30 September 2020, Volume 31 Issue 3

    

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  Contents Vol. 31 No. 3 September 2020

  Assistant Editor

  Advances in Polar Science. 2020, 31(3): 0-1.

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  It cover eight papers in this issue.
Opinion Editorial
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  The SPLASH Action Group – Towards standardized sampling strategies in permafrost science

  Frédéric BOUCHARD, Yannick AGNAN, Lisa BRÖDER, JulienFrédéric BOUCHARD, Yannick AGNAN, Lisa BRÖDER, Julien FOUCHÉ, Catherine HIRST, Ylva SJÖBERG, the SPLASH team FOUCHÉ, Catherine HIRST, Ylva SJÖBERG, the SPLASH team

  Advances in Polar Science. 2020, 31(3): 153-155. https://doi.org/10.13679/j.advps.2020.0009

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  The Action Group called ‘Standardized methods across Permafrost Landscapes: from Arctic Soils to Hydrosystems’ (SPLASH) is a community-driven effort aiming to provide a suite of standardized field strategies for sampling mineral and organic components in soils, sediments, and water across permafrost landscapes. This unified approach will allow data from different landscape interfaces, field locations and seasons to be shared and compared, thus improving our understanding of the processes occurring during lateral transport in circumpolar Arctic watersheds.
  
  Note: Queries and discussions on this article should be made by E-mail directly with the corresponding author.
Articles
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  Hybrid energy module for remote environmental observations, experiments, and communications

  Misha B. KRASSOVSKI, Jeffery S. RIGGS, Chris TAVINO, Stan D. WULLSCHLEGER, Susan L. HEINZ

  Advances in Polar Science. 2020, 31(3): 156-166. https://doi.org/10.13679/j.advps.2020.0008

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  Increased concerns about climate change have led to a significant expansion of monitoring, observational, and experimental sites in remote areas of the world. Meanwhile, advances in technology and availability of low-power equipment have allowed increasingly sophisticated measurements with a wide variety of instruments. However, the deployment and use of these technologies in remote locations is often restricted not only by harsh environmental conditions, but also by the availability of electrical power and communication options. In some cases, research stations and military installations can provide power for scientific equipment, data acquisition, storage, and transmission. Clustering of research sites near existing infrastructure has had the unintended consequence of limiting a spatial understanding of large geographic regions. Fortunately, the modern market offers many power and communication solutions, but most of them are oriented toward large industrial applications. Use of those solutions to power a research site is limited because of their cost and need for significant modification for the specific research purposes. Each study has its own unique power requirements and needs for proper instrumentation. A power and communication solution for a vast majority of implementations with or without modification would be of considerable benefit. This article describes design of a universal, scalable hybrid energy module for the Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments Arctic project (https://ngee-arctic.ornl.gov/). Two modules were built, and the authors describe their implementation and findings over a 2-year period at a remote field site on the Seward Peninsula in western Alaska, USA.
  
  
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  Carbon dioxide fluxes of tundra vegetation communities on an esker top in the low-Arctic

  Peter M. LAFLEUR, A. Brett CAMPEAU, Sohee KANG

  Advances in Polar Science. 2020, 31(3): 167-177. https://doi.org/10.13679/j.advps.2020.0017

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  Previous studies have shown that carbon dioxide fluxes vary considerably among Arctic environments and it is important to assess these differences in order to develop our understanding of the role of Arctic tundra in the global carbon cycle. Although many previous studies have examined tundra carbon dioxide fluxes, few have concentrated on elevated terrain (hills and ridge tops) that is exposed to harsh environmental conditions resulting in sparse vegetation cover and seemingly low productivity. In this study we measured carbon dioxide (CO₂) exchange of four common tundra communities on the crest of an esker located in the central Canadian low-Arctic. The objectives were to quantify and compare CO₂ fluxes from these communities, investigate responses to environmental variables and qualitatively compare fluxes with those from similar communities growing in less harsh lowland tundra environments. Measurements made during July and August 2010 show there was little difference in net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and gross ecosystem production (GEP) among the three deciduous shrub communities, Arctous alpina, Betula glandulosa and Vaccinium uliginosum, with means ranging from −4.09 to −6.57 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ and −7.92 to −9.24 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, respectively. Empetrum nigrum communities had significantly smaller mean NEE and GEP (−1.74 and −4.08 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, respectively). Ecosystem respiration (ER) was similar for all communities (2.56 to 3.03 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹), except the B. glandulosa community which had a larger mean flux (4.66 µmol··m⁻²·s⁻¹). Overall, fluxes for these esker-top communities were near the upper range of fluxes reported for other tundra communities. ER was related to soil temperature in all of the communities. Only B. glandulosa GEP and ER showed sensitivity to a persistent decline in soil moisture throughout the study. These findings may have important implications for how esker tops would be treated in construction of regional carbon budgets and for predicting the impacts of climate change on Arctic tundra future carbon budgets.
  
  
  
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  Effects of sunlight on tundra nitrous oxide and methane fluxes in maritime Antarctica

  Tao BAO, Renbin ZHU, Wenjuan YE, Hua XU

  Advances in Polar Science. 2020, 31(3): 178-191. https://doi.org/10.13679/j.advps.2020.0005

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  The relationships of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) emissions to other environmental parameters have been studied extensively in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems. However, the effects of sunlight on soil N₂O and CH₄ fluxes are neglected across the Antarctic tundra. Here, fluxes of N₂O and CH₄ from maritime Antarctic tundra soils were measured in the absence and presence of sunlight during three summers. The N₂O fluxes averaged −4.6±1.2 μg·m⁻²·h⁻¹ in the absence of sunlight and 5.7±1.5 μg·m⁻²·h⁻¹ in its presence; CH₄ fluxes averaged 119.8±24.5 μg·m⁻²·h⁻¹ (absence) and −40.5±28.3 μg·m⁻²·h⁻¹(presence). The correlations between N₂O and CH₄ fluxes and other environmental variables (e.g., soil moisture, temperature, organic and inorganic material) were not statistically significant (P>0.05) at all sites. On average, sunlight significantly increased N₂O emissions and CH₄ uptake by 10.3 μg·m⁻²·h⁻¹ and 160.3 μg·m⁻²·h⁻¹, respectively. This study indicates that sunlight is critical for accurately estimating N₂O and CH₄ budgets from maritime Antarctica and necessary for constraining the role of their emissions from tundra soil.
  
  
  
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  Spatial variation in grain-size population of surface sediments from northern Bering Sea and western Arctic Ocean: implications for provenance and depositional mechanisms

  Weiguo WANG, Jichao YANG, Mengwei ZHAO, Linsen DONG, Min JIANG, Erhui HUANG

  Advances in Polar Science. 2020, 31(3): 192-204. https://doi.org/10.13679/j.advps.2020.0015

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  In general, sediments in nature comprise populations of various diameters. Accurate information regarding the sources and depositional mechanisms of the populations can be obtained through their temporal and spatial comparisons. In this study, the grain size distribution of surface sediments from the Bering Sea and western Arctic Ocean were fitted and partitioned into populations using a log-normal distribution function. The spatial variations in the populations indicate differences in their sources and deposition mechanisms. The sediments on most of the Bering Sea Shelf originated from the Yukon River, and were transported westward by waves and currents. However, the presence of a coarser population outside Anadyr Bay was the result of Anadyr River transport. Additionally, a northward transport trend of fine suspended particles was observed on the west side of the Bering Sea Shelf. The sediments in Hope Valley in the south Chukchi Sea also originated from the Yukon River. The coarser population on the central Chukchi Sea Shelf originated from coast of Alaska to the east, not the Yukon River, and was transported by sea ice and bottom brine water. The populations of sediments from the Chukchi Basin and the base of the Chukchi Sea Slope are the result of sea ice and eddy action. Surface sediments from the western high Arctic Ocean predominantly comprised five populations, and two unique populations with mode diameters of 50–90 µm and 200–400 µm, respectively, were ubiquitous in the glacial and interglacial sediments. It was difficult to distinguish whether these two populations originated from sea ice or icebergs. Therefore, caution should be exercised when using either the > 63 µm or > 250 µm fractions in sediments as a proxy index for iceberg and ice sheet variation in the high Arctic Ocean.
  
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  First description of scleractinian corals from the Santa Marta and Snow Hill Island (Gamma Member) formations, Upper Cretaceous, James Ross Island, Antarctica

  Roberto VIDEIRA-SANTOS, Sandro Marcelo SCHEFFLER, Luiza Corral Martins de Oliveira PONCIANO, Luiz Carlos WEINSCHÜTZ, Rodrigo Giesta FIGUEIREDO, Taissa RODRIGUES, Juliana Manso SAYÃO, Douglas Santos RIFF, Alexander Wilhelm Armin KELLNER

  Advances in Polar Science. 2020, 31(3): 205-214. https://doi.org/10.13679/j.advps.2020.0013

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  Antarctic corals are known from the Upper Cretaceous Santa Marta Formation (Santonian-early Campanian) and Gamma Member (late Campanian) of Snow Hill Island Formation (late Campanian–early Maastrichtian) but they have not so far been taxonomically described. We describe three corals taxa based on 29 specimens collected in 2007 and 2016 on James Ross Island (northeast of the Antarctic Peninsula). They represent the first formal record of scleractinian corals from the Santa Marta Formation, identified as Caryophylliidae indet. and Gamma Member of Snow Hill Island Formation, identified as Astreopora sp. and Fungiacyathus deltoidophorus. The family Caryophylliidae and the genus Astreopora were not restricted to the Weddellian Biogeographic Province but the species Fungiacyathus deltoidophorus was endemic to Antarctica during the Cretaceous. The genus Fungiacyathus and the family Caryophylliidae thrive in Antarctica until the present day. Fungiacyathus occurred in shallower environments during the late Campanian than today. No specimens related to Astreopora have yet to be found in Antarctica after the late Campanian. This can be explained by the capacity of Fungiacyathus and Caryophyllidae to endure cold waters, since they are asymbiotic corals. The symbiotic Astreopora sp., due to its sensitivity to low temperatures, became extinct in this continent as soon as the Antarctic waters began to cool, around the Campanian/Maastrichtian. The presence of Astreopora sp. in Gamma Member of Snow Hill Island Formation may represents the first occurrence of this genus in Antarctica and the oldest record of this genus in the Southern Hemisphere.
  
  
  
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  Sleep architecture, periodic breathing and mood disturbance of expeditioners at Kunlun Station (4087 m) in Antarctica

  Chengli XU, Shiying LIU, Zhanping KONG​, Nan CHEN

  Advances in Polar Science. 2020, 31(3): 215-223. https://doi.org/10.13679/j.advps.2020.0019

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  Several studies have reported the detrimental impacts of hypoxia exposure on sleep. Chinese Kunlun Station (altitude 4087 m) is located at Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic ice sheet and one of the most extreme environments on Earth. This study investigated alteration of sleep, breathing and mood status in healthy expeditioners at Kunlun Station at Dome A. The study examined 10 male volunteers of the inland transverse party to Kunlun Station during the 31st Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition, and valid data from eight volunteers were analyzed. Sleep structure, breathing pattern and mood were monitored using portable polysomnography (PSG) and profile of mood state (POMS) at two time points: (1) at Zhongshan Station (10 m) before departure to Kunlun Station; (2) on nights 12 –13 of residence at Kunlun Station.
  Slow-wave sleep (Stage 3 non-rapid eye movement) was markedly reduced at Kunlun Station (P < 0.01). Total sleep time, sleep efficiency and sleep latency showed no significant changes. Total respiratory events (P < 0.05), apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) (P < 0.05) and hypopnea index (P < 0.01) substantially increased at Kunlun Station. The most common respiratory disorder was periodic breathing, occurring almost exclusively during non-rapid eye movement sleep. The oxygen desaturation index increased markedly (P < 0.05), while nocturnal oxygen saturation dramatically fell at Kunlun Station (P < 0.05). Vigor scores decreased at Kunlun Station (P < 0.05). Expeditioners exhibited reduced slow wave sleep, induced periodic breathing, decreased oxygen saturation and decreased vigor at Kunlun Station.
  
  
Trends
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  Sino-Russian cooperation on the sustainable utilization of Arctic biological resources: modernizing traditional knowledge

  Ying LUO, Li YANG, Andrew Alexandrovich LOBANOV, Sergei Vasilevich ANDRONOV, Lidiya Petrovna LOBANOVA

  Advances in Polar Science. 2020, 31(3): 224-235. https://doi.org/10.13679/j.advps.2020.0004

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  Considering the effects of global warming, humans need to face the possibility of an ice-free Arctic during summer. Russia spans Eurasia and occupies more Arctic lands than any other country. This vast area has a great variety of species, and the geography and environment of the Arctic have endowed these species with unique and valuable properties. All the world’s ancient nations have their traditional knowledge. The indigenous traditional knowledge of the Arctic and the knowledge embedded in traditional Chinese medicine are part of the world’s time-honored wisdom. Some of this ancient lore cannot be verified by modern scientific methods, but the methods are effective in practice, triggering further exploration and innovation. Russian Arctic indigenous people have a long history of using the Arctic biological resources. The use of therapeutic materials in traditional Chinese medicine has many similarities with the use of Arctic biological resources by indigenous peoples. Both types of traditional knowledge can inspire new approaches to the development of the Arctic biological resources. China and Russia are among the world’s largest countries, and it is important that they cooperate in developing the Arctic biological resources. The development of sustainable use of these resources, while updating traditional knowledge, is an urgently needed investment that requires an innovative approach.
News
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  New category, Editorial Opinion, attracts more attention from the international polar community

  Editorial Office

  Advances in Polar Science. 2020, 31(3): 236-236.

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  A new category of papers, the Opinion Editorial (Op-Ed), was introduced in 2017 and is attracting the attention of the international polar community. Up to now, seven Op-Eds have been published.Readers are welcome to query and discuss on each article by E-mail directly with the corresponding authors.