Multidisciplinary research for sea ice in Saroma-ko Lagoon, Hokkaido, Japan 2023

Abstract

To understand the physics, chemistry, and ecosystems of sea ice and develop technologies for sea ice observation, multidisciplinary research for sea ice and under-ice water was conducted at the Saroma-ko Lagoon, Hokkaido, Japan from end of February to beginning of March 2023. Under-ice water properties were monitored to quantify heat budgets and interactions with sea ice biogeochemical properties. Sea ice cores were collected to understand the interaction with the under-ice water affected by river water discharge. Physical and biogeochemical parameters such as temperature, salinity, oxygen isotopic ratio, sea ice structure, environmental DNA, and concentrations of gases, nutrients, chlorophyll a, and trace metals were measured. Incubation experiments with ice algae were conducted. Equipment such as a melt probe for high vertical resolution sea ice sampling and a sea ice drilling robot to install under-ice communication devices were tested to develop the technologies for future Arctic and Antarctic expeditions. Multidisciplinary research of sea ice and under-ice water provided interactions between sea ice communities, including younger generations, that will be useful for future studies of sea ice in polar oceans.