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The Expedition

The World expects confirmation of global warming first and strongest in the polar regions of our planet (IPCC, 2004, ACIA, 2005). Climate change has immediate implications for the sustainability of northern communities and the health and well-being of individuals and their economies. Creative responses based on sound research, shared knowledge and the engagement of people at all levels is required to meet this critical challenge. Technologically and scientifically advanced nations have a particular responsibility to understand the nature and impacts of these changes in order to prepare appropriate policies for adaptation.

Observations indicate that the Arctic Ocean and its peripheral seas are presently warming. The extent of Arctic sea ice has shrunk at an average annual rate of over 70,000 km2 per year since 1979 (Barber et al. 2005). Five of the minimum extent years have occurred since 1998, with 2005 being the minimum on instrumental record. The thickness of the multiyear ice has also decreased by about 40% over the past 30 years (Lui et al. 2004).

The circumpolar flaw lead (CFL) is a perennial characteristic of the central Arctic. The Flaw Lead Polynya system is formed when the central pack (which is mobile) moves away from coastal fast ice, opening a flaw lead that occurs throughout the winter season. The flaw lead is circumpolar, with recurrent and interconnected polynyas forming in the Norwegian, Icelandic, North American and Siberian sectors of the circumpolar arctic (Barber and Massom, 2006). Due to a reduced ice cover these regions are exceedingly sensitive to physical forcing from both the atmosphere and ocean and provide a unique laboratory from which we can gain insights into the changing polar marine ecosystem.

Although the CFL is hemispheric in scale, we propose to focus on the Canadian component near Banks Island, NT. The study area is typified by the recurrent thin ice/open water in the flaw lead and adjacent formation of fast ice 150 cm in winter thickness.

Our mission is to do enough research that we will be able to better model climate change patterns and better identify pending consequences to our environment.