The reason we study the Arctic ocean now

Sea ice has declined significantly over the past several decades in the Arctic Ocean. It is predicted that sea ice declines further. In addition, the Arctic region has significantly warmed more than the global average. It is predicted that it continues to warm more than the global average significantly. It is known as Arctic Warming Amplification. The presence or absence of sea ice and sea surface temperatures have a significant impact on marine ecosystems. In particular, the ecosystems of oceans under sea ice throughout the year are greatly different from those that are ice-free even during certain periods. Therefore, Hokkaido University is engaged in daily research and education to comprehensively clarify the ongoing changes in the Arctic Ocean through understanding physical and chemical environmental changes, such as not only nutrients but also greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide and methane), and the impact of these changes on the marine ecosystem. We are working on research and education to comprehensively understand the changes in the environment and the impact of these changes on marine ecosystems. In this course, we will introduce some of these studies.