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Climate change provides opportunities in the surrounding areas of North Pole to commercial shipping activities, but which also poses risks to ship strikes, oil spills, chronic marine environmental pollution, etc. However, the public product supply of Arctic environmental emergency response and governance is seriously insufficient. As such, a collective and effective system should be established to protect the Arctic environment. In the present paper, a complex network model of Arctic environmental emergency response and governance system is developed. The strategy of each country in the complex network is demonstrated by evolutionary game simulations of this system model. Computational results indicate that the benefit of environmental emergency response and governance affects the cooperation strategy of each country. Moreover, Long-term benefit and return intensity are the key parameters of environmental emergency response and governance benefit. These findings extend theoretical research in the sustainable development Arctic routes and provide reference for the participation of other countries beyond the Arctic Council. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the first data on the geology of a series of mafic dikes emplaced in the volcanogenic sedimentary sequence composing the structure of Jeannette Island. We show that the island hosts two generations of dikes consisting of fine-grained dolerites. Both magmatic stages were followed by fold deformations. The youngest and weakly deformed dikes are none the less chloritized and serpentinized. However, we were able to obtain the first ever precise geochronological Ar/Ar data for them. According to this analysis, the emplacement age of the intrusive complex of Jeannette Island is close to the Ediacaran (553.6 ± 10.3 Ma). The ages of several superimposed tectonothermal events were determined: Middle Ordovician (463.3 ± 11.7 Ma), Late Silurian (425.3 ± 8.7 Ma), Late Devonian (360.7 ± 8.3 Ma) and Early Carboniferous (341.3 ± 6.8 Ma). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the scientific publishing contributions of North America to the Nature Index database in 2014. Topics cited include the region's article and weight fractional count, the pattern of top five institutions' relative subject area distribution and collaborativeness and top three country collaborations, the initiative of the Canadian government to launch the Canadian High Arctic Research Station, and percentage of life science research in the U.S.

Localized permafrost disturbances such as active layer detachments (ALDs) are increasing in frequency and severity across the Canadian Arctic impacting terrestrial ecosystem functioning. However, the contribution of permafrost disturbance-carbon feedbacks to the carbon (C) balance of Arctic ecosystems is poorly understood. Here, we explore the short-term impact of active layer detachments (ALDs) on carbon dioxide (CO) exchange in a High Arctic semi-desert ecosystem by comparing midday C exchange between undisturbed areas, moderately disturbed areas (intact islands of vegetation within an ALD), and highly disturbed areas (non-vegetated areas due to ALD). Midday C exchange was measured using a static chamber method between June 23 and August 8 during the 2009 and 2010 growing seasons. Results show that areas of high disturbance had significantly reduced gross ecosystem exchange and ecosystem respiration ( R) compared to control and moderately disturbed areas. Moderately disturbed areas showed significantly enhanced net ecosystem exchange compared to areas of high disturbance, but were not significantly different from control areas. Disturbance did not significantly impact soil thermal, physical or chemical properties. According to average midday fluxes, ALDs as a whole (moderately disturbed areas: −1.942 μmol m s+ highly disturbed areas: 2.969 μmol m s) were a small CO source of 1.027 μmol m s which did not differ significantly from average midday fluxes in control areas 1.219 μmol m s. The findings of this study provide evidence that the short-term impacts of ALDs on midday, net C exchange and soil properties in a High Arctic semi-desert are minimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryoconite holes have biogeochemical, ecological and biotechnological importance. This communication presents results on culturable psychrophilic bacterial diversity from cryoconite holes at Midre Lovénbreen (ML), Austre Brøggerbreen (AB), and Vestre Brøggerbreen (VB) glaciers. The culturable bacterial count ranged from 2.7 × 10 to 8.8 × 10 CFUs/g while the total bacterial numbers ranged from 5.07 × 10 to 1.50 × 10 cells at the three glaciers. A total of 35 morphologically distinct bacterial isolates were isolated. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence data, the identified species belonged to eight genera namely Pseudomonas, Polaromonas, Micrococcus, Subtercola, Agreia, Leifsonia, Cryobacterium and Flavobacterium. The isolates varied in their growth temperature, NaCl tolerance, growth pH, enzyme activities, carbon utilization and antibiotic sensitivity tests. Fatty acid profiles indicate the predominance of branched fatty acids in the isolates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of culturable bacterial communities and their characterization from glacier cryoconites from High Arctic. High amylase and protease activities expressed by Micrococcus sp. MLB-41 and amylase, protease and lipase activities expressed by Cryobacterium sp. MLB-32 provide a clue to the potential applications of these organisms. These cold-adapted enzymes may provide an opportunity for the prospect of biotechnology in Arctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tectonic evolution of the Arctic Region in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic is considered with allowance for the Paleozoic stage of evolution of the ancient Arctida continent. A new geodynamic model of the evolution of the Arctic is based on the idea of the development of upper mantle convection beneath the continent caused by subduction of the Pacific lithosphere under the Eurasian and North American lithospheric plates. The structure of the Amerasia and Eurasia basins of the Arctic is shown to have formed progressively due to destruction of the ancient Arctida continent, a retained fragment of which comprises the structural units of the central segment of the Arctic Ocean, including the Lomonosov Ridge, the Alpha-Mendeleev Rise, and the Podvodnikov and Makarov basins. The proposed model is considered to be a scientific substantiation of the updated Russian territorial claim to the UN Commission on the determination of the Limits of the Continental Shelf in the Arctic Region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared on eight dates during the ice-free period physicochemical properties and rates of phytoplankton and epipelic primary production in six arctic lakes dominated by soft bottom substrate. Lakes were classified as shallow ( $$ \overline {\text{z}} $$ < 2.5 m), intermediate in depth (2.5 m < $$ \overline {\text{z}} $$ < 4.5 m), and deep ( $$ \overline {\text{z}} $$ > 4.5 m), with each depth category represented by two lakes. Although shallow lakes circulated freely and intermediate and deep lakes stratified thermally for the entire summer, dissolved oxygen concentrations were always >70% of saturation values. Soluble reactive phosphorus and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN = NO3 −–N + NH4 +–N) were consistently below the detection limit (0.05 μmol l−1) in five lakes. However, one lake shallow lake (GTH 99) periodically showed elevated values of DIN (17 μmol l−1), total-P (0.29 μmol l−1), and total-N (33 μmol l−1), suggesting wind-generated sediment resuspension. Due to increased nutrient availability or entrainment of microphytobenthos, GTH 99 showed the highest average volume-based values of phytoplankton chlorophyll a (chl a) and primary production, which for the six lakes ranged from 1.0 to 2.9 μg l−1 and 0.7–3.8 μmol C l−1 day−1. Overall, however, increased $$ \overline {\text{z}} $$ resulted in increased area-based values of phytoplankton chl a and primary production, with mean values for the three lake classes ranging from 3.6 to 6.1 mg chl a m−2 and 3.2–5.8 mmol C m−2 day−1. Average values of epipelic chl a ranged from 131 to 549 mg m−2 for the three depth classes, but levels were not significantly different due to high spatial variability. However, average epipelic primary production was significantly higher in shallow lakes (12.2 mmol C m−2 day−1) than in intermediate and deep lakes (3.4 and 2.4 mmol C m−2 day−1). Total primary production (6.7–15.4 mmol C m−2 day−1) and percent contribution of the epipelon (31–66%) were inversely related to mean depth, such that values for both variables were significantly higher in shallow lakes than in intermediate or deep lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses climate change research being carried out in the North Polar region. Measurements of ice coverage in the Arctic Ocean are described. The research project described is the Circumpolar Flaw Lead System Study on the icebreaker ship Amundsen. The glaciological aspect of this study focuses on the relationship between polar winds, patterns of melting and the rotation of the polar icecap as a whole. Flaw leads are fissures in the ice created by wind, which are thought to be an ideal place to study the difference between sunlight absorption rates for ice and ocean, or the ice-ocean albedo. Research into the ecosystemic impacts of polar ice melting in flaw leads is also explored.

The signatories to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are charged with stabilizing the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous interference with the climate system. A number of nations, organizations and scientists have suggested that global mean temperature should not rise over 2 °C above preindustrial levels. However, even a relatively moderate target of 2 °C has serious implications for the Arctic, where temperatures are predicted to increase at least 1. 5 to 2 times as fast as global temperatures. High latitude vegetation plays a significant role in the lives of humans and animals, and in the global energy balance and carbon budget. These ecosystems are expected to be among the most strongly impacted by climate change over the next century. To investigate the potential impact of stabilization of global temperature at 2 °C, we performed a study using data from six Global Climate Models (GCMs) forced by four greenhouse gas emissions scenarios, the BIOME4 biogeochemistry-biogeography model, and remote sensing data. GCM data were used to predict the timing and patterns of Arctic climate change under a global mean warming of 2 °C. A unified circumpolar classification recognizing five types of tundra and six forest biomes was used to develop a map of observed Arctic vegetation. BIOME4 was used to simulate the vegetation distributions over the Arctic at the present and for a range of 2 °C global warming scenarios. The GCMs simulations indicate that the earth will have warmed by 2 °C relative to preindustrial temperatures by between 2026 and 2060, by which stage the area-mean annual temperature over the Arctic (60-90°N) will have increased by between 3. 2 and 6. 6 °C. Forest extent is predicted by BIOME4 to increase in the Arctic on the order of 3 × 106 km2 or 55% with a corresponding 42% reduction in tundra area. Tundra types generally also shift north with the largest reductions in the prostrate dwarf-shrub tundra... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three methods of gathering local and traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples were used to assess environmental changes and human impacts in Russian boreal forest communities: structured interviews, followed by an unstructured interview, and an education/training workshop. The most important environment changes reported by Indigenous Peoples included the disappearance of animals and plants, climate changes, a decrease in forest and shrub area, and human impacts such as poaching, forests fires, industrial logging, clearing of forests for firewood, and water pollution by industrial wastes and discharges. We propose establishment of the Boreal Residents' Network for Socio-environment Assessments and Education for Sustainable Development to acquire local and traditional knowledge as a supplement to scientific monitoring. The proposed approach would involve permanent inhabitants living in a broad range of boreal forests to gather local and traditional knowledge and assessments. This could lead to a meta-database to share with international networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study to evaluate the carbon cycling in arctic tundra. Measurement of dissolved C production and export rates in mesocosms; Use of tundra vegetation types tussock, inter-tussock and wet sedge; Flushing frequencies to simulate storm events and determine potential mass export of dissolved C under increased soil water flow scenarios; Indications that arctic tundra soils have high potentials for dissolved C export and that water flow and vegetation type mainly control dissolved C export.

Focuses on the methane hydrate stability zone beneath Sverdrup Basin underneath the Canadian Arctic Islands. Analysis of the distribution of methane hydrate and hydrate/gas contact suggesting that methane hydrates were formed in shallower strata than expected; How a small proportion of gas hydrate occurrences occur in close proximity to the base of predicted methane hydrate stability; Association of detected hydrates with deeply buried hydrocarbon discoveries indicating the concurring relationship of hydrate occurrence with areas of high heat flow; View that other gas hydrate occurrences are associated with structures filled with water with evidence of precursor hydrocarbons that were lost because of upward leakage.

Presents evidence that the most recent `Heinrich layers,' deposited between 14,000 and 70,000 years ago, record marked decreases in sea surface temperature and salinity, decreases in the flux of planktonic foraminera to the sediments and short-lived, massive discharges of icebergs originating in Canada. The Laurentide ice sheet; More.

Presents the entire set of scanning multichannel microwave radiometer observations of Arctic and Antarctic sea-ice extent and enclosed open water. Also gives the results of an analysis of the full data set based on band-limited regression.

Presents results from a new deep ice core drilled at the summit of the Greenland ice sheet. Depositional environment and flow pattern of the ice that are ideal for core recovery and analysis; Obtaining high-resolution continuous time series of climate-related parameters; Interstadial episode; Ice core data, including ice-sheet thickness, accumulation rate and mean air temperature; More.

Presents an analysis of measurements of the subsurface ice thickness (draft) of sea-ice around the North Pole made from 1977 to 1990. Changes in the thickness of polar sea-ice and their potential to provide a signal of climate change; More.

The article offers news briefs on various topics. According to the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado, the sea ice in Arctic region reached its lowest level with 4.76 million square kilometers on September 10, 2010. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed the termination of Professional Laboratory and Research Services' operation after the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals exposed the mistreatment of laboratory animals through an undercover video.

The article discusses a study that suggests that increase in vegetation due to increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to Artic warming.

Discusses research which studied how rising levels of greenhouse gases will affect ozone depletion over the Arctic in coming years. Research by Shindell et al in this issue; Prediction that ozone (O3) levels will continue to fall; Impact of greenhouse gas buildup on the stratosphere; Rapid loss of ozone throughout the winter polar vortices; Ozone in the Arctic polar vortex; Cautions about Shindell's hypothesis; Hallmark of Arctic vortex.

Looks at the work of a team of over 30 scientists from eight European nations who were collaborating in the Greenland Ice Core Project (GRIP). Their drilling of an ice core through the deepest part of the Greenland ice sheet; The main aim of GRIP; The history of climate and environmental change through the last glacial cycle; More.

Presents studies of melt layers in two Canadian high-Arctic surface-to-bedrock ice cores. Methods; Results; Discussion.

The article offers the author's insight on the issue of the changes in the Arctic Ocean wherein he states that a maritime regulation must be created to protect the Arctic Ocean and its environment. He mentions that the issue on the decreasing sea ice of the Arctic is true. He suggested that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) must set the standards in the Arctic Maritime Shipping Assessment Report 2009 be mandatory for a standard structural ship sailing in the Arctic.

The article offers information on a research conducted by scholar Michael Winton in which he studied the sea-ice change in the Arctic with the help of climate models.

The article reports that the member countries of the European Union (EU) released a declaration of policy objectives in the Arctic. This comes amid several nations claiming the region, including the United States, Russia and Canada. The EU intends to support climate change mitigation and oil exploration in the area. Further projects promise to monitor sea levels, as well as the loss of sea ice and permafrost.

Discusses a study by J. Clutton-Brocke et. al on the change in shape of the skulls of Arctic wolves. Measurements on museum specimens; Results of the study.

Features the Global Change Programme Office established by the International Arctic Science Committee to coordinate research efforts on environmental changes in the Arctic. Office executives; Location; Human influences on the natural environment.

Reports on an international feasibility study commissioned by the Soviet government to determine the economic and ecological impact if the ice-choked Northern Sea Route to the Arctic is opened. Implications for global warming researchers; Economic importance to Soviets of Northern Sea Route; Possible environmental dangers.

Reports on new proposals to reorganize French polar research. New institute to be set up and committees to be established; Goals.

Reports on Britain's hopes to increase funds to the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) for expanded Arctic research.