Experiments on the Resistance of a Large Transport Vessel Navigating in the Arctic Region in Pack Ice Conditions

In this study, we carried out model tests to investigate the ice failure process and the resistance experienced by a transport vessel navigating in the Arctic region in pack ice conditions. We tested different navigation velocities, ice plate sizes, and ice concentrations. During the tests, we closely observed several phenomena, including the modes of interaction of the ice ship and the moving and failure modes of ice. We also measured the vessel resistances under different conditions. The test results indicate that the navigation velocity is a significant determinant of the moving and failure modes of ice. Moreover, vessel resistance is remarkably dependent on the ice concentration and navigation velocity. The variances of the mean and maximum resistance are also compared and discussed in detail.

Seismicity,structure and tectonics in the Arctic region

The "Arctic" region,where the North Pole occupies the center of the Arctic Ocean,has been affecting the environmental variation of the Earth from geological time to the present.However,the seismic activities in the area are not adequately monitored.Therefore,by conducting long term monitoring of seismic phenomenon as sustainable parameters,our understanding of both the tectonic evolution of the Earth and the dynamic interaction between the cryosphere and geosphere in surface layers of the Earth will increase.In this paper,the association of the seismicity and structure of the Arctic region,particularly focused on Eurasian continent and surrounding oceans,and its relationship with regional evolution during the Earth's history is studied.The target areas cover representative tectonic provinces in the Eurasian Arctic,such as the wide area of Siberia,Baikal Rift Zone.Far East Russia,Arctic Ocean together with Greenland and Northern Canada.Based on discussion including characteristics of seismicity,heterogeneous structure of the crust and upper mantle,tectonic history and recent dynamic features of the Earth's surface in the Arctic are summarized.

On the Governance of the Arctic Region under the Tragedy of the Commons

Because of global climate change,the natural environment is rapidly changing in the Arctic.The large amount of sea ice melting in the Arctic can lead to a great increase in the use of the world’s natural resources.This thesis focuses on the exploration and utilization of public waters in the Arctic region based on the economic theory of the Tragedy of the Commons,analyzes the current situation of Arctic governance,and predicts potential problems in the Arctic region,mainly including overfishing and environmental problems caused by coal and natural gas exploitation.Additionally,it makes an in-depth analysis on the current Arctic governance model based on the Arctic Council,and finally proposes some countermeasures and suggestions for Arctic governance.

Status of persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals in surface water of Arctic region

Trace pollutants in the surface water of the Arctic region have been analyzed by the capillary gas chro-matography with the micro-electron capture detector (GC- mECD), the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC- MS) and the inductively coupled plasmas-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Compared with previously reported studies, concentrations of OCPs in these regions are much lower than those in the last decades. The ratio of a-/g-HCH indicates the different pesticide composition between these two regions and is the potential marker for the source of the OCPs. Many other OCPs with different residue patterns have also been found for the first time in the two regions. No heavy metal contaminant was found in the investigation regions.

A coupled regional Arctic sea ice-ocean model:configuration and application

A regional sea ice-ocean coupled model for the Arctic Ocean was developed, based on the MlTgcm ocean circulation model and classical Hibler79 type two category thermodynamics-dynamics sea ice model.The sea ice dynamics and thermodynamics were considered based on Viscous-Plastic(VP) and Winton three-layer models,respectively.A detailed configuration of coupled model has been introduced.Special attention has been paid to the model grid setup,subgrid paramerization,ice-ocean coupling and open boundary treatment.The coupled model was then applied and two test run examples were presented.The first model run was a climatology simulation with 10 years(1992—2002) averaged NCAR/NCEP reanalysis data as atmospheric forcing.The second model run was a seasonal simulation for the period of 1992—2007.The atmospheric forcing was daily NCAR/NCEP reanalysis.The climatology simulation captured the general pattern of the sea ice thickness distribution of the Arctic,i.e.,the thickest sea ice is situated around the Canada Archipelago and the north coast of the Greenland. For the second model run,the modeled September Sea ice extent anomaly from 1992—2007 was highly correlated with the observations,with a linear correlation coefficient of 0.88.The minimum of the Arctic sea ice area in the September of 2007 was unprecedented.The modeled sea ice area and extent for this minimum was overestimated relative to the observations.However,it captured the general pattern of the sea ice retreat.

Atmospheric feedbacks on Arctic summer sea-ice anomalies in ensemble simulations of a coupled regional climate model

Ensemble simulations with the Arctic coupled regional climate model HIRHAM-NAOSIM have been analyzed to investigate atmospheric feedbacks to September sea-ice anomalies in the Arctic in autumn and the following winter. Different "low minus high ice" composites have been calculated using selected model runs and different periods. This approach allows us to investigate the robustness of the simulated regional atmospheric feedbacks to detected sea-ice anomalies. Since the position and strength of the September sea-ice anomaly varies between the different "low minus high ice" composites, the related simulated atmospheric patterns in autumn differ depending on the specific surface heat flux forcing through the ocean-atmosphere interface. However, irrespective of those autumn differences, the regional atmospheric feedback in the following winter is rather insensitive to the applied compositing. Neither the selection of simulations nor the considered period impacts the results. The simulated consistent large-scale atmospheric circulation pattern shows a wave-like pattern with positive pressure anomaly over the region of the Barents/Kara Seas and Scandinavia/western Russia("Scandinavian-Ural blocking") and negative pressure anomaly over the East Siberian/Laptev Seas.

Regional disparities of phytoplankton in relation to environmental factors in the western Arctic Ocean during summer of 2010

Global warming has caused Arctic sea ice to rapidly retreat,which is affecting phytoplankton,the primary producers at the base of the food chain,as well as the entire ecosystem.However,few studies with large spatial scales related to the Arctic Basin at high latitude have been conducted.This study aimed to investigate the relationship between changes in phytoplankton community structure and ice conditions.Fifty surface and 41 vertically stratified water samples from the western Arctic Ocean(67.0°–88°26′N,152°–178°54′W) were collected by the Chinese icebreaker R/V Xuelong from July 20 to August 30,2010 during China's fourth Arctic expedition.Using these samples,the species composition,spatial distribution,and regional disparities of phytoplankton during different stages of ice melt were assessed.A total of 157 phytoplankton taxa(>5 μm) belonging to 69 genera were identified in the study area.The most abundant species were Navicula pelagica and Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii,accounting for 31.23% and 14.12% of the total phytoplankton abundance,respectively.The average abundance during the departure trip and the return trip were 797.07×10~2 cells/L and 84.94×10~2 cells/L,respectively.The highest abundance was observed at Sta.R09 in the north of Herald Shoal,where Navicula pelagica was the dominant species accounting for 59.42% of the abundance.The vertical distribution of phytoplankton abundance displayed regional differences,and the maximum abundances were confined to the lower layers of the euphotic zone near the layers of the halocline,thermocline,and nutricline.The species abundance of phytoplankton decreased from the low-latitude shelf to the high-latitude basin on both the departure and return trips.The phytoplankton community structure in the shallow continental shelf changed markedly during different stages of ice melt,and there was shift in dominant species from centric to pennate diatoms.Results of canonical correspondence analysis(CCA) showed that there were two distinct communities of phytoplankton in the western Arctic Ocean,and water temperature,ice coverage and silicate concentration were the most important environmental factors affecting phytoplankton distribution in the surveyed sea.These findings will help predict the responses of phytoplankton to the rapid melting of Arctic sea ice.

碳中和背景下北极低温经济发展的潜力和挑战

全球性气候问题攸关世界经济发展,实现碳中和目标不仅是可持续发展的必然选择,更是全球大势所趋。在此背景下,积极探索新的碳减排路径至关重要。全球性气候变暖影响具有显著的区域性差异,已有研究表明全球气候变暖对低温地区具有一定积极作用,经济发展最适宜区域正逐渐向高纬度地区转移。同时,低温地区特别是北极地区的碳减排潜力越发凸显,这一新形势也为碳中和目标实现和缓解气候变暖提供了新的发展方向。在阐释低温经济的概念和内涵的基础上,聚焦北极航运、建筑能耗、全球能源与信息互联网络、数据中心等在北极地区具有碳减排潜力的产业,分析北极低温经济发展的潜力和挑战。

Lessons and prospects of Sino-Russian Arctic cooperation

The strategic partnership between China and Russia is creating solid ground for the cooperative development of the Arctic.These two states’joint development of the Northern Sea Route will not only provide additional impulse to the exportoriented economy of China and allow further diversification of supply routes to China,but will also promote investment into the infrastructure and economic growth of Russian northern territories.Climate change in the Arctic has forced China and Russia to acknowledge the sustainable use of the Arctic.On the one hand,exploration of the region should not harm indigenous people’s rights and should help this population improve their standard of living by providing qualified healthcare and opportunities for commercial fulfillment of traditional crafts.On the other hand,this exploration should also include elimination of harmful anthropogenic impact and provide support for environment self-restoration.Sino-Russian Arctic cooperation will help humans discover eco-friendly approaches to use Arctic resources,promote rational use of the Arctic and inspire sustainable development of the region.

Advances in Chinese Arctic and subarctic research in marine biology and ecology with emphasis on the Pacific Arctic sector

The Arctic is one of the most sensitive regions that respond through feedback to global climate changes. Climatic, hydrological and ecological changes in the Arctic are clear evidence of global warming. In 2012 and 2014, the 5 th and 6 th Chinese National Arctic Research Expeditions undertook studies in the Bering Sea, the Arctic Ocean(including the Chukchi Sea), and the Norwegian Sea. These studies provided us with a better understanding of the marine biology and ecology in the Arctic and subarctic regions, particularly in the Pacific Arctic sector. Rapid changes observed in the Arctic environment include the shrinking of cold-water masses in the Bering Sea in the summer, and elevated water temperatures promoting phytoplankton blooms, leading to an increase in phytoplankton transferred to higher trophic levels. As a result, the transfer efficiency of organic matter toward the bottom weakened, leading to a reduction in benthic biomass. This is consistent with expectations that the overall carbon and energy flux will ultimately switch from the dominant mode of sea ice–algae–benthos to one of phytoplankton–zooplankton. Influenced by Pacific water inflow, fluvial runoff and melting sea ice, the Chukchi Sea exhibited different responses to various environmental changes. Interactions between water masses led to other interannual ecological shifts. With the increase in sea ice melt and sunlight in the central region of the Arctic Ocean, the relative abundance of heterotrophic bacteria is expected to increase, and play a vital role in the Arctic microbial loop.

Summertime CO_2 fluxes from tundra of Ny-?lesund in the High Arctic

The Arctic ecosystem, especially High Arctic tundra, plays a unique role in the global carbon cycle because of amplified warming in the region. However, relatively little research has been conducted in High Arctic tundra compared with other global ecosystems. In the present work, summertime net ecosystem exchange(NEE), ecosystem respiration(ER), and photosynthesis were investigated at six tundra sites(DM1–DM6) on Ny-?lesund in the High Arctic. NEE at the tundra sites varied between a weak sink and strong source(-3.3 to 19.0 mg CO_2·m^(-2)·h^(-1)). ER and gross photosynthesis were 42.8 to 92.9 mg CO_2·m^(-2)·h^(-1) and 54.7 to 108.7 mg CO_2·m^(-2)·h^(-1), respectively. The NEE variations showed a significant correlation with photosynthesis rates, whereas no significant correlation was found with ecosystem respiration, indicating that NEE variations across the region were controlled by differences in net uptake of CO_2 owing to photosynthesis, rather than by variations in ER. A Q_(10) value of 1.80 indicated weak temperature sensitivity of tundra ER and its response to future global warming. NEE and gross photosynthesis also showed relatively strong correlations with C/N ratio. The tundra ER, NEE, and gross photosynthesis showed variations over slightly waterlogged wetland tundra, mesic and dry tundra. Overall, soil temperature, nutrients and moisture can be key effects on CO_2 fluxes, ecosystem respiration, and NEE in the High Arctic.

Changing Spring Phenology Dates in the Three-Rivers Headwater Region of the Tibetan Plateau during 1960–2013

The variation of the vegetation growing season in the Three-Rivers Headwater Region of the Tibetan Plateau has recently become a controversial topic. One issue is that the estimated local trend in the start of the vegetation growing season(SOS)based on remote sensing data is easily affected by outliers because this data series is short. In this study, we determine that the spring minimum temperature is the most influential factor for SOS. The significant negative linear relationship between the two variables in the region is evaluated using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer–Normalized Difference Vegetation Index data for 2000–13. We then reconstruct the SOS time series based on the temperature data for 1960–2013.The regional mean SOS shows an advancing trend of 1.42 d(10 yr)^(-1) during 1960–2013, with the SOS occurring on the 160th and 151st days in 1960 and 2013, respectively. The advancing trend enhances to 6.04 d(10 yr)^(-1) during the past 14 years. The spatiotemporal variations of the reconstructed SOS data are similar to those deduced from remote sensing data during the past 14 years. The latter exhibit an even larger regional mean trend of SOS [7.98 d(10 yr^(-1) )] during 2000–13. The Arctic Oscillation is found to have significantly influenced the changing SOS, especially for the eastern part of the region,during 2000–13.

我国极地救援体系建设探讨

极地恶劣的自然环境和特殊的地理位置,使极地活动具有较高的风险性,而频发的突发意外事故,对极地区域的应急救援提出了更高要求。我国在南极和北极开展了大量的科学考察、商业航运等活动,但在极地救援方面的基础十分薄弱。该文通过梳理极地现有的主流救援模式,提出极地救援体系的初步构想,并从组织架构、法规研究、平台搭建、环境勘测、通信导航、站点布局、装备发展、人才培养和规程制定等方面予以阐述说明,填补我国在极地救援体系研究方面的空白,以期为今后极地救援体系的建设提供参考和借鉴。

中国参与北极区域公共产品供给:动因、挑战与路径

作为负责任大国以及北极利益攸关方,中国积极参与北极区域公共产品供给。中国的供给行为主要有三个动因:获取预期收益、填补北极强烈的公共产品需求以及应对北极事务的负外部性。然而,中国的供给行为也面临着霸权国的外部压力、北极场域的内生性阻力以及自身供给能力不足等挑战。中国已经在推进北极基础设施互联互通、深度参与北极环境气候治理以及开展常态化的科研活动等方面作出贡献,未来应依托“冰上丝绸之路”不断丰富北极区域产品的供给品类及供给渠道。

环北极地区自然灾害多尺度时空格局分析

受全球气候变暖影响剧烈,导致北极地区自然灾害情况加剧,但有关北极地区精细尺度的自然灾害时空格局研究较为缺乏。基于紧急灾难数据库,利用自然灾害数量、死亡人数、总受影响人数及总直接经济损失四个受灾指标,采用时空统计方法,从总体、国别及一级行政区多个尺度研究1980—2020年环北极地区的受灾情况,并通过空间相关性量化不同自然灾害的空间分布特征,结果表明:(1)在1980—2020年间环北极地区的自然灾害数量先增后减,其中,在1990—2009的20年间是六种灾害高发期,均占据41年总灾次的60%以上,在2000年总灾次达到峰值22次。同时,灾害的破坏性愈加强烈,死亡人数和直接经济损失成倍数增加;(2)环北极地区受灾呈两极化,灾害数量和灾害种类与国土面积和海岸线长短紧密相关,俄罗斯与加拿大受灾最为严重,且成灾体量与人口密度高度一致。洪水与风暴灾害是环北极地区最频发的自然灾害,两者占据总灾次的66.9%,滑坡与干旱两者仅7.3%。(3)自然灾害在一级行政区具有显著的“环状”格局和集聚特征,且在时空尺度上具有连续、低频的特点。

北极地区水环境中PPCPs的污染现状研究进展

药物及个人护理产品(PPCPs)是一种国内外广泛关注的新污染物,其在北极地区水环境中的出现引起了多国政府与环保组织的高度重视。通过归纳北极地区水环境中PPCPs的来源、浓度、分布及归趋,发现近北极地区的河流输送、大气与海洋长距离传输、废液的直接排放和污水处理厂排放是PPCPs进入北极地区水环境的主要途径。北极地区水环境中典型的PPCPs为抗癫痫药、非甾体抗炎药(NSAIDs)、抗抑郁药、兴奋剂和增塑剂,其具有“假性持久性”,相似于非北极地区水环境中PPCPs的环境行为。目前,有关北极地区PPCPs污染控制技术、北极地区淡水环境中PPCPs污染水平的调查、北极地区水环境中PPCPs的性质以及环境行为等方面的研究有待加强。

利用重磁资料研究北极地区扬马延微陆块中南部断裂构造与油气远景

为了研究北极地区扬马延微陆块中南部的断裂构造与油气远景,系统收集并整理了已有的重力及磁力资料,基于变纬度化极技术计算磁力化极异常,利用位场边缘识别技术获得相应的位场边缘识别信息,结合已有的地质及地球物理研究成果,对重磁异常及位场边缘识别信息进行深入分析,确定扬马延微陆块中南部断裂构造格架,圈定油气勘探有利区。研究认为,扬马延微陆块中南部重力高异常与重力低异常相间分布的特征反映了该区隆起与坳陷分布的范围及展布特征。扬马延微陆块中南部主要发育有北东向、北西向、近东西向及近南北向4组断裂,这4组断裂对基底结构、性质、隆坳格架及新生界分布起着重要的控制作用。扬马延微陆块中南部圈定出Ⅰ类和Ⅱ类油气勘探有利区,这些勘探有利区最显著的特征是处于自由空间重力局部异常及垂向二阶导数异常高值带,其发育明显受断裂构造控制。Ⅰ类勘探有利区对应的重力异常幅值较高、异常变化梯度较陡;相对于Ⅰ类勘探有利区,Ⅱ类勘探有利区对应的重力异常幅值相对较小、异常变化梯度相对较为平缓。

基于双重差分模型的北极地区碳减排效应及其政策作用分析

北极变暖速度是全球平均水平的两倍多,在北极和全世界引起广泛影响.聚焦全球变暖和碳排放问题,北极地区推出相应气候与环境治理框架政策.该文围绕政策框架对北极碳减排作用开展研究,选取2011—2018年北极理事会成员国及非成员国国家的面板数据,运用双重差分模型,分析了北极理事会20周年联合声明政策框架对北极地区碳减排效应的影响.模型分析结果显示,该政策框架的发布对碳减排有显著的推动作用.同时,结合分析结果和北极地区环境保护与气候变化治理模式,提出推动北极地区碳减排的治理方案与对策建议.

青藏高原和环北极冻土变化研究进展

青藏高原和环北极地区的共同特征之一是大面积冻土的存在,冻土的过去变化及未来预估对于三极联动研究具有重要意义,同时也是全球气候变化研究中备受关注的热点问题之一。基于已发表文章和评估报告,本文系统地梳理了青藏高原和环北极地区多年冻土面积、年平均地温(MAGT)、活动层厚度(ALT)、近地表冻融状态和冻深五个方面的研究结果。研究表明:基于不同方法,总体上,多年冻土面积减少、MAGT增温、ALT增大、冻结天数减少、冻深减薄,但不同方法模拟结果存在一定的差异性。在未来的研究中,可加强冻土监测,深化冻土物理过程认识、冻土与气候及环境之间的相互作用机制、模型中考虑冻土横向热流的影响,进而为未来更高精度冻土模拟预估提供数据、方法支撑。本研究中的总结可为未来冻土变化研究提供一定的思路,为寒区工程建设提供参考,进一步认识冻土环境变化可能带来的灾害等,强调冻土环境保护。

俄罗斯北极地区战略空间规划的内涵、地缘政治因素及启示

北极地区的开发与治理是俄罗斯北极政策的重要内容,为了维护北极的国家战略安全,实现社会经济发展,俄罗斯制定了北极地区的战略空间规划,旨在从军事安全、能源资源与北方航运、社会经济、应对气候变化、国际合作等不同维度开展区域空间规划与实践.鉴于北极的地缘格局,俄属北极地区的战略空间规划不得不考虑地缘政治因素的影响.从空间规划视角审视俄罗斯北极地区的战略规划,可在为加强北极治理及国际合作提供参考借鉴.