Here are some photos taken by researchers through ArCS II. We hope you enjoy the various Arctic landscapes and research activities.
* Copyrights to the photographs on this page belong to the respective photographers. Please refrain from reproduction, alteration, or secondary use, etc.

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The third Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME)’s Shipping Expert Group (SEG) meeting (co-led by USA and Canada) was held online on 4-5 November 2024. In each of three meetings, over 60 participants joined. The third meeting was to review current activity of eleven projects, discuss the project plan for 2025-2027 including four new projects and summary report to the up-coming PAME plenary meeting on 14-15 November 2024. The current project is as follows:

1) Arctic Shipping Status Reports (ASSR)
2) Arctic Shipping Best Practice Information Forum
3) Arctic Port Reception Facilities Inventory
4) Collaboration with the Arctic Regional Hydrographic Commission (ARHC)
5) Interpretation of the Polar Code
6) New Low Sulphur Fuels, Fate, and Behaviour in Cold Water Conditions
7) Systematically Strengthening Observer Engagement in PAME’s Shipping Work
8) Arctic Arrangement for Regional Reception Facilities
9) Underwater Noise in the Arctic: Understanding Impacts and Defining Management Solutions – Phase II
10) Wastewater Discharges from Vessels in the Arctic – A Survey of Current Practices
11) Raising awareness in the Arctic Council of the provisions of the 2012 Cape Town Agreement

Of the above projects, 3), 5), 7), 11) were completed and four new project plans were decided to be proposed to the PAME Plenary Meeting as follows:

1) Arctic Marine Tourism: Mapping Whale Watching in the Arctic
2) The Development of a Regional Reception Facilities Plan
3) Potential Places of Refuge for Vessels in Need of Assistance in the Arctic: An Inventory
4) POLARIS

The post Report on Arctic Council PAME Shipping Expert Group (SEG) Meeting first appeared on The Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II (ArCS II).

ArCS II Research Program on Coastal Environment studies the impact of climate change on natural and social environments in Qaanaaq, northwestern Greenland. To introduce our activity in Qaanaaq to researchers, government, public and private bodies in Greenland and Denmark, four ArCS II researchers traveled to Nuuk and Copenhagen from 26 November to 6 December 2024.

In the capital of Greenland, Nuuk (Fig. 1), a research seminar was organized at GINR (Greenland Institute of Natural Resources) (Fig. 2). After the overview given by Shin Sugiyama, the program PI from Hokkaido University, Monica Ogawa (Hokkaido University/Kyoto University), Evgeny Podolskiy (Hokkaido University) and Tatsuya Watanabe (Kitami Institute of Technology) presented studies on marine mammals, acoustics, and landslides. The research project in Qaanaaq has been performed in collaboration with GINR, thus discussion during and after the seminar was focused on the exchange of ideas, sharing data, and further collaboration in the future. A meeting at the Ministry of Business, Trade, Mineral Resources, Justice and Gender Equality was targeted on landslides, which threaten communities along the coast of Greenland. Experience and ideas of landslide disaster prevention were introduced by researchers in the ministry as well as the ArCS II researchers (Fig. 3). Further, we visited Arctic Hub, WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and the Fishermen and Hunters Association in Greenland (KNAPK). Among those, the visit to the Hunters Association was an important opportunity to receive information based on communities and compliments to our collaboration with hunters in Qaanaaq (Fig. 4). In Copenhagen, seminars and meetings took place in GEUS (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland), Aarhus University, and the GINR office in Copenhagen. The project in Qaanaaq was introduced to a broad range of researchers and active discussion was performed based on ongoing international collaborations with researchers in these institutions.

Because of the lack of data as well as its unique natural and cultural environments, the Qaanaaq region is drawing attention of researchers over the world. With this background, the long-term research activity performed by Japanese in the region has an increasing value. In addition to the scientific achievements, co-designing of research with the residents is highly appreciated as a good practice in Greenland. Studies on marine mammals, natural disasters, and waste management are particularly important for the life of the people living along the coast, thus feedback to the government as well as communities are required. During the meetings and seminars in Nuuk and Copenhagen, a number of suggestions were made on how to better use our research results for the society. To contribute to the future of the Arctic society, dialogues are necessary with various stakeholders, including local communities, government, researchers and indigenous people.

We thank Fernando Ugarte (GINR), Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen (GINR Copenhagen), Eva Mätzler (Ministry of Business, Trade, Mineral Resources, Justice and Gender Equality in Greenland), Nicoline Larsen (Arctic Hub), Vittus Qujaukitsoq (KNAPK), Anders Mosbech (Aarhus University), Jason Box (GEUS), Andreas Ahlstrøm（GEUS） and Sakiko Daorana for their help and hospitality during the research visit.

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The 2024 Arctic Assembly was held from October 17 to 19 at the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center in Reykjavik, Iceland, and was attended by more than 2,500 participants from 75 countries, with more than 700 speakers making presentations and taking part in panel discussions in more than 250 sessions.

In addition to the traditional plenary and breakout sessions of the Assembly, the Polar Dialogue and Business Forum were planned this year, with a separate venue. The Polar Dialogue also included a session in which government officials from each country were interviewed one by one. Now in its eleventh year, the number of participants and sessions has increased, as has the number of parallel sessions. Furthermore, since multiple buildings were used this year and the Assembly was held in person, participants could only participate in a limited number of sessions. Some panels are expected to deliver recorded video, however this will only be a small part of the total.

I spoke in the following three sessions, of which about five marine researchers from Japan also participated in the Synoptic Arctic Survey session. Also, Japanese speakers attended several panels with ambassadors in charge of the Arctic as well as the science and foreign policy discussion sessions.
1. Responding to Arctic Climatic Changes Impacting Asia: Society and Collaborations
2. Achievements of Japan’s Arctic Cooperation
3. Polar Dialogue, Status of Antarctic
*Session 1 was organized by ArCS II.

In the session 1, the topic of Arctic environmental changes and their impact on Asia, as promoted by ArCS II, was raised. Representatives of polar research institutes in Asia introduced related activities. While answering questions from the audience, the opportunity to discuss issues and future directions was provided. This session was held in response to a proposal from Japan with the understanding and cooperation of the directors of the polar research institutes from China, Korea, and India.

The background of the session was that the rapid warming of the Arctic is affecting the weather and environment of the region and is also having a dramatic impact on Asia (the Far East). In addition, the national science investment and implementation, the results, and future plans were introduced. Japan and Korea introduced the results of research on the outflow of cold air from the Arctic to Asia. Japan introduced the movement in which the results of research on cutoff lows are being used in society through weather forecasting. China reported on the installation of observatory stations and research activities in the Arctic Ocean and land, and India reported that climate change will have an impact on India, where a large population is concentrated, and mentioned that scientific understanding, prediction, and social response are urgent issues. There were questions from the audience about the relationship with the Arctic Council, human resource development, and data sharing. In response to these, the initiatives of the respective countries were introduced. Japan introduced its efforts in the Arctic Council Working Group, human resource development, followed by the state of young participants and the system for data disclosure.

At the end of the Assembly, a summary panel of the Polar Dialogue, which started this time, was held. It was impressive that Miyuki Qiajunnguaq Daorana, who also interacts with Japanese researchers in Greenland, participated in the panel discussion in the plenary as a youth representative and played an active role.

The post Report on The 2024 Arctic Circle Assembly first appeared on The Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II (ArCS II).

I attended the Executive Committee Meeting of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and discussed IASC activities in 2024 and future IASC activity plans. The members of Executive Committee meeting are:
Henry Burgess, President
João Canario, Vice-President
Matthew Druckenmiller, Vice President
Hiroyuki Enomoto, Vice President
Paula Kankaanpää, Vice President (online)
Gerlis Fugmann, Executive Secretary
Kolbrún Reynisdóttir, Executive Officer
Federica Scarpa, Communications Manager

The agenda is as follows:
– Report from the United States on the preparation status of ICARP IV, the long-term Arctic research plan to be considered at ASSW (Arctic Science Summit Week) in March 2025, and confirmation by the committee
– Update of the concept note for the International Polar Year (IPY) scheduled for 2023-33, and report and exchange of opinions on the preparation status of the steering group
– Confirmation of the schedule for future ASSW. Report on the preparation status for the ASSW hosted by Japan in 2027, and exchange of opinions on candidate locations for hosting the ASSW after 2028
– Report on the selection of Korea as the host city for the Joint IASC-SCAR (Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research) Conference 2030 scheduled for 2030
– IASC financial report, reports from each IASC WG
– Preparation for future IASC Strategic Planning and activity review
– IASC Communication, including the website and public relations, and consideration of IASC Medal candidates
– Sharing information on activities related to the Arctic Observing Summit (AOS) and the Sustaining Arctic Observing Network (SAON)

The post Report on The IASC Executive Committee first appeared on The Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II (ArCS II).

Overseas Fellowship Program Participant：FY2024 Short-Term Program
Gaku Amada (Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute)

I stayed at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF) from August 26th to September 25th, which was supported by short-term Overseas Fellowship Program of ArCSII. During this stay, in order to clarify mechanisms of vegetation responses to permafrost degradation, I investigated vertical distributions of fine roots (diameter<2 mm) in a black-spruce forest underlain by permafrost. Permafrost degradation occur in circumpolar regions have that are rapidly warming. Recent studies suggest that plants spreading their roots to deeper soil layers can sensitively respond to permafrost thawing. However, there few studies that examine the vertical fine-root distributions of permafrost vegetations because it is so difficult to identify species of fine roots. Thus, in this program, I conducted vertical root samplings in a typical black-spruce forest underlain by permafrost in interior Alaska.

Study sites was established in the Poker Flat Research Range (PFRR) of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. In the PFRR, UAF and JAMSTEC researchers investigates permafrost conditions. Ten small quadrats were established there, and soil cores were collected at every 10-cm depth. I brought the cores to the UAF laboratory and divided them to three soil samples: ① samples for species identification, ② samples for root biomass measurements, and ③ samples for soil nutrient analyses. In ① and ②, I carefully sorted fine roots from the soil samples (136 samples) with tweezers. This is so hard because It took me 2-3 hours to sort each sample. Then, I handed over the root samples of ② to Diana Wolf and Naoki Takebayashi who are specialist for the genetic analysis. I brought ③ soil samples back to Japan and am conducting soil nutrient analyses in Japan.

I sincerely appreciate the ArCS II research gland. With this financial support, I was able to complete my fieldwork in Alaska.

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Overseas Fellowship Program Participant：FY2024 Short-Term Program
Asaka Homma (Nagoya University)

As part of the Overseas Fellowship Program, Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II (ArCS II) Project, I stayed at the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) from 25th August to 19th September 2024 for a research exchange.

During my stay, I mainly studied a hydrological model called HYPE. HYPE divides a river basin into smaller basins and performs simulations in each of these basins with different calculations depending on land use and soil type. So, it can simulate discharge that are highly consistent with observed data. My research is on how the river water of the Lena River in Russia is formed, so HYPE is very useful in simulating which areas of the basin have higher runoff. In studying the model, I also gained hydrological insights into what runoff mechanisms are present in the soil and in what aspects of the model there is a large uncertainty with the actual situation. I am now considering if I can use the model to further improve my research. During my stay at the institute, I was also given the opportunity to introduce my research at a seminar. Although I was nervous about the question-and-answer session in English for the first time, I received a variety of feedback from many researchers, which was very helpful for my research.

In addition, I accompanied them on field work on the Torne River on the border between Sweden and Finland. The aim of this field work was to observe the river discharge, and the experience of the actual measurement methods led to a deeper understanding of the research methodology. Besides, although the Torne River was a smaller river than the Lena River, which is the area of my research, it was a large river that is not found in Japan. Therefore, it is currently not possible to visit the Lena River, but this field research gave me an image of what the Lena River is like.

Throughout my stay, I had discussions with host researchers almost every day at overseas research institutions and conducted field work while covered in mud in the great outdoors, which contributed to the improvement of my own research and was a very good experience in terms of conducting research abroad.

The post Research Exchange in Sweden first appeared on The Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II (ArCS II).

Overseas Fellowship Program Participant：FY2024 Short-Term Program
Nao Taniguchi (Prefectural University of Hiroshima)

I conducted three tasks which related to my research topic in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Norway as follow.

1. Installing biodegradable plastic samples
2. Collection of 4 types of soil
3. Digging out biodegradable plastic samples installed 2 years ago

Plastic is a convenient material, but it causes environmental problems because of mismanaged waste. Biodegradable plastics have attracted social attention as way to solve this problem. It has been produced as a product. They are spread around the world by humans　or by drifting into the sea. This problem has been observed in the Arctic region. In this study, two types of experiments are planning to clarify how biodegradable plastics decompose at terrestrial region in the Arctic. One method is to install the biodegradable plastic in the field and measure the degradation rate from the change in its weight. The other method is to measure the carbon dioxide emitted when microorganisms decompose the biodegradable plastics and determine the degradation rate. This method is based on the principle that biodegradable plastics are decompose into water and carbon dioxide ultimately.

At the site, I dig out biodegradable plastic samples that were installed two years ago by a senior student in my laboratory (Fig. 1), installed new samples (Fig. 2), and collected soil samples. The installed samples will be removed after several years. The collected soils were brought back to my laboratory for decomposition experiments. For the installation of biodegradable plastic samples and soil sampling, we used bare soil without vegetation and soil under the polar willow (Salix Polaris) to elucidate differences in degradation rates among the Arctic soils.

On a side note, during my stay in Ny-Ålesund, I saw plastic wastes in the field on several occasions. Given the growing plastic pollution in the Arctic region, we need plastics that can decompose even in harsh environments such as the Arctic. If I can elucidate the degradation rate of biodegradable plastics in the Arctic region through my experiments, it will help in the development of new materials. I believe that this will play an important role in realizing a more sustainable society.

I had many other valuable experiences in the Arctic. The most memorable was viewing the glacier. In particular, the glacier seen from the plane from Ny-Ålesund to Longyearbyen was especially impressive (Fig. 3).

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to everyone involved in this project.

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