Introduction to marine systems in the Arctic
Published: September 28, 2009, 1:03 pm
Updated: May 7, 2012, 4:55 pm
Author: International Arctic Science Committee (Introduction to marine systems in the Arctic)
This is Section 9.1 of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment
Lead Author: Harald Loeng; Contributing Authors: Keith Brander, Eddy Carmack, Stanislav Denisenko, Ken Drinkwater, Bogi Hansen, Kit Kovacs, Pat Livingston, Fiona McLaughlin, Egil Sakshaug; Consulting Authors: Richard Bellerby, Howard Browman,Tore Furevik, Jacqueline M. Grebmeier, Eystein Jansen, Steingrimur Jónsson, Lis Lindal Jørgensen, Svend-Aage Malmberg, Svein Østerhus, Geir Ottersen, Koji Shimada
Approximately two-thirds of the area addressed by the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment is ocean. This includes the Arctic Ocean and its adjacent shelf seas, as well as the Nordic Seas, the Labrador Sea, and the Bering Sea. These are very important areas from a climate change perspective since processes occurring in the Arctic affect the rate of deep-water formation in the convective regions of the North Atlantic, thereby influencing the global ocean circulation. Also, climate models consistently show the Arctic to be one of the most sensitive regions to climate change.
Many arctic life forms, including humans, are directly or indirectly dependent on productivity from the sea. Several physical factors combine to make arctic marine systems unique including: a very high proportion of continental shelves and shallow water; a dramatic seasonality and overall low level of sunlight (Solar radiation); extremely low water temperatures; presence of extensive areas of multi-year and seasonal sea-ice cover; and a strong influence from freshwater, coming from rivers and ice melt. Such factors represent harsh conditions for many types of marine life. In geological terms, the arctic fauna is young; recent glaciations resulted in major losses in biodiversity, and recolonization has been slow owing to the extreme environmental conditions and low productivity of the arctic system. This has resulted in arctic ecosystems, in a global sense, being considered "simple". They largely comprise specialist species that have been able to adapt to the extreme conditions, and overall species diversity (Biodiversity) is low. The large seasonal pulse of summer production in the Arctic, which occurs during the period of 24 hours light, is particularly pronounced near the ice edge and in shallow seas such as the Barents and Bering Seas.This attracts seasonal migrants that travel long distances to take advantage of the arctic summers and then return south to overwinter.
This assessment has also considered the effects of changes in ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, although UV-B radiation can result in negative impacts on marine organisms and populations, it is only one of many environmental factors that can result in the types of mortality typically observed. It is thus important to assess the relative importance, and hence potential impact, of ozone depletion-related increases in solar UV-B radiation on arctic marine ecosystems.
The Arctic Ocean has not been considered a significant sink for carbon. This is because its extensive sea-ice cover constrains atmosphere–ocean exchange, and because levels of biological production under multi-year sea ice were believed low. Under warmer climate conditions, however, the amount of carbon sequestered by the Arctic Ocean may increase significantly. In addition, the Arctic’s role as a source of carbon (methane and carbon dioxide, CH4 and CO2 respectively) is poorly understood owing to frozen reserves in permafrost and gas hydrate layers.
This chapter addresses physical features and processes related to marine climate and their impact on the marine ecosystem. Climate change scenarios for the ocean are very uncertain as most models focus mainly on changes in the atmosphere. Such models are not definitive about changes to ocean circulation, deep-water formation, or the fate of major ocean fronts. Therefore, the conclusions drawn in this chapter regarding likely changes in the marine ecosystem are based on scenarios determined from the projected changes in the atmosphere coupled with the present understanding of how atmospheric forcing influences the ocean, as well as the output from a few ocean models.
Chapter 9: Marine Systems
9.1. Introduction
9.2. Physical oceanography
9.2.1. General features (Introduction to marine systems in the Arctic)
9.2.2. Sea ice (Sea ice effect on marine systems in the Arctic)
9.2.3. Ocean processes of climatic importance
9.2.4. Variability in hydrographic properties and currents
9.2.5. Anticipated changes in physical conditions
9.3. Biota
9.3.1. General description of the Arctic biota community
9.3.2. Physical factors mediating ecological change
9.3.3. Past variability – interannual to decadal
9.3.4. Future change – processes and impacts on biota
9.4. Effects of changes in ultraviolet radiation
9.5. The carbon cycle and climate change
9.6. Key findings (Introduction to marine systems in the Arctic)
9.7. Gaps in knowledge and research needs
