Arctic PRIZE 1

As sea ice melts in the Barents Sea the light penetrating the water column increases. Taking advantage of this light input and the high nutrient content of the well mixed winter surface water the phytoplankton undergo a bloom. As the nutrients become depleted and the melt water starts to stratify the water column the phytoplankton become isolated from the nutrient rich deep Atlantic water and the spring bloom ends. For the remainder of the summer the nutrient supply is dependent on vertical mixing of the Atlantic Water into the shallower water column.

Within Arctic PRIZE we will use gliders to monitor the spatial extent of melt and Atlantic Water in the seasonal ice zone and out into the open shelf as well as the colour and light properties of the water column. The gliders will survey between the ice edge and the open water during the polar night, continuing as the light returns, the ice starts to retreat and the spring bloom occurs.

Led by SAMS, Arctic PRIZE is part of the NERC Changing Arctic Oceans Programme (http://www.changing-arctic-ocean.ac.uk) and includes partners from SAMS, University of St Andrews, University of Strathclyde, University of Edinburgh, University of Oxford, NOC as well as a number of international partners in Norway, Germany and the USA.