Scientific Discipline: Biogeochemistry, Climate dynamics, New technologies, Marine Biology, Polar Biology Training
Research Area: Uummannaq fjord and Ukkusissat fjord, and the shelf area connecting these fjords
Research Vessel: RV Sanna
PI Name and Affiliation: Dr Wieter Boone, Flanders Marine Institute
Date: 28 June - 10 July 2022
Citation from PI: “The support of EF+ is a key enabler for this challenging scientific cruise, which is run by a majority of early career researchers. The cruise was instrumental for the initiation of international collaboration on the use of innovative measurement techniques such as video plankton recorders to investigate the link between oceanic drivers, nutrient dynamics and plankton communities.
Abstract & Main objectives: The West Greenland marine ecosystem forms a complex interaction between the marine areas along the West Greenland banks and the numerous fjords that drain melt water from the Greenland Ice Sheet to the ocean. Marine ecosystem productivity is very differently regulated in fjords influenced by either land-terminating or marine-terminating glaciers. Rising subsurface meltwater plumes originating from marine-terminating glaciers entrain large volumes of ambient deep water to the surface. The resulting upwelling of nutrient-rich deep water sustains a high phytoplankton productivity throughout summer in the fjord with marine-terminating glaciers. In contrast, fjords with only land-terminating glaciers lack this upwelling mechanism, and are characterized by lower productivity. Due to the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet, the fjords will shift to systems with more land instead of marine-terminating glaciers. By sampling these two types of fjords, the consequences of climate change on the plankton community and marine ecosystem can be researched.
In this multidisciplinary study, two different fjord systems and the connecting shelf area will be sampled to research: 1) The plankton distribution within fjords and food web composition of the two fjord systems 2) The zooplankton - marine snow interaction and the carbon cycling within these fjords. 3) The turbulence in the water column in fjords with marine terminating glaciers.
By making use of optical imaging devices this study wants to overcome the limits of traditional sampling methods. New innovative tools such as a Video Plankton Recorder, a Continuous Particle Imaging and Classification System and a Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometer will allow to analyze the phyto- and zooplankton dynamics and distribution with a high spatial resolution on a broad spatial scale. Together with CTD, turbidity, turbulence, nutrient, pigment, fatty acid and DNA measurements, the biotic, chemical as well physical component of the water column will be sampled.
Follow the Team on Twitter for cruise updates : @BooneWieter @Lorenz_Meire @DrKikiSchulz @AnoukOllevier @KlasOve @NIOZnieuws @HereonHelmholtz @VLIZnews