The Arctic Ocean is a vast, partially ice-covered sea consisting of a central deep basin surrounded by broad continental shelves and adjacent marginal. Historically difficult to access, the Arctic Ocean was traditionally viewed as a remote, pristine and barren environment. Recent changes in climate, however, make the Arctic the fastest warming region of the globe. High latitude ecosystems, which include Arctic indigenous peoples, are under pressure from changing climate and increasing outside demand for natural resources. Current predictions foresee the entire Arctic Ocean to become ice-free in the summer sometime in the coming decades with impacts for marine and terrestrial systems far beyond the Arctic region that will affect our environmental, economic, social and political landscapes. There are therefore many reasons to study the Arctic Ocean: a) the ocean and sea ice in the Arctic are a crucial part of the global climate machinery, influencing atmospheric and oceanographic processes, and biogeochemical cycles beyond the Arctic region; b) the Arctic is home to unique organisms, adapted to extreme temperatures and salinity, with biotechnological potential; c) Arctic marine ecosystems are susceptible to environmental change and pollution with loss and displacement of species ultimately affecting the viability of northern fisheries; d)economically, the Arctic is facing opportunities and threats resulting from the seasonally reduced ice state, making the Arctic more attractive for resource extraction and trans-shipping; e) the pace and magnitude of environmental change is greater in the Arctic than at any other location on Earth. The aim of the Arctic Research Theme is to promote and facilitate Arctic marine science research and education at SAMS, and to enhance SAMS’ international reputation as an institution contributing to understanding the nature of Arctic marine systems. Projects include: ACCESS: Arctic Climate Change, Economy and Society; Arctic Sunrise; Arctic Time Series; Buoy Drift; ICE: Inuit Climate Experiment; Modelling harvesting behaviour to understand adaptation, mitigation, and transformation in northern subsistence systems; Novel Ice Characterisation Experiment 1 (NICE-1); Ocean acidification impacts on sea-surface biology, biogeochemistry and climate; Palaeoceanographic records of MOC activity (Oceans 2025 WP 1.5b); PanArcive; Powering sea-ice equipment via the Seebeck effect; SATICE: Arctic Ocean Sea-ice and Ocean Circulation Changes Using Satellite Methods; The effect of climate change on the Arctic Marine System; The South East Greenland Trough Experiment (SeaTrEx).

The Dynamic Oceans Programme works towards a greater understanding of fundamental processes and patterns that occur in the marine environment for example relating to climate variability. Approaches: a) to investigate fundamental biological, chemical and physical processes in the marine environment; b) to use modelling to determine patterns and processes on smaller scales are mechanistically linked to larger scales; c) to investigate environmental patterns, validate models and inform our process studies using observational series on relevant spatio-temporal scales. These three approaches allow us to utilise the extensive expertise within the programme to develop long-term capabilities in the areas of modelling and scale transitition, large scale and long-term observations, and microcosm and mesocosm studies. Specific areas of research include: dynamic oceans research areas, microbial biogeochemistry and feedbacks, ocean acidification, ocean mixing dynamics, ecosystem function and response in a changing world.

The sustained collection, collation and stewardship of marine measurements are essential components in the portfolio of any major marine science laboratory. Such data suites are often initiated and nurtured by visionary individuals until the time that they become an accepted basis for determining long term change and natural variability of the marine environment. Although we live in an era when man's collected activities cast dark shadows on future climates, environments and ecosystems, we know very little about the time scales and magnitudes of the changes that we are unthinkingly creating. Much of our understanding of the marine environment comes from monitoring activities, and at SAMS we place a high priority on sustained observations. These include: a) maintaining and enhancing the Extended Ellett line (an oceanic section from Iceland to Scotland conducted in collaboration with NOC); b)monitoring the condition of the Scottish Coastal current, and separately the cold water transport across the Wyville Thomson Ridge, with current meters and moored instrument arrays; c) maintaining a mooring at the only UK monitoring site in the Arctic, at Svalbard

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.