Arctic climate is carnivore on the earth. They can population is estimated at 22,000 grow up to 2 - 2.5 m in length, and to 31,000. They live mainly on sea males can weigh between 250 ice and feed chiefly on seals. For and 600 kg, while females can this reason, they are considered rapidly changing weigh between 150 and 300 kg. marine mammals instead of ter- Living primarily on the islands of restrial ones. Polar bears have Canada, polar bears can also be been listed in the Red List of found in Greenland, Alaska and Threatened Species (IUCN) since Russia in a ring around the Arctic 2006.

EISCAT Radars Japanese facilities Antarctic-Arctic Longyearbyen (Norway) Ny-Ålesund Research Station Aurora Conjugate Longyearbyen office at UNIS Observation Reduction of Arctic ice melting of Greenland Ice Sheet. Recent evaluation Tromsø (Norway) Husafell Accelerating reduction in sea ice extent, diminishing shows a strong relationship between Greenland ice Kiruna (Sweden) Iceland Tjornes Norwegian Sea Sodankyla (Finland) glaciers, and melting and disintegration of Greenland disintegration and sea level rise. We started observa- Greenland Sea Ice Sheet are strong concerns not only in terms of tion on Greenland Ice Sheet to focus the system of Ice EGRIP Barents Sea Greenland Svalbard (DENMARK) Arctic climate change but also global environmental Sheet mass change. Baffin Bay

Kara Sea change. Arctic sea ice and snow cover are important Ellesmere Island components of the Arctic climate system that drives Arctic connection to middle latitudes North Pole polar amplification through ice-albedo feedback. Sea Mid-high latitude atmospheric circulations pass over

TayTaTTaymyrayymyryyrr PeninsulaP i ice is a fragile component affected by the warming continents and sub-arctic seas. Circum-Arctic atmo- Victoria Island 2 climate, and changes in it transfer anomalous condi- spheric circulation is affected by land-sea distribution. 3 Banks Island tions to various areas of the environment, including The Arctic amplification is a leading mode of atmo- oceanic processes, marine ecosystem, atmospheric spheric circulation in the high-middle latitudes in the

CANADA processes, and terrestrial conditions. northern hemisphere. Arctic circulation patterns Arctic Ocean The Arctic Ocean is surrounded by the Eurasian influence the weather of many countries, including RUSSIAUS A AlaskaAlaAlA k (USA)A Continent, North American Continent, Greenland, and Japan. This phenomenon often determines colder many Arctic islands. It is thus connected directly to winter anomalies with snow cover and cold air outbursts human activities in the Arctic countries, and is often from Siberia. Anomalous weather influences also the setting for international economic activities. terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Observations of One of the Arctic’s important influences on the snow and ice are substantial for Arctic Climate Bering Sea Sea of Okhotsk An image of the Arctic taken by NASA's Earth-observing satellite global environment is sea level rise is accelerated by research. Aqua (September 3, 2010) Aqua is an international project, and the satellite is equipped with several countries' sensors, including Kamchatka Peninsula JAPAN some developed by JAXA in Japan. Credit: NASA Goddard's Scientific Visualization Studio

the Arctic the Arctic Ocean Ocean The Arctic As of January, 2018 Arctic amplification and extreme weather conditions

The North Pole refers to a point as Antarctica. There are many Weather in Japan, which lies between and North America. It has been specu- Siberia High Longyearbyen, the biggest at 90 degrees north, and the inhabited settlements within the the Arctic and the tropics, can be affect- lated that this “Warm Arctic, Cold Con- town on the island of Spits- Low region above 66.5 degrees north Arctic Circle, and the region has ed by climate change in the Arctic re- tinents” trend pattern is due to sea-ice bergen in the Svalbard Ar- latitude is generally called the more vegetation than Antarctica. gion. In recent years, sea-ice loss and loss and mid-latitude oceanic changes. chipelago, is accessible by Japan Japan warmer air from the south have caused Other theories have been advanced as Arctic Circle. There is no land at The Arctic sea ice extent in sum- commercial air service. The the North Pole. The Arctic Ocean, mer tends to shrink. It is about standard route from Japan extremely high temperatures in the Arc- well. At present there are insufficient which is ringed by the Eurasian half of that in the 1980s. begins in Narita and in- tic Ocean, with rainfall occurring even in observation data to scientifically sub- and North American continents cludes layovers in Oslo and mid-winter. This condition has coincid- stantiate any of the theories. Continu- ed with severe winter weather in the ous observation and data collection Meandering westerlies are involved Cold air flows into Japan from the Eurasian and Greenland, covers an area of Tromsø, Norway. The total in the “Warm Arctic, Cold Continents” continent under a western-high 14 million km2, or about the same size flight time is about 16 hours. mid-latitudes including Japan, Europe are therefore indispensable. trend pattern. and eastern-low pressure pattern. Polar bear

the Arctic the Arctic Ocean Ocean The Arctic As of January, 2018 Arctic amplification and extreme weather conditions

Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) temperature and creates PSCs. Extracting evidence have been frequently observed in The increase of greenhouse gas- the Arctic as well as Antarctic. es is thought to cause strato- PSCs are formed in the stratospheric cooling as well as troposphere at an altitude of 15-25 km, spheric warming. The stratospheric of global climate change which are much higher than usu- cooling aids in the formation of al tropospheric clouds at an alti- PSCs. Chemical reactions on the tude of 0-10 km. Although water surface of PSCs are thought to pro- vapor is very scarce in the strato- mote ozone depletion. from the Arctic atmosphere and ice sphere, it freezes in the very low

Human activities’ effect on climate change Long-term monitoring of greenhouse gases, aero- Greenland Ice Sheet: A frozen archive of present, it will be possible to estimate the potential We have continually monitored greenhouse gases, such sols and clouds are essential for elucidating their past climates and environments decline of the Greenland Ice Sheet in a warmer earth as carbon dioxide and methane, in the Arctic atmo- effects on climate change. Atmospheric observation An immense ice sheet covers most of Greenland. In and the impact of such a decline on sea-level rise, as

sphere since 1991. For more accurate prediction of the in the Arctic has just begun in this sense. recent years, there have been concerns about well as predict climate and environmental changes. Ice

climate of the future, we need to know more precisely increased ice loss from the Greenland Ice Sheet and core analysis will also allow us to assess the possibility about the current variability of these gases. the resultant rise in sea levels. The increase in ice loss of the kind of extreme climate change that occurred in Actually greenhouse gases are increasing by human is believed to be caused by increased melting and the last glacial period. It is known that there were more activities, and thus it is believed that the current global accelerated flow of ice into the ocean, but the specific than 20 times of abrupt temperature rises by 10°C in warming is caused by the increase of greenhouse gases. mechanisms involved have not been identified. just a few decades during the last glacial period. 4 However, atmospheric constituents produced by human Japan is a member of the East Greenland Ice-core 5 activities do not always contribute solely to global Project (EGRIP) being carried out at the onset of the warming. Aerosol is one of such constituents. North East Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS), Greenland’s Aerosol consists of liquid - and/or solid - state particu- largest ice stream. Ice core drilling and analysis will late matters suspended in the atmosphere. Aerosol allow us to understand ice flow within the NEGIS. It will particles come from not only natural sources but also also provide an opportunity to reconstruct past anthropogenic materials. Aerosol has two important climates and environments up to the middle of the last effects in the global climate: a direct effect by reflect- glacial period- (50,000 – 60,000 years ago). ing incoming solar radiation, and an indirect effect by By carefully investigating the climate and environ- modulating cloud reflectance. In general, aerosol has a ment of the early Holocene (current interglacial), EGRIP field facility for ice core processing. The white column lying on the table cooling effect in the atmosphere. Sky-radiometer for monitoring aerosol optical properties at Ny-Ålesund which is believed to have been 3°C warmer than the is an ice core.

Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases EGRIP: An international deep ice coring project

1950 Monitoring of atmospheric minor 410 EGRIP is a deep ice coring project in for various investigations (stable iso- Ny-Ålesund,Svalbard constituents has continued in Ny- 400 1900 East Greenland being carried about topes of water, greenhouse gases, Syowa Station,Antarctica Ålesund since 1991. In the Arctic 390 1850 by 12 nations including Denmark, black carbon, dust, etc.). The results region, CO2 and CH4 concentra- 380 1800 Germany, Japan, Norway, the United of the analyses will tell us about the tions show clear seasonal cycles 370 1750 States, France, Switzerland. Coring climate and environment during under the influence of forests and 360 1700 began in 2015 and will be continued the Holocene warm period, which is Ny-Ålesund,Svalbard

concentration (ppm) 350 wetlands in the northern hemi- concentration (ppb) to the bedrock at a depth of about believed to have been approxi- 2 1650 4 Syowa Station,Antarctica sphere. Also seen are secular in- 340 2,600 meters. Samples cut from mately 3°C warmer than the pres- CO

CH 1600 creases of concentrations in the 85 90 95 00 05 10 15 year 85 90 95 00 05 10 15 year the ice core are distributed to scien- ent, as well as the abrupt climate EGRIP camp. Researchers from all over the world work together, utilizing the latest Arctic and Antarctic regions. CO2 (left) and CH4 (right) concentrations observed at Ny-Ålesund and Syowa Station. tists in participating countries changes in the last glacial period. technologies to conduct ice core drilling and analyses. The key role of PSCs in ozone hole formation

sphere since 1991. For more accurate prediction of the in the Arctic has just begun in this sense. recent years, there have been concerns about well as predict climate and environmental changes. Ice

Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases EGRIP: An international deep ice coring project

The Arctic coastal area is one of the plankton, and the remainder sinks We are studying Arctic ecosystem most productive phytoplankton to the bottom as organic parti- regions in the world. Sea ice melt cles. The zooplankton is then Banks Island starts from June in the Arctic preyed upon by pelagic fish and Ocean. At this time, strong sun- whales, and the particles are con- and its response to climate change light suddenly penetrates the sumed by macro fauna in the sea- surface ocean, causing a rapid floor. The magnitude of phyto- CANADA increase in phytoplankton (called plankton blooming is an import- Ocean colour satellite image in the coast of Arctic Ocean. A high chlorophyll concen- “blooming”). Much of the phyto- ant element of the Arctic Ocean tration was observed (>10 mgm-3, orange colored area) by satellite on June 25, 2011. plankton is grazed upon by zoo- ecosystem.

After glaciers retreated, a few plants invade the retreated area. Vegetation developed over time and animals show up there.

Arctic terrestrial ecosystem’s response Possibility of change: marine ecosystem to climate change Next, we focused on the Arctic marine ecosystem. We Current climate change predictions indicate that warm- studied the long-term changes of coccolithophores

ing will be more pronounced at high latitudes in the (one of the phytoplankton taxa) in the Bering Sea. We

Northern Hemisphere. The Arctic terrestrial ecosys- found that the coccolithophores drastically increased tem is believed to be extremely susceptible to climate from the late 1990s due to sea surface water warming. change, and major ecological impacts are expected to However, the concentration decreased from the late appear rapidly. Responses of the ecosystem carbon 2000s due to rapid cooling. Thus, climate variability cycle to climate change are of crucial importance, directly affected the ecosystem in the Bering Sea. 6 because of the large carbon stock in Arctic soils and 7 possible feedback effect on global atmospheric CO2. Understanding how Arctic predators inter- However, because of the diverse responses of eco- act with the environment system components to climate change, overall We have been conducting field research to understand response of the ecosystem carbon cycle to climate how top predators in the Arctic Ocean (such as polar change is difficult to predict. We are investigating bears, bearded seals, and Greenland sharks) interact the contribution of each ecosystem component to with the environment. This research has been made carbon flow, and the response of the components to possible by our development of tiny animal-attached environmental parameters, as prerequisites for pre- tags that record various parameters (e.g., depth, accel- dicting response of the Arctic terrestrial ecosystem eration, and position) at a minute scale. to climate change.

Plants living in the Arctic Development of swimming skill in bearded seal pups

Arctic flora comprises more than Seals are major top predators animal-attached tags in Svalbard, 900 vascular plant species, of and play important ecological Norway. The results showed that which two thirds would be endemic roles in the Arctic Ocean. They these animals rapidly increase species. There are over 100 vas- are born on land or ice and must their swim speed and distance cular species in Spitsbergen acquire the diving and swimming using a stroke cycle with age, with Island, Svalbard, where NIPR’s skills required to forage and avoid older pups incorporating more Arctic station is situated. predators during their early lives. stroke-and-glide swimming. We recorded the depth, swim speed, and acceleration of bearded Saxifraga oppositifolia Salix polaris Silene acaulis seal pups (aged 0-17 days) by using A bearded seal on the ice Phytoplankton in the Arctic Ocean

After glaciers retreated, a few plants invade the retreated area. Vegetation developed over time and animals show up there.

ing will be more pronounced at high latitudes in the (one of the phytoplankton taxa) in the Bering Sea. We

Plants living in the Arctic Development of swimming skill in bearded seal pups

Auroras are excited by charged Severe magnetic storms fre- mercial satellites are orbiting, is Quest for climate change mechanism particles coming from the solar quently cause satellite malfunc- considered as a part of the hu- wind and the Earth's magneto- tions and large induced currents manosphere. Science data from sphere which finally collide with in the ground-level power grid. In EISCAT radars are fully utilized the polar atmosphere. We can see order to reduce these risks, for maintaining and monitoring through the Arctic upper-middle Ionosphere bright and active auroras when “space weather” is being studied the humanosphere. solar activity is particularly high. to improve numerical model Solar activity has a strong influ- through real-time monitoring of Modern infrastructure affected ence on not only auroral activity solar activity. The polar upper atmospheric observations by space weather but also the upper atmosphere. atmosphere, where many com-

Magnetosphere Transition between Earth and Space: The upper atmosphere. It enables us to measure precisely 1000 km upper and middle atmosphere density, temperature and velocity in the atmosphere The mesosphere, thermosphere and ionosphere from an altitude of 60 km up to higher than 1,000 km

spreading over the troposphere and stratosphere by analyzing integrated faint radar signals scattered Ionosphere Thermosphere are invisible shields protecting all life on the Earth from from electrons in the upper atmosphere. Affiliated in Satellite 300 km～ harsh electromagnetic radiation and high-energy the EISCAT Scientific association as the representa- particles from the Sun. Recent studies made it clear tive of Japan since 1996, NIPR has contributed to

that these regions are playing an important role in cutting edge research using EISCAT radars. Left top: Tromsø optical observation facility / Right top: Longyearbyen 90 km optical observation facility / Left below: Iceland optical instruments Mesosphere Right below: Longyearbyen meteor radar Aurora global circulation and climate change with upward The EISCAT radars are deployed in Tromsø (Norway), 60 km 100～500 km 8 Stratosphere disturbances from the lower atmosphere/ground and Kiruna (Sweden), Sodankyla (Finland) and Longyearbyen Integrated ground-based observation of 9 10 km Troposphere Aircraft downward energy input from space. The National (Svalbard). The EISCAT_3D project, which aims major the Arctic upper atmosphere 10 km Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) is intensively upgrade of the existing EISCAT mainland radars with NIPR has made integrated ground-based observations Balloon 30 km promoting observations and research in these regions cutting-edge multi-static phased array is now in progress. based on EISCAT radars in Svalbard and northern Scan- in collaboration with foreign and domestic research dinavia, including meteor radars and aurora/airglow institutes. imagers to study the mesosphere, lower thermosphere and upper atmosphere. With the unique merit of the EISCAT Radar: The most powerful facility geomagnetic conjugate relationship between Syowa for sounding the upper atmosphere Station and Iceland, NIPR has contributed to conjugate The European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) radar is auroral study with integrated observations using riome-

one of the most powerful facilities for sounding the EISCAT Svalbard radar ters, magnetometers and optical aurora instruments.

Long-term variations of the polar upper atmosphere 2500 Conjugate observation of auroras

The temperature of the upper influenced by the lower atmo- 2000 Auroras are commonly observed has conducted simultaneous au- atmosphere is affected by varia- sphere and electromagnetic and within the “aurora oval”, a dough- roral observations in Iceland tions in solar EUV and X-ray particle energies from the mag- 1500 nut-shaped area in both polar and Syowa Station, Antarctica, radiation. The thermospheric netosphere. The EISCAT radar regions. Aurora particles are which are tied by the same geo- temperature under high solar has continued to obtain upper thought to precipitate into the magnetic field line. It has been 1000 activities (1989 - 1992 and 2000 - atmospheric parameters since polar regions along geomagnetic found that the patterns of slow Ion temperature(K) Ion 2003) is about 500 K higher than 1981, and contributed to study field lines. If this is the case, is it and steady auroras are similar 500 that under low solar activities. on long-term variations of the 85 90 95 00 05 10 15 year possible to observe mirror-image each other, but the conjugacy be- The temperature and density in upper atmosphere in the polar Time variation of ion temperature at an altitude of 300 km over 34years auroras in both polar regions? In or- comes poor for bright and active the upper atmosphere are also regions. as measured with the EISCAT Tromsø UHF radar der to answer this question, NIPR auroras in both hemispheres. Conjugate aurora pictures in Iceland(Left) and Syowa Station(Right) at same time Field line Charged particles Aurora oval “Space Weather” affecting our daily lives

one of the most powerful facilities for sounding the EISCAT Svalbard radar ters, magnetometers and optical aurora instruments.

Long-term variations of the polar upper atmosphere 2500 Conjugate observation of auroras

Ny-Ålesund is located on the island at the heart of the research vil- International collaborations of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Ar- lage in April 2019. There are chipelago, which is about 1,000 km dedicated space for Japan (bed north-northwest of Tromsø in rooms, living room, observation northern Norway. The Rabben room, dry laboratory, equipment in the Arctic sciences station, familiar to all Japanese room, storage) and some facili- researchers for about 30 years, ties shared with other countries has been replaced by the new re- in the new research station. search station (Terrestrial sci- for a sustainable earth environment ence building) being completed

International collaborations Japanese observatory in the Arctic The Arctic region is undergoing a rapid change in climate, AERC manages an Arctic observatory called the Ny-Åle-

and the effects of this are evident in various regions and sund station and an office at the University Centre in

countries. Japan is working with Arctic countries to study Svalbard (UNIS) in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen Island.

this problem. Japan aims at contribution to Arctic re- Ny-Ålesund is a unique observation site that features an search in the international partnerships with the Arctic international observing system operated by 11 countries. community. The Arctic Environment Research Center Japan supports the international coordination of this (AERC) was established in June 1990 at the National system. AERC assists researchers visiting this area.

Institute of Polar Research to promote sea ice study, AERC also supports cooperative and international re- 10 oceanography, marine ecology, terrestrial ecology, atmo- search at the research and/or observation facilities in 11 spheric science, and upper atmospheric science. other Arctic regions, such as Alaska, northern Canada, The International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) Russia, and Iceland. has established in 1990 by eight Arctic countries. Japan joined IASC in 1991 when IASC invited the par- Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing ticipation of countries contributing to Arctic study. System (SIOS) project IASC has five working groups (WG): Atmosphere WG, In 2018, the SIOS project has officially started to Cryosphere WG, Terrestrial WG, Marine WG and Social strengthen monitoring and researches on global-scale & Human WG. Japan sends personnel to IASC’s WGs, climate changes in Svalbard Archipelago and surround- the Forum of Arctic Operators (FARO), and Ny-Ålesund ing sea areas by utilizing member countries' observa- Science Managers Committee (NySMAC). tion system more integratedly. NIPR has affiliated in the SIOS consortium as a founding member.

Ny-Ålesund is an international research village.

Svalbard Treaty Two flagship projects encouraging the study on the Arctic – ArCS and J-ARC Net)

In 1920, immediately after World Article 1: Norway has sovereignty Archipelago and to stay and [ArCS: Arctic Challenge for date the changes in the climate and [Japan Arctic Research Network environment and human activity, War I, a multinational treaty was over the Svalbard Archipelago. conduct activities there. Sustainability] environment, clarify their effects on Center (J-ARC Net)] as well as to find approaches for concluded regarding the adminis- Article 2: Signatories to the trea- Article 9: No country, including The Arctic research project, called human society, and provide accu- AERC is working with the Arctic solving problems through the col- tration of the Svalbard Archipela- ty are granted the same fishing Norway, can establish military ArCS, is a flagship project funded by rate projections and environmental Research Center at Hokkaido Uni- laborative efforts of industry, gov- go. Under this treaty, Norway and hunting rights enjoyed by Nor- bases on the islands. the Ministry of Education, Culture, assessments for internal and exter- versity and the Japan Agency for ernment, and academia. AERC also was granted full sovereignty over way in the Svalbard Archipelago. Sports, Science and Technology, nal stakeholders so that they can Marine-Earth Science and Technol- provides facilities for researchers. Svalbard, but the signatories were Article 3: The people of the sig- In accordance with this treaty, the which is carried out from Septem- make appropriate decisions on the ogy (JAMSTEC) as partners of http://j-arcnet.arc.hokudai.ac.- permitted to engage freely in ac- natory nations are granted the Svalbard Archipelago has been ber 2015 to March 2020. NIPR plays sustainable development of the J-ARC Net. Established in April jp/?lang=en tivities on the islands. The main same rights as Norwegian na- opened to the scientists of the The R. Amundsen Monument a core role in ArCS as the principal Arctic region. 2016, J-ARC Net seeks to strength- points of the treaty are as follows: tionals to access the Svalbard world as a base for polar research. welcomes visitors to Ny-Ålesund institute. The project aims to eluci- https://www.arcs-pro.jp/en/ en interdisciplinary studies on the Ny-Ålesund Research Station