£16 million for Arctic Ocean change research
18 Sep 2015 by Evoluted New Media
NERC have announced funding of £16 million for Arctic ice cover research.
The research programme – The Changing Arctic Ocean: Implications for Marine Biology and Biogeochemistry – will aim to study the effects of ice cover changes on the marine ecosystem and the associated biogeochemistry in the Arctic Ocean.
Minister for Polar Regions Grant Shapps said: “This new strategic research programme will address some of the biggest knowledge gaps in our understanding of the Arctic. It is a fantastic demonstration of the UK’s commitment to this unique region, building on the government’s recent response to the House of Lords report on the Arctic. I look forward to seeing the fruits of the programme’s work for many years to come.”
This study will aim to elucidate how reducing sea-ice conditions in the region can affect fish, whales and other sea-life, as well as identify the biogeochemistry that drives much of the change. The research will also support the development of enhanced predictive tools that will enable scientist understand future changes and allow them develop mitigation and adaptation strategies to manage the effects.
The programme will invest in a comprehensive fieldwork campaign using UK and international polar research facilities, including research ships and autonomous vehicles.
“The changing Arctic is a hugely important issue. This new research programme will use the UK’s world-leading capability in environmental science to help us understand the changes in the Arctic Ocean, and the implications of these for the UK, enabling us to be better prepared for the future,” said NERC’s director of Science & Innovation Professor Iain Gillespie.
