West Greenland’s marine biological system
The marine ecosystems of West Greenland are today very productive and form the basis for a large fishing industry. An understanding of the environmental conditions off Greenland’s west coast builds on an understanding of the interplay and relationship between the cold East Greenland Current and the warmer Irminger Current. Oceanographic studies of these currents will significantly improve the understanding of this interplay.
Sea ice also plays an important role. Observations of sea ice have shown a marked reduction in both areal extent and thickness in the Arctic Ocean and along Greenland’s east coast. The extent of sea ice off Greenland’s west coast has also been reduced, although to a lesser extent. Regional climate calculations predict a continued reduction in sea ice cover during this century. In particular, changes in the distribution of sea ice and the contribution of freshwater from land could have a pronounced effect on biological production and transport of carbon within the marine system. Research results from Greenlandic waters have shown that primary production rises as a consequence of a reduction in sea ice cover and consequently increased light for photosynthesis, which has a major influence on all trophic levels. The results will, in the future, contribute to understanding of how the ongoing climate changes affect the distribution, composition and production of marine plants and animals in the Arctic region. These data will be compared with data from sediment cores in order to examine the development over time. Should the climate and ocean currents change, this can have great consequences for the West Greenland marine ecosystems and thus for the Greenlandic society.
On the basis of detailed studies of a transect from the bottom of Godthåb Fjord to beyond the edge of the shelf, marine biological studies will increase the understanding of the relationship between the biological conditions (e.g. primary production, grazing, decomposition, food-chain structure and species composition) and physical parameters (e.g. climate, snow and sea ice conditions, freshwater inflow, salinity, temperature). In addition, biological studies of the plankton content of the water column will be undertaken and compared with the geological data.
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