A researcher from the University of New Brunswick has recently returned from a scientific expedition aboard the Amundsen icebreaker, which marked its first journey to the Queen Elizabeth Islands. This group of islands represents the northernmost part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and contains approximately 14 percent of the world”s glaciers and ice caps.
Audrey Limoges, a paleontology professor at UNB, has been conducting research in the Arctic since 2013. She emphasizes the importance of understanding how the decline of sea ice is affecting the entire ecosystem. “What is happening in the North will actually and is already impacting the system, the Earth system, as a whole,” Limoges stated.
During her expedition, which began in early September, Limoges focused on first-year sea ice, the layer that forms annually on the surface of the Arctic Ocean. Unlike multi-year sea ice, which had a better chance of surviving the summer, the current warming climate has resulted in predominantly first-year sea ice in most regions.
Limoges” research specifically investigates the relationship between sea ice and phytoplankton, also known as micro-algae, which play a crucial role in the ocean ecosystem. “Sea ice is actually full of brines, full of channels, full of pores in which organisms can live,” she explained. These algae are rich in lipids, making them highly nutritious for other marine life, including iconic species like the polar bear, which rely on sea ice as a hunting platform.
Limoges captured images of first-year sea ice adorned with delicate frost flowers, which are crystalline structures that form as the ice develops. She noted that melting sea ice alters the water column”s structure by introducing fresh water into the ocean, which can significantly impact ocean circulation—a key factor in regulating the global climate system.
This year, Limoges was part of a team from the Geological Survey of Canada tasked with mapping the seabed and gathering information about the sediment beneath the surface. “The sediment is actually full of tiny microfossils, full of molecules that have retained very key information about the ecosystem,” she remarked. This sediment also contains data regarding past sea-ice conditions, which is vital for her research.
The research expedition was conducted over a limited timeframe of 28 days in September and October. The Queen Elizabeth sector poses challenges due to extensive sea ice coverage, which limits navigability. As a result, the Amundsen was operating in areas that had not been accurately mapped before.
Due to the short duration of the expedition, Limoges explained that their schedule was tightly managed, with research activities occurring continuously. “There is always someone working,” she said, “and there is always someone sleeping as well.” The timing of sample collection was critical, often requiring the team to be prepared for sampling at all hours.
Limoges expressed gratitude for the opportunity to conduct research in the Canadian Arctic, recognizing the significance of respecting the local northern communities that rely on these ecosystems. “Studying them is actually something that is not given,” she emphasized. “So we have to make sure that we also do it in a very respectful way, and I think this is what we did as a team.”
