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Oceanography, biology, modeling, remote sensing, paleoceanography

Green Edge

Arctic Ocean: the impact of climate fluctuations
on biological productivity

The effects of climate change are particularly clear in the Arctic, with unknown consequences for marine ecosystems and the societies that depend on them. To understand the dynamic of the phytoplankton spring bloom in the region and determine its role in the Arctic of the future, including its impact on carbon flows, biodiversity and human populations, the spring bloom was monitored in Baffin Bay in 2015 and 2016.

Working from a research icebreaker and the sea ice, the project described the distribution of oceanic properties, biogeochemical processes, biodiversity and the succession of species at all levels of the food chain. Satellite data was used to extend the observations on the ground to all of Baffin Bay and the pan-Arctic scale. A coupled physical-biological model is being optimised to simulate phytoplankton production and predict changes in plankton communities and the dynamics of the food web. Sediment core samples were taken to enable paleooceanographic monitoring. Finally, discussions with Inuit communities are enriching our understanding of marine productivity evolution.

The project

ANR programme: Generic Call for Proposals

Edition, project duration: 2014, 48 months

ANR grant: € 800,000

Coordinator:

Project region: Océan Arctique

Main publication or contribution:

  • Oziel, L., Massicotte, P., Randelhoff, A., Ferland, J., Vladoiu, A., Lacour, L., Galindo, V., Lambert-Girard, S., Dumont, D., Cuypers, Y., Bouruet-Aubertot, P., Mundy, C.-J., Ehn, J., Bécu, G., Marec, C., Forget, M.-H., Garcia, N., Coupel, P., Raimbault, P., Houssais, M.-N. and Babin, M., 2019. Environmental factors influencing the seasonal dynamics of spring algal blooms in and beneath sea ice in western Baffin Bay. Elem Sci Anth, 7(1), p.34. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.372
  • Randelhoff, A., Oziel, L., Massicotte, P., Bécu, G., Galí, M., Lacour, L., Dumont, D., Vladoiu, A., Marec, C., Bruyant, F., Houssais, M.-N., Tremblay, J.-É., Deslongchamps, G. and Babin, M., 2019. The evolution of light and vertical mixing across a phytoplankton ice-edge bloom. Elem Sci Anth, 7(1), p.20. http://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.357

Partners:

  • Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV)
  • Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR)
  • Laboratoire d’Océanographie et du Climat Expérimentation et approche numérique (LOCEAN)
  • Laboratoire des sciences de l’environnement marin (LEMAR) 
  • Institut Méditerranéen d’Océanologie (MIO)
  • Laboratoire d’océanographie microbienne (LOMIC)
  • Environnements et Paléoenvironnements Océaniques et Continentaux (EPOC)
  • Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs)
  • Université du Québec à Rimouski and Institut des sciences de la Mer (UQAR/ISMER)
  • University of Manitoba
  • Centre de recherche en géochimie et géodynamique (GEOTOP)
green-edge
Image illustrating GreenEdge field operations, a) at the ice camp and b) on board the Amundsen icebreaker. © Julie Sansoulet et al., Takuvik
perspectives
perspectives

Green Edge has advanced our understanding of spring microalgal bloom in the Arctic Ocean. It has also highlighted the limits of conventional methods, which can only be overcome with advanced molecular tools, and the probable importance of the polar night in the functioning of the ecosystem.

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