30 December 2023, Volume 34 Issue 4

    

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  Advances in Polar Science. 2023, 34(4): 238.

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Reviews
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  Space physics and astronomy research from Chinese polar stations: current and future directions 

  ZONG Qiugang, HU Zejun, LIU Jianjun, JIANG Peng, DU Yang & ZHANG Wei

  Advances in Polar Science. 2023, 34(4): 239-250. https://doi.org/10.12429/j.advps.2023.0016

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  Space weather has a remarkable effect on modern human activities, e.g., communication, navigation, space exploration etc. Space physics study from polar stations is as an important part of the entire solar-terrestrial space, and conducts quantitative research from the perspective of overall space plasma behavior. One of the most important issues is to identify the dominant processes that transfer plasma and momentum from the solar wind to Earth’s magnetosphere. Thus, it is necessary to carry out research for combination the observations from polar ground stations and spacecraft observations in the space. Observations at polar regions can be as a window to the space for satellite traffic controls. The operation of the observation chain―Zhongshan-Taishan-Kunlun Station could monitor polar space debris in a large area with high temporal and spatial resolution. Also, night-time measurements of astronomical seeing at Dome A in Antarctica make it less challenging to locate a telescope above it, thereby giving greater access to the free atmosphere because of a thinner boundary layer.
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  Current state of research on microplastics in the marine- atmosphere environment of the Arctic region 

  GONG Tianjiao, XU Guojie, CHEN Liqi , ZHANG Miming

  Advances in Polar Science. 2023, 34(4): 251-261. https://doi.org/10.12429/j.advps.2023.0005

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  Microplastics, plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in size, are a growing source of environmental pollution. Microplastic pollution has been observed in situ in the remote Arctic, where it has been found in the land, sea, cryosphere, and atmosphere. This review summarizes the sample pretreatment techniques and analytical methods commonly used in microplastic research, as well as the pollution status of microplastics in the Arctic, their sources, and their effects on the environment. In the Arctic, the size distribution of microplastics is more inclined to small-scale aggregation, the shape of microplastics is mostly fibrous, with the proportion of fibers often accounting for more than 70%. There are marked differences among studies in terms of abundance and polymer composition, but polyester is generally dominant in seawater. Many microplastic particles are transported to the Arctic by ocean currents and rivers, but atmospheric transport and deposition are slowly being recognized as an important transport route. Sea ice is particularly important for the temporary storage, transport, and release of Arctic microplastics. The average storage of microplastics in sea ice was estimated to be approximately 6.1×10⁸ items. Given their properties, microplastics can affect glacier melting, sea surface temperature changes, and even the carbon cycle. Urgent measures must be taken to improve research standards and overcome sampling difficulties in the Arctic region to achieve time continuity and large-scale distribution patterns of Arctic microplastics.
Articles
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  Variations and relations between chlorophyll concentrations and physical-ecological processes near the West Antarctic Peninsula 

  WU Shuang, ZHANG Zhaoru, , WANG Chuning

  Advances in Polar Science. 2023, 34(4): 262-271. https://doi.org/10.13679/j.advps.2023.0010

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  The West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) region is one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the Southern Ocean that support the food web for phytoplankton, krill spawning or recruitment and several krill consumers at higher-trophic level like penguins and Antarctic fur seals. Characterized by channels and islands, the complex topography of the WAP generates interconnected circulation patterns, strongly influencing vertical stratification, nutrient availability and distribution of marine organisms. Additionally, rapid climate change associated with major climate modes like the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has significant effects on long-term variations of physical environments and biological production. The objective of this study is to reveal the spatial-temporal variations of phytoplankton biomass in the WAP region and the modulating physical-ecological processes. By using 9-year hydrographic and ecological data of five transects collected by the Palmer Long-Term Ecosystem Research, the horizontal and vertical distributions of several physical and ecological properties, with a particular focus on chlorophyll (Chl) concentration were explored. Regression analysis among area-averaged properties and properties at single stations was performed to reveal the relationship between the interannual variations of physical and ecological processes. The correlation results showed that Chl concentration exhibited a positive relationship with both the circumpolar deep water (CDW) intrusion and vertical stratification, but showed a negative correlation with SAM at some specific stations. However, certain processes or mechanisms may only be dominant for specific stations and not applicable to the entire region. No single physical or ecological factors have been found to significantly influence the Chl distribution throughout the WAP region, which may be attributed to the heterogeneity of sea ice conditions, geometry and hydrodynamic features as well as variations in nutrient sources.
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  Distributions of dissolved oxygen and apparent oxygen utilization in the Cosmonaut Sea and Amundsen Sea in austral summer 2021 

  GUO Jiaying, YANG Xufeng, ZHAO Jun, ZHU Yuanli, LI Dong, PAN Jianming,

  Advances in Polar Science. 2023, 34(4): 272-303. https://doi.org/10.12429/j.advps.2023.0007

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  Dissolved oxygen (DO) and apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) are crucial parameters for investigating marine ecosystem evolution and the marine environment. In this study, DO and AOU data were obtained and their spatial distribution characteristics were explored in the Cosmonaut Sea and Amundsen Sea in austral summer 2021. The standard deviation range of DO parallel samples was < 0.1–3.7 μmol·L^–1, which met the accuracy requirements of the survey method. The DO concentration decreased sharply with water depth in the photic zone and increased slowly to the bottom. AOU in the surface layer of the two seas was significantly negatively correlated with chlorophyll a (p < 0.01), and AOU was significantly lower in the south Cosmonaut Sea than in the north Cosmonaut Sea and Amundsen Sea (p < 0.01). In austral summer, AOU was as low as< 130 μmol·L^–1 in the nearshore Cosmonaut Sea with thicker Antarctic Surface Water down to ca. 500 m. In early winter, AOU was lower than 50 μmol·L^–1 in the north Amundsen Sea in subsurface water (75–150 m). The unmodified Circumpolar Deep Water with high AOU (> 160 μmol·L^–1) could surge up to ca. 150–200 m in both seas, with stronger intrusion in the Amundsen Sea. The AOU in bottom water was significantly lower (p < 0.01) in the Cosmonaut Sea (118.9±11.8 μmol·L^–1) than the Amundsen Sea (141.7±7.4 μmol·L^–1), indicating the stable existence of fresh oxygen-rich Antarctic Bottom Water in the Cosmonaut Sea.
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  Carbon isotope ratios of n-alkanoic acids: new organic proxies for paleo-productivity in Antarctic ponds

  CHEN Xin, JIN Jing, NIE Yaguang, ZHANG Jifeng, DONG Liang, HUANG Xianyu, Steven D. EMSLIE , LIU Xiaodong

  Advances in Polar Science. 2023, 34(4): 304-317. https://doi.org/10.12429/j.advps.2023.0004

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  Primary productivity in the Antarctic aquatic environment with simple ecosystems is sensitive to climate and environmental fluctuations. We investigated δ¹³C values for n-alkanoic acids derived from phototrophic organisms in a lacustrine sediment core (IIL3) to indicate primary productivity in ponds on Inexpressible Island in the western Ross Sea, Antarctica. Short-chain n-alkanoic acids (C₁₄–C₁₈) were abundant in the IIL3 sediment profile. The carbon isotope ratios of short-chain n-alkanoic acids in the sediment samples and floating microbial mats were similar, indicating that the short-chain n-alkanoic acids in the IIL3 sediment profile predominantly originated from phototrophic organisms. The δ¹³C values for the short-chain n-alkanoic acids varied widely through the sediment profile, and ¹³C-enrichment of n-alkanoic acids was most likely related to high productivity due to carbon-limited conditions caused by enhanced photosynthetic efficiency. The δ¹³C values for the n-alkanoic acids changed over the past 3200 years in similar ways to organic proxies for aquatic productivity (n-alkanoic acid and sterol sedimentary fluxes). C₁₆ n-alkanoic acid was enriched in ¹³C in periods of high aquatic productivity ~750–1650 and 3000–3200 a BP but depleted in ¹³C in periods of relatively low productivity ~150–600 and 2500–3000 a BP. The results indicated that carbon isotope ratios of lipids from phototrophic organisms could be used as new proxies to reconstruct paleo-productivity in Antarctic lakes and ponds and therefore improve our understanding of past climate changes.
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  Chemical composition of natural waters at Broknes Peninsula, Larsemann Hills, Antarctica 

  Sergey KAKAREKA, Tamara KUKHARCHYK, Yury GIGINYAK, Peter KURMAN

  Advances in Polar Science. 2023, 34(4): 318-340. https://doi.org/10.12429/j.advps.2023.0008

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  The article contributes to the study of the content of major and trace elements in various types of natural waters of the Broknes Peninsula, Larsemann Hills, Antarctica collected in January–February 2014 and 2020 during the 7th and 12th Belarusian Antarctic Expeditions. Samples of old (13 samples) and newly fallen snow (5), lakes (23) and groundwater (8) were analyzed. The content of 25 major and trace elements was determined using ICP-MS method, main anions was determined by titrimetric and turbidimetric methods. Good similarity chemical composition of snow, groundwater and lake waters in spite of differences in the content of major ions and trace elements has been obtained. The influence of marine salts on natural waters are analyzed, and their accumulation in lake waters especially in the endorheic small and shallow lakes in spite of ultra-oligotrophic atmospheric precipitates are shown. The spatial heterogeneity of groundwater and temporal and spatial heterogeneity of lake waters have been demonstrated. The results are important for understanding the variabilities of major and trace elements content in snow, groundwater and lake waters, and their relationship, as well as for identifying trends in their change, taking into account anthropogenic loads in the region and climate change.
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  Chlorella across latitudes: investigating biochemical composition and antioxidant activities for biotechnological applications

  Chloe Zi-En WONG, Ming-Li TEOH, Sook Wah CHAN, Nallammai SINGARAM, Wendy Ming-Yen TEOH , John BEARDALL

  Advances in Polar Science. 2023, 34(4): 340-351. https://doi.org/10.12429/j.advps.2023.0028

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  With the present day rise of interest in acquiring sustainability in the pharmaceutical industry, there has been an emphasis on finding natural resources to replace the use of synthetic compounds used in products. Microalgae have garnered significant attention owing to their natural and sustainable capability to produce a diverse array of bioactive compounds. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the biochemical composition and antioxidant properties of Chlorella strains from a tropical region (Chlorella UMACC 051 and Chlorella UMACC 038) and a polar region (Chlorella UMACC 250 and Chlorella UMACC 234). The cultures were grown for 10 d. At the end of the experiment, the specific growth rate, chlorophyll-a content, carotenoid content, biomass, and biochemical composition such as carbohydrate, protein and lipid content were determined. In addition, the phytochemical properties were determined using a total phenolic assay while the antioxidant activities were determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Of all Chlorella strains tested, the tropical Chlorella UMACC 051 showed the fastest growth rate and biomass while the polar Chlorella UMACC 234 contained the highest pigment content and tropical Chlorella UMACC 038 has the highest total phenolic content. The biochemical composition analysis showed all strains have a high lipid content ranging from 45.36% to 60.30% dry weight. All Chlorella strains exhibited a small amount of antioxidant activity (15.42% to 30.15%) and total phenolic content ranging from 1.91 ± 0.04 to 4.43 ± 0.10 mg GAE·g^–1 dry weight. The results indicated that polar Chlorella UMACC 234 has the most potential in containing significant amounts of bioactive compounds.
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  Evaluation of meteorological predictions by the WRF model at Barrow, Alaska and Summit, Greenland in the Arctic in April 2019

  ZHANG Tong, CAO Le, LI Simeng , WANG Jiandong

  Advances in Polar Science. 2023, 34(4): 352-367. https://doi.org/10.12429/j.advps.2023.0006

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  Accurate meteorological predictions in the Arctic are important in response to the rapid climate change and insufficient meteorological observations in the Arctic. In this study, we adopted a high-resolution Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to simulate the meteorology at two Arctic stations (Barrow and Summit) in April 2019. Simulation results were also evaluated by using surface measurements and statistical parameters. In addition, weather charts during the studied time period were also used to assess the model performance. The results demonstrate that the WRF model is able to accurately capture the meteorological parameters for the two Arctic stations and the weather systems such as cyclones and anticyclones in the Arctic. Moreover, we found the model performance in predicting the surface pressure the best while the performance in predicting the wind the worst among these meteorological predictions. However, the wind predictions at these Arctic stations were found to be more accurate than those at urban stations in mid-latitude regions, due to the differences in land features and anthropogentic heat sources between these regions. In addition, a comparison of the simulation results showed that the prediction of meteorological conditions at Summit is superior to that at Barrow. Possible reasons for the deviations in temperature predictions between these two Arctic stations are uncertainties in the treatments of the sea ice and the cloud in the model. With respect to the wind, the deviations may source from the overestimation of the wind over the sea and at coastal stations.
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  2024 Special Issue Call for papers

  Advances in Polar Science. 2023, 34(4): 368-369.

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  (1)Call for papers: Special Issue on “Novel technologies for sustainable monitoring of polar environment upscaling from in situ observations to aerial and space-borne remote sensing”.
  (2) Eleven “Opinion Editorials” were published.
  
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  Contents of Vol 34

  Editorial Office

  Advances in Polar Science. 2023, 34(4): 370-372.

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