1. Dr Kirsty Crocket, Science Coordinator kc91@st-andrews.ac.uk
Implications for marine biology and biogeochemistry
Photo: Johan Faust, ChAOS
CAO Cruise, Barents Sea 2017
January 2018
Dr Kirsty Crocket, Science Coordinator

2. UK contribution to Arctic research
Multistressors
Impact of change in physical environment (sea ice and ocean) on Arctic Ocean
Change in the Arctic Ocean not fully understood or quantified

3. Previous UK-led research in the Arctic and impact
NERC Arctic Office

4. Political impetus and scientific nomination
“…to consider recent and expected changes in the Arctic and their implications for the UK and its international relations”
“We recommend that the Government looks to establish a substantial and better co-ordinated long-term programme of Arctic research...”
Nomination of Arctic ocean research by the UK scientific community to NERC

5. The Projects Arctic PRIZE ARISE ChAOS DIAPOD
5 year programme:
£16 million investment
The Projects
Feb 2017: Large projects (4 years long)
Surface ocean
Arctic
PRIZE
Ecosystem response
ARISE
Seafloor
ChAOS
Ecosystem reliance
DIAPOD
Up to 12 more projects
Summer 2018:
3 year projects

6. How does more light in an ice-free Arctic Ocean affect productivity?
Arctic PRIZE
Arctic Productivity in the Seasonal Ice Zone
led by Finlo Cottier
Figure by M. Daase, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø
How does more light in an ice-free Arctic Ocean affect productivity?
Retreating/thinning sea ice changes surface ocean properties (light, nutrients, salinity)
Timing and rates of productivity
Taxonomic composition
Pelagic and benthic consumers
Develop predictive tools to assess how Arctic ecosystems will respond to a reducing sea ice cover

7. up to 90% of Arctic zooplankton biomass
DIAPOD
Mechanistic understanding of the role of diatoms in the success of the Arctic Calanus complex and implications for a warmer Arctic
led by David Pond
Calanus, ~7 mm long
Source: David Pond
up to 90% of Arctic zooplankton biomass
Source: Rolf Gradinger, Arctic Ocean Diversity
Phytoplankton
Fish and higher predators
Source: Arctic cod from
How does change in the Arctic Ocean alter the availability of this key Arctic food source?
How will change in Calanus abundance influence carbon cycling in the Arctic?
Develop a predictive understanding of how Calanus will be affected by climate change  

8. ARISE Seal Fish Zooplankton Can we detect change in Arctic ecosystems?
led by Claire Mahaffey
Simplified Arctic food chain
Are food webs sensitive to environmental change in the Arctic?
How have food webs changed in the past and how will they change in the future?
Trophic position 3
Seal
Trophic position 2
Fish
Increase in N isotope signature
Trophic position 1
Zooplankton
Base of food web
‘isoscape’
Develop a new approach to detect past and future change in Arctic ecosystems

9. ChAOS The Changing Arctic Ocean Seafloor
led by Christian März
How will changes in the surface ocean influence seafloor processes?
What are the consequences of this change for carbon sequestration in sediments?
Organic matter: quality, quantity, age, bioavailability
Quantify effects of changing sea ice cover on seafloor ecosystem function and services

10. Current 4 projects:
over 70 investigators at 18 UK research institutions
12 post-doctoral research associates
10 PhD students

11. More than 60 international collaborators from 11 countries and many international bodies
Norway
Canada
USA
Germany
Denmark
Sweden
Switzerland
France
Poland
Italy
Spain

12. Chair Programme Advisory Group strategic direction of the Programme
international collaboration
Chair
Prof David Thomas
Bangor University
Prof Corinna Schrum
Helmholtz Centre Geesthacht
Germany
Dr Colin Stedmon
Technical University
of Denmark
Prof Anya Waite
Alfred Wegener
Institute, Germany
Dr CJ Mundy
University of Manitoba, Canada
Prof Rolf Gradinger
UiT
Norway

13. Helping to inform policy with scientific outputs
Science outputs
Stakeholders
(national and international)
Key policy areas
(few examples)
Marine conservation
Commercial fish stocks
Climate change impacts on ecosystem services
Adaptation strategies for local communities
Model projections of change
Observational data
Successful transfer of science outputs
Interpretation into something meaningful

14. More information on the CAO website:
CAO Science Coordinator: Dr Kirsty Crocket University of St Andrews UK
More information on the CAO website:
Photo: Johan Faust, ChAOS
CAO Cruise, Barents Sea 2017