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.

The post ArCS II Arctic Photo Gallery 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.

The post Research visit to Nuuk and Copenhagen to report the research project in Qaanaaq 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.

The post Investigation of vertical root distributions in a sparse conifer forest underlain by permafrost in interior Alaska first appeared on The Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II (ArCS II).

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.

The post Degradation rate of biodegradable plastics in Arctic soils first appeared on The Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II (ArCS II).

Overseas Fellowship Program Participant：FY2024 Short-Term Program
Tomohiro M. Nakayama (Hokkaido University)

With support from the ArCS II Overseas Fellowship Program, I stayed in Qaanaaq, located in northwestern Greenland, for three weeks from July 17 to August 7, 2024, where I conducted discharge measurements, acoustic observations, and studies on river dynamics from glacier runoff.

In recent years, the melting of glaciers in Qaanaaq, northwestern Greenland, has increased, and floods caused by overflowing rivers from the glaciers have become more frequent. In 2023, a large flood submerged the road connecting the village and the airport, destroying the bridge. Continuous monitoring of river discharge and understanding the fluctuations in river dynamics have become crucial issues.

In traditional methods for river discharge measurement, as shown in Fig. 1, an observer enters the river to measure its depth and determine the shape of its cross-section. The water passing through that cross-section is measured with a current meter to calculate the discharge. Since only one point of discharge data is obtained from a single measurement, continuous water level data, which correlates with discharge, is also collected, and the discharge is estimated from the water level. To determine the relationship between water level and discharge, multiple observations are necessary to create a conversion formula, which requires a lot of effort.

Given this labor-intensive process, I am developing a method to measure river discharge without entering the river, using the sound of flowing water. There is a correlation between the intensity of sound and the size of the discharge, allowing us to estimate discharge by measuring sound. During this survey, four acoustic sensors were placed at regular intervals along the river, starting from the upstream, to capture the sound of the water.

Additionally, to determine whether changes in sound levels were caused by changes in discharge or by shifts in the distance between the sound source (the river) and the sensors, three time-lapse cameras were also installed (Fig. 2). This setup is expected to enable more accurate discharge measurements using acoustic sensors.

The village of Qaanaaq, where I stayed (Fig. 3), is located at a high latitude of 77.5 degrees north, well within the Arctic Circle. During my stay, it was in a state of midnight sun, with the sun continuously visible throughout the period.

While there, I witnessed several atmospheric optics caused by sunlight refracting and scattering through ice crystal clouds. Among these, the phenomenon I observed on July 26 was particularly memorable. It spanned the entire sky, and nearly every atmospheric optics that can theoretically be seen appeared simultaneously. The sky over Qaanaaq that day is something I will never forget.

The post Acoustic Monitoring of Glacier Runoff in Qaanaaq, northwest Greenland first appeared on The Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II (ArCS II).

Overseas Fellowship Program Participant：FY2024 Short-Term Program
Akira Yamada (The University of Tokyo)

Clouds reflect the sunlight, as is familiar from a dark sky on a cloudy day. Since the amount of energy the Earth receives from the sunlight determines how much the Earth is warmed, how much clouds reflect solar radiation plays an important role in the Earth’s climate. Lower clouds, defined as clouds below about 2,000 meters, are believed to have strong cooling effects on the Earth. However, the detailed processes of their formation, maintenance, and dissipation are remained unknown, which leads to a great discrepancy in cloud cover predictions among different climate models. It is important to clarify the physical processes involved in such lower clouds.

The Arctic temperature is increasing more rapidly than that of other regions. In order to investigate the elementary processes of how the Arctic lower clouds respond to climate change, we stayed at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Norway for 10 days. The main objective was to install an instrument called Hawkeye on a mountain at an altitude of about 500 meters and set up an environment for continuous observation and remote monitoring of the lower clouds. Hawkeye has three instruments: FCDP, 2DS, CPI. FCDP measures sizes of cloud droplets, 2DS measures sizes of raindrops, and CPI takes photographs of particles. The system is equipped with a fan that creates air flow to intake particles from outside and a fin that allow Hawkeye to rotate in accordance with the wind direction to efficiently let particles in. Although we faced some problems, the installation was successfully completed within the stay.

After installation, we kept an eye on the operational status and observed a large number of particles every time lower clouds cover around Hawkeye. We have continued to monitor the system by connecting remotely to the local computer after coming back to Japan. Although problems such as dust entering the instrument sometimes happen, the local technicians maintain the instrument and it has continued to operate without any serious problems. I am looking forward to analyzing the accumulated data comparing with observation data from other instruments.

The post Low-clouds observation in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard first appeared on The Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II (ArCS II).

Overseas Fellowship Program Participant：FY2024 Short-Term Program
Soshi Osaki(Waseda University)

The growing season of High Arctic plants is short and cold. Recently, the Arctic ecosystems have been experiencing rapid global warming, which has caused longer snow-free seasons. How do the High Arctic plants respond to such significant environmental changes? This study aims to predict the impact of a more extended snow-free season on the productivity of the High Arctic plants under future climate warming. For this purpose, I measured the time-cause changes in photosynthetic activity of three common deciduous High Arctic plants (Salix polaris, Oxyria digyna, and Bistorta vivipara) (Fig. 1).

This year, snow melt was observed in early June in Longyearbyen (78° 13’ N, 15° 38’ E), Spitsbergen, Svalbard, where I visited for the field research. If the weather is typical, the first snowfall will be observed between early and mid-September. Therefore, the period available for growth and reproduction is almost only three months for the plants in this region.

The difficulties in the field research were that High Arctic plants are tiny and dwarf to survive harsh Arctic environments (Fig. 2), so measuring photosynthesis by inserting a leaf into a chamber was nerve-wracking. The herbivores such as reindeers and geese were threatened during field research because they frequently tried to eat my measuring plants (Fig. 3).

This time was my second time conducting research in the Svalbard, yet I still feel the unique challenges of Arctic research. On the other hand, I realised many things through actual investigation and observation, which constantly stimulated my curiosity. I believe it was a very fruitful study.

Finally, I would like to thank all people who have supported me.

The post Measuring photosynthesis of High Arctic plants in Longyearbyen, Svalbard first appeared on The Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II (ArCS II).

Overseas Fellowship Program Participant：FY2024 Short-Term Program
Saaya Hamamoto (Nagoya University)

I attended the European Geoscience Union General Assembly 2024 (EGU) held at the Vienna International Centre in Austria from April 14-19, 2024. EGU is a large scale international academic geoscience conference attended by about 20,000 researchers from around the world. I mainly attended to the session on ice cores, which is my area of research, and learned about the latest trends in ice core research. I was also able to learn not only about ice core, but also about a wide range of other research arears, such as climate modeling.

In the poster session, I presented my research on the dating of ice cores drilled in south-east Greenland. It was my first time presenting in a poster session and in English, so I struggled a lot, but I was able to get feedback from different researchers.

There was a meeting of young ice-core researchers during the conference, and I was able to construct network with others of my age. Lunch meetings were also held in certain communities to provide opportunities for socializing.

I received a lot of stimulation during this trip and had a very meaningful time. In my future research, I will improve my study through the insights gained from others’ presentations and the suggestions given in my poster presentation. Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone involved in the ArCS II Overseas Fellowship Program for giving me this opportunity and to all those who were involved in this research.

The post Participation and research presentation in European Geoscience Union General Assembly 2024 first appeared on The Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II (ArCS II).

• Click here for the 2023 report
• Click here for the 2022 report

Narwhal sighting survey in Qeqertat, northwest Greenland

Writer：Monica Ogawa (Hokkaido University)
Yoko Mitani (Kyoto University)

We were once again able to return to Qeqertat to accompany the narwhal hunt!

Qeqertat is the only area where the traditional narwhal hunt using kayaks still remains. Spending several days on a boat with the engine turned off, waiting for the narwhal pods to appear. Then, hunters silently approach them by kayak to hunt.

Narwhals are very skittish, making it impossible to get close with motorboats. However, here in Qeqertat where traditional narwhal hunting is practiced, we can approach them at close range and observe their natural behavior.

We do not return to land until the hunt is successful. This time, we spent seven days floating on the sea with icebergs, surrounded by narwhals, and occasionally seals. The breathtaking views made it impossible to get bored. The Inuit cuisine we enjoy between hunts was always so delicious! My favorite dish is, of course, seal meat – it goes really well with mustard!

This was my second time accompanying the hunt, and my fifth time helping with narwhal processing. I’m gradually beginning to understand Greenlandic, learning the procedures of the hunt, and enjoying interacting with the hunters more and more.

Eventually, we were able to observe over 500 narwhals in total and successfully conducted behavioral observations using a drone. I’m always grateful to the hunters for providing such precious opportunities, and now I’ll begin analyzing the data!

（2024/9/27）

Environmental Acoustics in Qaanaaq, Northwest Greenland

Writer：Evgeny Podolskiy (Hokkaido University)
Tomohiro M. Nakayama (Hokkaido University)

At the end of July and beginning of August 2024, our team completed a mission to retrieve and partially redeploy long-term oceanographic and seismic stations around Inglefield Bredning Fjord in Northwest Greenland. All operations were possible thanks to local pilots skillfully sailing us between icebergs. Our stations were deployed a year ago to the sea floor and on islands near glacier calving fronts for interdisciplinary studies on glaciers, sea ice, ocean, and marine animals.

While retrieving the stations, aerial drone imagery was also taken to generate a Digital Elevation Model of the Bowdoin Glacier calving front. In addition, an NHK TV crew working on a documentary about our research and the region filmed our ocean and land operations from the boat and UAV.

The retrieved oceanographic stations continuously monitored the sounds of the ocean and seawater’s physical properties and performed acoustic profiling of the water column. Seismic stations recorded cryo-seismicity (i.e., ground shaking produced by icebergs and glaciers).

Retrieved data will be analyzed by different specialists. Analysis should reveal (i) the variability in the presence of such acoustic reflectors as zooplankton, fish, and icebergs, (ii) temporal variation of biological, natural, and anthropogenic sounds produced by marine mammals (like narwhals and seals), environment, and humans, and finally, (iii) timing and scale of glacier calving. The data analysis is expected to contribute to a better understanding of ice-clad glacial fjords, which serve as biological hotspots and hunting grounds undergoing rapid environmental changes nowadays.

We also continued observations at Qaanaaq Glacier’s outlet stream between July 19th to August 6th, 2024. In 2023 and earlier years, the bridge over the stream was washed out because of its overflow caused by heavy rain and glacier melting, and the connection between Qaanaaq village and Qaanaaq airport was cut off. To determine the impact of a warmer climate on the village’s society, measurements of the river discharge have been sustained by participants of Japanese expeditions since 2017.

The former method for discharge measurement has been labor and time-consuming. It required an observer to enter the river, measure the depth profile of the stream bed, and repeatedly insert an electromagnetic current meter into the stream, corresponding to a stay in cold water (~2℃) rushing at difficult-to-stand speeds (<2 m/s) for at least 10 minutes.

Motivated by a need to reduce the manual component of observations, this year, we installed four acoustic sensors and three time-lapse cameras near the river for testing and developing a discharge measurement method without entering the river. For this purpose, acoustic sensors were placed between the bridge and the stream’s source (at the Qaanaaq Glacier terminus) approximately every 500 m along the stream length of ~2.5 km. The change of the stream width and geometry might affect the properties of the acoustic signal; thus, we added three time-lapse cameras to capture the dynamics of the stream. Comparison of directly observed discharge with acoustic and imagery data is expected to improve our ability to interpret and employ remote sensing methods for high-frequency monitoring of glacial runoff.

（2024/9/26）

Report on the workshop held in Qaanaaq village in northwest Greenland

Writer：Tatsuya Watanabe (Kitami Institute of Technology)
Tatsuya Fukazawa (Hokkaido University)

We hold workshops every year inviting villagers to learn about research activities in the Qaanaaq region. This year, the workshop was held on July 28, and more villagers than usual gathered at the venue. The number of participants reached a record high of about 70 people, and we could sense that our research activities in this region have taken root, and that the villagers are showing a strong interest in the content and results of our research (Fig. 1).

The workshop began with an opening speech from a local collaborator, Ms. Toku Oshima, followed by Prof. Sugiyama (Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University) introducing research themes and researchers of the Coastal Environments team. This year, seven researchers gave presentations, and we were able to provide a wide variety of topics (Fig. 2). In the first half, four presentations were given on the theme of nature. Dr. Podolskiy (Arctic Research Center, Hokkaido University) introduced the biorhythms of appaliarsuk (Alle alle), and underwater acoustics caused by iceberg movement and narwhal behavior, with the theme of the sounds of ice and animals. Ms. Ogawa (PhD student, Hokkaido University) introduced the results of research on marine ecosystems, and the villagers showed great interest in the results of analysis of the stomach contents of seals and narwhals obtained with the cooperation of local hunters. Dr. Thiebot (Hokkaido University) introduced the ecology of seabirds that live around Qaanaaq region, such as appaliarsuk. At the end of the first half, Dr. Nishimura (Shinshu University) of the Cryosphere team, which is also conducting observations based in Qaanaaq village, gave a presentation on their work on snow, ice and meteorology.

During the break time, we prepared sushi, okonomiyaki, and sweets for the villagers to enjoy the taste of Japan (Fig. 3). Everyone’s feedback was very positive, with many saying “Mamartoq! (delicious)”, and the plates were emptied in an instant.

In the second half, three presentations were made with the theme of social impact. Mr. Imazu (PhD student, Hokkaido University) explained the causes of river flooding that occurred in Qaanaaq last summer. Next, the author, Watanabe (Kitami Institute of Technology), gave a presentation on the landslide mechanism in Siorapaluk and slope hazards in the Qaanaaq region. Finally, Dr. Fukazawa (Hokkaido University) gave a talk on village waste issues and the bioconcentration of toxic substances, and presented analysis results showing that contaminated water runoff from the dump site is affecting coastal ecosystems.

After the presentations, there was time for discussion, and we deepened our mutual understanding. Seeing the serious eyes of the participants renewed our determination to accomplish our mission. We will continue to value our relationships with the villagers and engage in research activities aimed at solving the issues and questions facing the community (Fig. 4).

（2024/8/23）

Studying Arctic marine ecosystems through seabirds’ feathers

Writer：Jean-Baptiste Thiebot (Hokkaido University)
Asuka Yushima (Hokkaido University)

Every year, birds renew their feathers to keep a good protection from the weather and an optimal flying ability. The chemical composition of the newly grown feathers will be based on the food that the bird was eating at the time: it is thus possible to study the feeding conditions and the concentration of toxic contaminants that the birds experienced seasonally, just by analyzing their feathers’ composition. And because the feathers from different body areas grow in different seasons, scientists can examine the conditions experienced by the birds in different seasons, by sampling a few feathers from the wing, belly, etc.

Little auks (Alle alle, locally known as “appaliarsuk” in north-western Greenland) are small seabirds (~150 grams) that can be seen almost exclusively in the Arctic, year-round. They can thus be considered good bio-indicators of environmental conditions across seasons in Arctic marine ecosystems. Little auks are extremely abundant, with a large part of their population breeding in northwestern Greenland, where they are seasonally exploited as part of a traditional subsistence harvest by the villagers. In the spring and summer, little auks build a nest under loose rocks in high coastal slopes; they then fly in and out of the nest every day to feed on the marine organisms they can find nearby, and raise their chick. At the end of summer, little auks migrate to the south of Greenland and east of Canada, where they spend the winter eating small crustaceans.

In July-August 2024 we organized a fieldwork trip to a large colony of little auks near the village of Siorapaluk, to sample their feathers. In the two previous years, we were able to study feathers from adult little auks, which provided information on feeding conditions and mercury (Hg) contamination in the late summer and autumn. This time, we were particularly interested in sampling feathers from chicks. First, the down feathers of young chicks reflect the nutritional elements present in the egg while the chick developed: these elements are thus representative of the food that the mother little auks were able to find at sea while growing their eggs, prior to breeding. Second, by sampling the feathers newly grown on chicks before they leave the nest, we will be able to examine the feeding environment that the two parents experienced specifically during the chick-feeding period.

On the last day of our visit, we went on local hunters’ boats, to study the marine distribution of little auks across the fjords. By doing this, we aim to better understand the type of marine conditions that the birds target when searching for food at sea, and to examine the influence of glaciers on these marine conditions.

Biochemical analyses will be conducted this autumn at Hokkaido University to analyze the composition of the feathers, providing new insights on seasonal interactions in Arctic marine ecosystems. In combination with our data collected during the two previous years, these new results will be important to understand how marine ecosystems in the Arctic respond interannually to increasing contamination levels of highly toxic elements such as Mercury, and how this mechanism may affect the people from the Arctic who rely on these marine resources.

（2024/8/22）

The field campaign at Qaanaaq Glacier, northwestern Greenland

Writer：Takuro Imazu (Hokkaido University)
Kotaro Yazawa (Hokkaido University)
Shin Sugiyama (Hokkaido University)

We are in Qaanaaq in northwestern Greenland from July 10 to August 14, 2024 for a field campaign on Qaanaaq Glacier as a part of the ArCS II Research Program on Coastal Environments (Fig. 1). When we arrived at Qaanaaq village, air temperature was 5 degrees, which reminded me winter in Japan. There are many dogs in the village (Fig. 2), sea ice and icebergs in the ocean, and glaciers on the mountains. This is my first trip to Greenland, thus I, Yazawa (Hokkaido University), am impressed at the beautiful landscape.

We have been monitoring mass balance and ice velocity of Qaanaaq Glacier since 2012, by using aluminum poles installed at six locations on the glacier (Fig. 3). The long-term observations are important to understand the evolution of not only Qaanaaq Glacier, but also glaciers and ice caps in northwestern Greenland, where glacier mass loss has accelerated recently. The mass balance observation this summer showed that mean mass loss of Qaanaaq Glacier was 0.52 m w.e. (water equivalent) from 2023 to 2024. The rate of the mass loss was 32% smaller than that in 2022–2023. We also perform ice velocity measurements to investigate the role of ice dynamics in recent mass loss of the glacier. To repeat the mass balance and ice speed measurements next year, we installed new aluminum poles at the survey sites (Fig. 4).

We have repeated UAV surveys since 2022 to study the spatial distribution of surface elevation change with a high spatial and temporal resolutions (Fig. 5). The high resolution aerial photographs are also utilized to investigate supraglacial streams formed by meltwater on the glacier and their influence on the glacier mass loss. This summer, we have performed UAV measurements 3 times, taking 6671 photographs in total. We generate digital elevation models based on the photographs from the UAV. Spatial distribution of surface elevation change and the development of supraglacial streams are investigated by comparing the results with those from 2022 and 2023.

（2024/8/2）

Related Contents

• Coastal Environments｜Research Programs｜Strategic Goals and Research Programs

The post Field Research Around Qaanaaq Coast, Northwestern Greenland 2024 first appeared on The Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II (ArCS II).