Studies on factors controlling spatial and temporal variations in volatile organic compounds in the Arctic Ocean

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26281001
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Environmental dynamic analysis
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Yoshikawa Hisayuki (井上久幸) 北海道大学, 地球環境科学研究科(研究院), 名誉教授 (60344496)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小杉 如央 気象庁気象研究所, 海洋・地球化学研究部, 研究官 (20553168) ; 村田 昌彦 国立研究開発法人海洋研究開発機構, 地球環境観測研究開発センター, チームリーダー (60359156) ; 亀山 宗彦 北海道大学, 地球環境科学研究科(研究院), 准教授 (70510543)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): Ishii Masao 気象庁気象研究所, 海洋・地球化学研究部, 研究室長 (70354553)
• Research Collaborator: Sasano Daisuke
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 環境分析 / 環境変動 / 北極海 / 揮発性有機化合物 / 海洋炭酸系 / 溶存メタン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the Arctic Ocean, surface area of sea-ice has been decreasing in summer season over a few decades due to the global warming, which could lead to positive or negative feedback to the climate system via variations in air-sea exchange of gases related to the climate. In order to clarify the air-sea exchange of volatile organic carbon (VOC), CH4, and CO2, measurements of VOC, CH4, and CO2 were made on board the R/V Mirai (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology) in the Arctic Ocean during the summer period from FY 2014 to FY2016. In Canada Basin we found the water originated from sea-ice melting (less saline water) plays an important role in reducing the air-sea exchange of gases by forming shallow and strong stratification, while active biological activities exist about 30 m below the surface.

Free Research Field

海洋化学