31 March 2018, Volume 29 Issue 1

    

• Select all
  |

Contents
• Select
  Contents of Vol 29 No1 2018

  Editorial Office of Advances in Polar Science

  Advances in Polar Science. 2018, 29(1): 0-0.

  Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) Knowledge map Save

  Contents Vol. 29 No. 1 March 2018
  
  Opinion Editorial
  Polar science needs a foundation: where is the research into polar infrastructure?
  Adrian MCCALLUM
  
  Articles
  Arctic warming and its influence on East Asian winter cold events: a brief recap
  Seong-Joong KIM & Baek-Min KIM
  Glacier systems response on climate change by the definite climatic scenario: northeast Russia
  Maria D. ANANICHEVA & Roger BARRY
  Occurrence of seabirds and marine mammals in the pelagic zone of the Patagonian Sea and north of the South Orkney Islands
  José Luis ORGEIRA
  Aspect sensitivity of polar mesosphere summer echoes observed with the EISCAT VHF radar
  LI Hui, WU Jian, TIAN Ruihuan, JIANG Xiaonan & LIANG Yonggan
  The post-Paris approach to mitigating Arctic warming—perspectives from shipping emissions reduction
  BAI Jiayu & MA Yuan
  Influence of the Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation on the approach of non-Arctic states to Arctic scientific activities
  LIU Han
  
  Cover picture: Gentoo penguins, one of the nesting penguin species in the South Orkney Islands (paper by J. L. Orgeira, page 25)
  
Opinion Editorial
• Select
  Polar science needs a foundation: where is the research into polar infrastructure?

  Adrian MCCALLUM

  Advances in Polar Science. 2018, 29(1): 1-2.

  Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) Knowledge map Save

  Citation: McCallum A. Polar science needs a foundation: where is the research into polar infrastructure? Adv Polar Sci, 2018, 29 (1): 1−2, doi: 10.13679/j.advps.2018.1.00001
Articles
• Select
  Arctic warming and its influence on East Asian winter cold events: a brief recap

  Seong-Joong KIM, Baek-Min KIM

  Advances in Polar Science. 2018, 29(1): 3-12. https://doi.org/10.13679/j.advps.2018.1.00003

  Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) Knowledge map Save

  The rate of warming of Arctic surface temperature is about 2–3 times faster than the global mean surface warming. Increases of ice albedo feedback and water vapor as well as moisture intrusion from outside the Arctic all have major roles in this phenomenon. In contrast to this rapid Arctic warming, in recent decades, stronger cold air outbreaks have occurred more frequently during winter in East Asia than were recorded in the 1990s, resulting in severe socioeconomic impacts. A number of related studies have claimed the increased frequency of these stronger cold air outbreaks is linked to the amplified warming in the Arctic through complicated mechanisms. As there are time lags between the observed Arctic warming and East Asian cold weather response at various scales, understanding the entire chain of processes from the Arctic to East Asia has importance for forecasting winter weather in East Asia. There are two pathways linking Arctic warming with East Asian cold weather events. One is the synoptic-scale pathway in the lower troposphere via strengthening of the Siberian High initiated by Ural blocking. The other is the planetary-scale path through the stratosphere via activation of planetary waves and downward propagation, which weakens the polar vortex. This study briefly reviews the current understanding of the linkage mechanisms between Arctic warming and East Asian winter cold weather.

  
  
• Select
  Glacier systems response on climate change by the definite climatic scenario: northeast Russia

  Maria D. ANANICHEVA & Roger BARRY

  Advances in Polar Science. 2018, 29(1): 13-24. https://doi.org/10.13679/j.advps.2018.1.00013

  Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) Knowledge map Save

  In previous papers, we have presented a method for the assessment of the evolution of mountain glacier systems, in which various climate scenarios were used to study the response of glacier systems to climate change. The aim of this study is to assess the evolution of northeastern Russia glacier systems using output from the A-31 climate scenario, and to compare the responses of the different mountain glacier systems to the scenario. We used temperature and precipitation output from the A-31 scenario to assess future evolution of the glacier systems in the Chukchi and Kolyma highlands (for the projection period of 2011–2030), and the Orulgan, Suntar-Khayata, and Chersky ranges (for the projection period of 2041–2060). The paper provides a brief description of the general method that was used and more details on the data and methods used for each glacier system. Responses of glacier systems were analyzed on the basis of four parameters: mean glacier area, system mean altitudinal range, changes in equilibrium line altitude, and glacier area by the end of the projection period. The relationships between the factors received support an applicability of the A-31 scenario to the study of glacier system evolution.

  
  
• Select
  Occurrence of seabirds and marine mammals in the pelagic zone of the Patagonian Sea and north of the South Orkney Islands

  José Luis ORGEIRA

  Advances in Polar Science. 2018, 29(1): 25-33. https://doi.org/10.13679/j.advps.2018.1.00025

  Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) Knowledge map Save

  The Patagonian Sea is one of the most productive ecosystems in the Southern Hemisphere. Unlike other coastal regions, however, few studies exist on the top predators in its pelagic zone. In March 2017, a survey of seabirds and marine mammals was carried out on board the R/V Puerto Deseado in the Patagonian Sea, which extends from the South Atlantic Ocean to the north of the South Orkney Islands, Antarctica. Four of the five oceanographic regimes described in this region were studied, and 23 seabird species and five marine mammal species were recorded. Great shearwater Puffinus gravis, Antarctic prion Pachyptila desolata, and fin whale Balaenoptera physalus were the most abundant species. In the 2615 km traveled, two hotspots for top predators were found, coinciding with frontal zones: one in the shelf-break front and the other in the Southern Front of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The highest bird diversity and the greatest cetacean concentrations were recorded in the polar regime in the presence of low ice-field debris (5%). The results suggest that at the end of the austral summer, the distribution of top predators in this section of the South Atlantic Ocean is highly unequal. Some oceanic areas have a few species aggregations which contrast with the vast pelagic areas that have scarce species presence and activity. The hotspots were associated with high-productivity areas, but it is likely that they were also facilitated by the time of year (post-reproductive season), as most of the species were concentrated and had fed prior to their migrations.

  
  
  
• Select
  Aspect sensitivity of polar mesosphere summer echoes observed with the EISCAT VHF radar

  LI Hui, WU Jian, TIAN Ruihuan, JIANG Xiaonan & LIANG Yonggan

  Advances in Polar Science. 2018, 29(1): 34-39. https://doi.org/10.13679/j.advps.2018.1.00034

  Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) Knowledge map Save

  The European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association (EISCAT) Very High Frequency (224 MHz) Radar has been used to investigate the aspect sensitivity of polar mesosphere summer echoes (PMSE) in the period 13–15 July 2010. The aspect sensitivity of PMSE using this radar and at such a high frequency has not been previously reported. Data concerning the aspect sensitivity of PMSE were collected by traversing the antenna beam from the zenith direction, and comparing the received power. Surprisingly, as the intensity received by the oblique beam was often larger than that of the vertical beam, suggesting the presence of tilted dusty plasma layers as a potential cause, a theoretical model was developed to confirm the existence of these layers and their formation process. The experimental results and theoretical model presented help elucidate the structural properties of the possible generation mechanism of strong radar echoes in the polar summer mesosphere region.
  
  
• Select
  The post-Paris approach to mitigating Arctic warming—perspectives from shipping emissions reduction.

  BAI Jiayu & MA Yuan

  Advances in Polar Science. 2018, 29(1): 40-50. https://doi.org/10.13679/j.advps.2018.1.00040

  Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) Knowledge map Save

  The availability of increased Arctic shipping as a consequence of sea ice decline is a regional issue that is closely linked with international climate governance and global governance of the maritime industry. Sea ice decline creates favorable circumstances for the development of merchant shipping, but is accompanied by increases in greenhouse gas emissions. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry is of utmost important to prevent the destruction of the fragile Arctic ecosystem. This paper focuses on the core content of the Paris Agreement and suggests that the International Maritime Organization could guide the shipping industry to reach a fair agreement with states that includes market-based measures, capacity building, and voluntary actions of shipping companies as non-state actors.

  
  
• Select
  Influence of the Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation on the approach of non-Arctic states to Arctic scientific activities

  LIU Han

  Advances in Polar Science. 2018, 29(1): 51-60. https://doi.org/10.13679/j.advps.2018.1.00051

  Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) Knowledge map Save

  As the third legally-binding instrument of the Arctic Council, the Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation was signed in May 2017 and entered into force on 23 May 2018. The Agreement not only reduces obstacles to the international scientific cooperation and promotes the movement of people and equipment across borders for the effective and efficient development of Arctic scientific knowledge, but also provides an improved international Arctic legal environment for conducting Arctic scientific cooperation based on UNCLOS and institutional arrangements. However, the observer states, the NGOs and IGOs, as well as Permanent Participants are rarely mentioned in this Agreement. This article chooses one group, non-Arctic states, as a case in point in order to critically discuss the influence of this new Arctic scientific cooperation agreement. It argues that the non-Arctic states are left behind at the original legal situation and trapped in an inferior status in Arctic science. Under these circumstances, this article suggests that non-Arctic states, especially those with competitive research abilities, should appeal for amendment of the Agreement to allow wider access to research areas and data sharing, especially when cooperating with the eight-member states of the Arctic Council. Also, non-Arctic states should take the Agreement as the reference when signing bilateral agreements with Arctic states so as to safeguard their interests when conducting Arctic scientific activities. Moreover, the active participation in other fora as well as various bilateral scientific projects can assist non-Arctic states to strengthen the relations with the Arctic states and build trust in the Arctic Council.