The Canada-Japan SARES project on the first-year ice of Saroma-ko Lagoon (northern Hokkaido, Japan) and Resolute Passage (Canadian High Arctic)

Abstract

Abstract A joint Canada-Japan project was conducted on the first-year ice of Saroma-ko Lagoon (northern Hokkaido, Japan) and Resolute Passage (Northwest Territories, Canada) during the winter and spring of 1992. Objectives of the SARES project were to (1) measure the activity of the biological CO 2 pump under the first-year sea ice and (2) characterized its main physical controls. The two study sites exhibit contrasting characteristics. Among others, Saroma-ko Lagoon is the southernmost area in the Northern Hemisphere with seasonal sea ice whereas Resolute Passage is one of the northernmost areas with recurrent first-year sea ice. It was hypothesized that such different characteristics would influence variables that determine the downward flux of biogenic carbon, e.g., hydrodynamics, nutrient replenishment, growth of ice algae and phytoplankton, transfer of primary production to the herbivorous and microbial webs, and sedimentation of biogenic particles. Measured variables included meteorology, hydrodynamics, primary production and nutrient effects, microbial web dynamics, production and grazing of zooplankton and ichthyoplankton, and sedimentation of algae and faecal pellets. The project involved 30 Canadian and 25 Japanese scientists, graduate students and technicians from seven institutions in Canada and twelve in Japan.