Toward understanding the human dimensions of the rapidly changing arctic system: insights and approaches from five HARC projects

Human dimensions research focuses on the interrelationships between humans and the environment. To date, human dimensions research in arctic regions has concentrated primarily on local events and contexts. As such, it complements analysis elsewhere of adaptation and sustainable development within broad institutional, social, and environmental contexts. This paper reviews five projects from the Human Dimensions of the Arctic System (HARC) initiative, established by the US National Science Foundation in 1997. Common themes and findings are highlighted: climatic variations or change affect societies through interactions with human activities; population dynamics provide key quantitative indicators of social impacts and well being; and specific impacts and responses are the result of complex, context-sensitive interactions. Congruent approaches to the challenges of interdisciplinary research are also identified: multivariate time plots aid the integration of data, retrospective and prospective studies are part of a continuum and reinforce one another, comparative studies are essential for understanding general principles of human dimensions, and arctic residents can play a vital role in research and action.     

Distribution characteristics and indicator significance of Dechloranes in multi-matrices at Ny-Ålesund in the Arctic

In recent years, Dechloranes have been widely detected in the environment around the world. However, understanding and knowledge of Dechloranes in remote regions, such as the Arctic, remain lacking. Therefore, the concentrations of 5 Dechloranes in surface seawater, sediment, soil, moss, and dung collected from Ny-Ålesund in the Arctic were measured with the concentrations 93 pg/L, 342, 325, 1.4, and 258 pg/g, respectively, which were much lower than those in Asian and European regions. The mean ratios of anti-Dechlorane Plus (DP) to total DP (?_anti) in seawater, sediment, soil, moss, dung, and atmospheric samples were 0.36, 0.21, 0.18, 0.27, 0.66, and 0.43, respectively. Results suggested that the main source of DP in seawater, sediment, soil, and moss was long-range atmospheric transport. However, the ratio identified in dung was different, for which the migration behavior of the organism is probably the main source of DP.     

Influence of gaseous and particulate species on neutralization processes of polar aerosol and snow — A case study from Ny-Ålesund

The inter-conversion of nitrogen and sulfur species between the gas and particulate phases and their interaction with alkaline species influences the acidity of the aerosols and surface snow. To better understand these processes, a short field campaign was undertaken in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, during 13th April 2012 to 24th April 2012. Air measurements were carried out through a particulate sampler equipped with denuders and filter packs for simultaneous collection of trace gases (HNO₃, NO₂, SO₂ and reactive nitrogen compounds) and aerosols, with daily collection of snow samples. Ionic composition of the samples was analyzed using ion chromatography technique. The results suggested that nitrate-rich aerosols are formed when PAN (peroxy acetyl nitrate) disassociates to form NO₂ and HNO₃ which further hydrolyzes to form pNO₃^? (particulate nitrate). This resulted in a high contribution of pNO₃^? (62%) to the total nitrogen budget over the study area. The acidity of the aerosols and snow evaluated through cation/anion ratio (C/A) indicated alkaline conditions with C/A > 2. The bicarbonates/carbonates of Mg^2 + played an important role in neutralization processes of surface snow while the role of NH₃ was dominant in aerosol neutralization processes. Such neutralization processes can increase the aerosol hygroscopicity causing warming. Chloride depletion in the snow was significant as compared to the aerosols, indicating two important processes, scavenging of coarse sea salt by the snow and gaseous adsorption of SO₂ on the snow surface. However, a more systematic and long term study is required for a better understanding of the neutralization processes and chemical inter-conversions.     

北极海洋沉积物石油降解菌的筛选及系统发育分析

从中国第二次北极科学考察采集的海洋沉积物中经富集培养、分离筛选得到了26株石油降解菌.研究表明,分离到的石油降解菌均可在以石油为唯一碳源和能源的无机营养盐培养基中生长,其中菌株P18、P28和P29生长最佳.当培养基中石油含量为2g·L-1时,于5℃下振荡培养14d,3株菌株的石油降解率可分别达到30.96%、34.85%和51.28%.分离到的石油降解菌绝大部分(25/26)能分泌胞外脂肪酶,表明其石油降解能力与产脂肪酶能力有着较强的相关性.分子鉴定与系统发育分析表明,分离到的石油降解菌除P31和P32属于细菌域(Bacteria)拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)的黄杆菌纲(Flavobacteria)外,其余均属于细菌域(Bacteria)变形杆菌门(Proteobacteria)的γ-变形杆菌纲(γ-Proteobacteria),其中包括交替单胞菌目(Alteromonadales)的假交替单胞菌属(Pseudoalterom onas)、科尔韦尔氏菌属(Colwellia)、希瓦氏菌属(Shewanella),弧菌目(Vibrionales)的发光杆菌属(Photobacterium),假单胞菌目(Pseudom onadales)的假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)和海螺菌目(Oceanospirillales)的盐单胞菌属(Halomonas).分离到的石油降解菌以假交替单胞菌属为优势菌群,其比例可达42%.     

Photolytic degradation of methyl-parathion and fenitrothion in ice and water: Implications for cold environments

Here we investigate the photodegradation of structurally similar organophosphorus pesticides; methyl-parathion and fenitrothion in water (20 °C) and ice (−15 °C) under environmentally-relevant conditions with the aim of comparing these laboratory findings to limited field observations. Both compounds were found to be photolyzed more efficiently in ice than in aqueous solutions, with quantum yields of degradation being higher in ice than in water (fenitrothion > methyl-parathion). This rather surprising observation was attributed to the concentration effect caused by freezing the aqueous solutions. The major phototransformation products included the corresponding oxons (methyl-paraoxon and fenitroxon) and the nitrophenols (3-methyl-nitrophenol and nitrophenol) in both irradiated water and ice samples. The presence of oxons in ice following irradiation, demonstrates an additional formation mechanism of these toxicologically relevant compounds in cold environments, although further photodegradation of oxons in ice indicates that photochemistry of OPs might be an environmentally important sink in cold environments.     

Distribution of total mercury and methylmercury in lake sediments in Arctic Ny-Ålesund

The toxicities and bioavailabilities of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in aquatic systems have made them the subjects of recent research. In this study, we collected a lake sediment core from Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard and analyzed the distributions of THg and MeHg in the sediments. The increased trend of THg was caused by anthropogenic contamination since the 14th century through long-range transportation, especially after the industrial era. However, the peak values of Hg in surface sediment samples could be explained by the increased algal scavenging process in recent decades. All the biogeochemical proxies (e.g., pigments and diatom biomass) revealed recent sharp increases in aquatic primary production due to the current climate warming. Rock-Eval analyses indicated that algal-derived organic matter took up a large portion, and quantitative calculation showed that 89.6-95.8% of the Hg in post-1950 could be explained by scavenging. The distribution of MeHg has a close relationship with total Hg and organic matter. The oxidation-reduction condition is one of the possible factors affecting the methylation rates in H2 lake sediments. Higher algal productivity and organic matter actually led to the increased trend of methylation in the uppermost sediment. This study supports some new key hypotheses on climate-driven factors affecting Hg and MeHg cycling in High Arctic lake sediments.     

Arctic Climate Tipping Points

There is widespread concern that anthropogenic global warming will trigger Arctic climate tipping points. The Arctic has a long history of natural, abrupt climate changes, which together with current observations and model projections, can help us to identify which parts of the Arctic climate system might pass future tipping points. Here the climate tipping points are defined, noting that not all of them involve bifurcations leading to irreversible change. Past abrupt climate changes in the Arctic are briefly reviewed. Then, the current behaviour of a range of Arctic systems is summarised. Looking ahead, a range of potential tipping phenomena are described. This leads to a revised and expanded list of potential Arctic climate tipping elements, whose likelihood is assessed, in terms of how much warming will be required to tip them. Finally, the available responses are considered, especially the prospects for avoiding Arctic climate tipping points.