APECS Online Conference 2019

Session Chair: Vikram Goel; Technical Support: Lindsey Parkinson. The recording of the session is available below. 

• 08:00 - 08:05 GMT: Introduction

• 08:05 - 08:20 GMT: Glacier Bare Ice Mapping From Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2 A Data

  Presenter: Dhanendra K. Singh

  Institution: HNB Garhwal University, India

  Type: Oral Presentation

  Abstract: Mapping of bare ice from automated image processing techniques can be a major application for the open source available satellite data of Landsat and Sentinel 2A. There is a wide potential in existing Landsat 8 (OLI) and Sentinel-2 (MSI) time series data for glacier change detection studies. A broadly applied method based on band ratio images from red to shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands can be used for glacier mapping. Band ratios, Red/SWIR, NIR/SWIR, and NDSI can be used for bare ice mapping at different resolution datasets. Here, we tested and compared the techniques to map bare ice area of the glaciers from Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2A, also investigated the change in bare ice area of the glacier, using top of atmosphere reflectance (TOA). It has been reported in the study that Band ratio Red/SWIR (5%) and NIR/SWIR (0.5%) of Landsat 8 resulting larger area than Sentinel 2. The Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) results from Landsat 8 are also (5% larger for 87 glaciers) greater to Sentinel 2. On the other side, extents derived from Landsat 8 (30m) bands are 5% greater, indicating the interpretation of mixed pixels due to a varying resolution of images. GLIMS inventory data used for total glacier area. Mapping of bare ice by Sentinel 2 provided more accurate findings than Landsat 8.

• 08:20 - 08:35 GMT: Asymmetry in the Annual Cycle of Antarctic Sea Ice

  Presenter: Clare Eayrs

  Institution: New York University, Abu Dhabi

  Type: Oral Presentation

  Abstract: Nearly 16 million square kilometres of sea ice grows and subsequently melts each year in the seas surrounding Antarctica, a sixfold increase in sea ice extent that effectively doubles the size of the continent each winter. The modest increase in Antarctic sea ice cover observed in the satellite record (1.5 % per decade, 1981–2010) masks substantial interannual and regional variability, and recent record maximum (2012–2014) and minimum (2016–2018) sea ice extents further complicate the picture. Despite such interannual variability, each year Antarctic sea ice melts faster than it grows (5 months vs 7 months). Twice-yearly changes in the position and intensity of the zonal winds circling Antarctica are thought to drive the system by working with/against the evolving sea ice edge to slow the autumn advance and hasten the spring melt. Open water regions, created by divergence associated with the zonal winds, amplify the spring melt through increased warming of the upper ocean. We explore these processes using the ERA5 reanalyses (1979–2018), satellite sea ice observations (1979–2018) and the 40 historical ensembles (1920–2005) from the CESM-LENS project. A better understanding of the processes controlling the annual cycle of Antarctic sea ice can provide insight into variability on longer timescales.

• 08:35 - 08:45 GMT: Polar areas. We are running out of time (Exhibition)

  Presenter: Jhon Fredy Mojica Moncada

  Institution: Center for global Sea Level Change, New York University Abu Dhabi

  Type: Flash presentation

  Abstract: Polar areas represent a thermal condition; they are intimately linked to climate. Over the next century, the climate is projected to warm by several degrees, and worryingly, we are already seeing the loss of glaciers, ice shelf, and permafrost worldwide. This will lead to a rise in sea level affecting millions of people around the world. To raise awareness of this problem, we designed an art installation with 12 blocks of ice, each standing over a water container depicting representative buildings of major coastal cities. The 12 containers were arranged in a clock shape to convey the message that our cryosphere is melting and we are running out of time to do something about it. Over each one, we included a short message showcasing what our institution is doing to study this situation. This installation was presented during the Glimpses exhibition in November 2018 at NYUAD and is available to be used by whoever would like to transmit the message.

• 08:45 - 09:00 GMT: Aeolian influences on local soil variability in a changing Arctic landscape

  Presenter: Maud van Soest

  Institution: Loughborough University, United Kingdom

  Type: Oral Presentation

  Abstract: Soil forming processes in the Arctic are restricted due to cold temperatures and low microbiological activity. Substantial research has been done on Yedoma Loess deposits (Alaska, Canada and Eurasia), and on soil development in high-altitude proglacial areas. However, limited knowledge is available about the Greenlandic soil landscape, where retreating glaciers are currently creating glacial flour, which is deposited as loess in the nearby areas. The aim of the study was to understand how Arctic soils become colonized and productive under contemporary conditions, focusing on the relative importance of soil-forming processes in comparison to dust inputs. Initially, the local variability in soil characteristics was determined within 5 sites over a transect at set distances from the Greenland Ice Sheet (Kangerlussauq, South West Greenland). Digital soil mapping techniques were used to provide insight on the spatial variation of land cover in relation to topography, and following that, the regression of soil variables. Preliminary results indicate that variations in soil characteristics are mainly influenced by microtopography. Further work could be done on the effects of cryogenic processes and permafrost, since these factors are suspected to change with increasing temperatures. This study highlighted the importance of soil profiles (past) in combination with the quantification of seasonal & annual dust deposition (present), which help to explore how Arctic ecosystems developed since deglaciation, and how they might change under climate change (future).

• 09:00 - 09:15 GMT: The Antarctic Biodiversity Portal, an Online Ecosystem for Linking, Integrating and Disseminating Antarctic Biodiversity Information

  Presenter: Yi Ming GAN

  Institution: Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Belgium

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: The Antarctic Biodiversity portal (biodiversity.aq) is a gateway to a wide variety of Antarctic biodiversity iInformation and tools. Launched in 2015 as the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) - Marine Biodiversity Information Network (SCAR-MarBIN, scarmarbin.be/) and the Register of Antarctic Marine Species (RAMS, marinespecies.org/rams/), the system has grown in scope from purely marine to also include terrestrial information. Biodiversity.aq is a SCAR product, currently supported as one of the Belgian contributions to the European Lifewatch-European Research Infrastructure Consortium (Lifewatch-ERIC). The goal of Lifewatch is to provide access to: distributed observatories/sensor networks; interoperable databases, existing (data-)networks, using accepted standards; high performance computing (HPC) and grid power, including the use of the state-of-the-art of Cloud and big data paradigms technologies; software and tools for visualization, analysis and modeling. Here we provide an overview of the most recent advances in the biodiversity.aq online ecosystem, a number of use cases as well as an overview of future directions. Some of the most notable components are: The Register of Antarctic Species (RAS, ras.biodiversity.aq) provides an authoritative and comprehensive list of names of marine and terrestrial species in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. It serves as a reference guide for users to interpret taxonomic literature, as valid names and other names in use are both provided. Integrated Publishing Toolkit (IPT, ipt.biodiversity.aq) allows disseminating Antarctic biodiversity data into global initiatives such as the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS, obis.org) as Antarctic node of OBIS (Ant-OBIS, also formerly known as SCAR-MArBIN) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF, gbif.org) as Antarctic Biodiversity Information Facility (AntaBIF). Data that can be made available includes metadata, species checklists, species occurrence data and more recently, sampling event- based data. Data from these international portals can be accessed through data.biodiversity.aq. Biodiversity.aq, provides a strong and tested platform for sharing, integrating, discovering and analysing Antarctic biodiversity information originating from a variety of sources into a distributed system.

• 09:15 - 09:25 GMT: Bacterial biogeochemical cycling in the Himalayan cryoconite holes

  Presenter: Milind Mutnale

  Institution: National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, India

  Type: Flash presentation

  Abstract: Cryoconite holes are sediment and water-rich depression found on the glacial ice. Cryospheric environments are usually nutrient scarce, but the organic matter present in the cryoconite hole provides the nutrients to nearby surrounding area, thereby providing refuge to the resident microorganisms. Cryoconite holes are known to harbour unique and diverse microbes including prokaryotes, eukaryotes and microscopic animal such as tardigrade. Nutrient recycling by these microbes is crucial for their survival in the cryoconite hole as it contains limited resources. Cryoconite sediments being of lithogenic sources contain metals and elements such as Manganese, Iron, and Sulphur which play a vital role in the growth of living organisms. Therefore, the ability of microbes to recycle these metals becomes extremely important for cryoconite hole ecosystems. Thus this study aims to identify different microbes and their functional genes involved in the biogeochemical cycling of essential elements such as Manganese, Iron, and Sulphur from the Himalayan cryoconite holes. A total of 23 samples were collected from the Sutri Dhaka Glacier in Western Himalaya, from which a total of 43 different species of bacteria have been identified. Preliminary results identified by DNA sequencing shows that seven of the isolated microbes show potential for Sulphur oxidation, ten for Manganese oxidation/reduction, and five are iron oxidizers. This study will help us understand various mechanisms that the microbes pose to recycle the nutrient in the environment. Their potential functional genes can be studied to gain in-depth knowledge of microbial evolution and adaptations in these habitats.

• 09:25 - 09:35 GMT: OMI-perm - Organo-Mineral Interactions from permafrost disturbance to sediment sink

  Presenter: Julien Fouché

  Institution: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands

  Type: Flash presentation

  Abstract: Permafrost soils store large amounts of organic matter (OM), which upon thaw are exposed to decomposition, thereby generating greenhouse gases that fuel further global warming. Permafrost thaw is also expected to increase the hydraulic conductivity of the landscape, allowing for the enhanced release of OM to the aquatic environment. Here it can either be decomposed further or buried and removed from active carbon cycling. Close association between OM and mineral matrices are thought to protect permafrost OM from decomposition, yet, how this complex interplay of different mechanisms evolves during transit is still insufficiently understood. We would like to present our upcoming fieldwork campaign funded by INTERACT, aiming to investigate the role of organo-mineral associations during lateral transport in the Zackenberg valley, Northeastern Greenland. We plan to collect soil samples from the active layer and permafrost at places of abrupt thaw, water samples and stream sediments along the release path, as well as water and sediment samples close to where the material is discharged into Young Sound. For all these samples we will characterize the OM and mineral composition both quantitatively and qualitatively. With this project we aim to breach disciplinary boundaries in two ways: By following material released from permafrost soils along the flow path to its sedimentary sink, we bring together soil and marine scientists and at the same time integrate studies on OM and the mineral matrix. Our complimentary backgrounds of organic biogeochemistry, soil science and mineralogy nicely combine to tackle this interdisciplinary research topic.

• 09:40 - 10:15 GMT: Keynote: Reflections on an atypical decade of marine sampling

  Presenter: Narissa Bax

  Institution: Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), Tasmania

  Type: Keynote Presentation

  Abstract: Securing specimens in the long-term is particularly important in areas such as Antarctica that may be among the first to be impacted by global- scale issues including climate change and ocean acidification. Appropriate curation and maintenance of these baseline assets is, however, often discounted against competing funding priorities. A coordinated approach is needed to realise the potential of the material collected across an atypical decade of increased Antarctic sampling (2009 - 2019).

  These collections represent important baseline information on the biodiversity, species taxonomy, biogeography, biology and ecology of marine ecosystems in the Antarctic. These collections are often the only existing specimens from particular areas or habitats, and contain representatives of rarely collected, and in some cases, new or undescribed species.

  Antarctic marine biological collections represent a unique scientific asset from rarely sampled, remote locations that are logistically difficult and expensive to access. Preserved biological specimens are assets for the collecting organisations, the scientific community, and most importantly, future generations of researchers and the general public. Furthering this discussion at the APECS conference is a timely opportunity to engage the international community of early career Polar researchers towards managing biological specimens collected during interdisciplinary collaborations.

• 10:15 - 10:30 GMT: Spatial variability in total and organic mercury levels in Antarctic krill Euphausia superba across the Scotia Sea

  Presenter: José Seco

  Institution: University of Aveiro, Portugal & University of St. Andrews, UK

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: Total and organic mercury concentrations were determined for males, females and juveniles of Euphausia superba collected at three discrete locations in the Scotia Sea (South Orkney Islands, South Georgia and Antarctic Polar Front) to assess spatial mercury variability in Antarctic krill. There was clear geographic differentiation in mercury concentrations, with specimens from the South Orkney Islands having total mercury concentrations 5 to 7 times higher than Antarctic krill from South Georgia and the Antarctic Polar Front. Mercury did not appear to accumulate with life-stage since juveniles had higher concentrations of total mercury than adults. Results suggest that females may use egg laying as a mechanism to excrete mercury, with eggs having higher concentrations than the corresponding somatic tissue. Organic mercury makes up a minor percentage of total mercury with the percentage being greater in adults than in juveniles. When compared to euphausiids from other parts of the world, the concentration of mercury in Antarctic krill is within the same range, or higher, high- lighting the global distribution of this contaminant. Given the high potential for biomagnification of mercury through food webs, concentrations in Antarctic krill may have deleterious effects on long-lived Antarctic krill predators.

APECS Online Conference 2019 - Session-1 from APECS Webinars on Vimeo.

Session Chair: Rahul Dey; Technical Support: Gabriela Roldan. The recording of the session is available below.

• 11:30 - 11:35 GMT: Introduction

• 11:35 - 11:50 GMT: Support for scientists to better prepare and conduct fieldwork in the Arctic: The INTERACT Fieldwork Planning Handbook and Practical Field Guide

  Presenter: Andrea Schneider

  Institution: APECS/UiT The Arcitc University of Norway, Norway

  Type: Oral Presentation

  Abstract: For many scientists, fieldwork is an important part of the research process. In the Arctic, being well prepared is essential for successful fieldwork and to ensure a high level of safety for all participants. The caveat is that many Early Career Researchers (ECR) may never have organised fieldwork nor been to the Arctic before. To help ECR to be better prepared for fieldwork in the Arctic and high Alpine regions, the INTERACT Fieldwork Planning Handbook and Practical Field Guide were jointly developed within the framework of the EU Horizon 2020 project INTERACT in close cooperation with the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) and research station managers. The Fieldwork Planning Handbook provides an overview of all important aspects related to planning and performing cold regions fieldwork. Its six chapters outline how to plan and prepare for fieldwork, what researchers need to think about when they are in the field, and what they need to consider when they return home. The Handbook particularly emphasizes safety aspects: the best measures to prevent incidents; preparedness through risk assessments and contingency plans, education and training, safety equipment, communication and navigation tools. In addition, the Handbook provides comprehensive checklists, contacts and online resources for jurisdictional information about fieldwork in the Arctic. Concurrent with the handbook, we also publish the INTERACT Practical Field Guide, a handy guidebook that is based on the Fieldwork Planning Handbook and that is designed to be taken into the field as a reminder of the main safety aspects and best practices.

• 11:50 - 12:05 GMT: STEAM for the Poles

  Presenter: Nuno Pereira

  Institution: Polytechnic Institute of Beja, Portugal

  Type: Oral Presentation

  Abstract: An interdisciplinary approach to the understanding of global phenomena, like climate, weather, ocean and atmospheric circulation is, per se, a challenge, as natural phenomena are naturally entwined! A measure of the overall success of such endeavour will be the societal impact at the level of outreach, and education, in present and future generations. These are two cornerstones for the science drive advance of civilization. It's about changing the mind set of how we approach science education, and communication, and breaking barriers between (apparently) disconnected areas of knowledge. We believe that STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics), as an umbrella approach to this new mind set, can contribute to bring together areas that are usually addressed in separate, and sometimes, mutually exclusive ways. Relative to the STEM approach to education, STEAM is an upgrade that includes Art as a new dimension. This mix of disciplines will leverage new, and different approaches to the way we perceive phenomena, and communicate our current understanding of the underlying processes. The STEAM approach is a challenge to all the actors involved, scientists, artists, educators, and students. To achieve this we need an integrated vision of the knowledge produced by different fields, in order to be able to communicate an integrated image of nature, and the role of mankind in the global ecosystem. After two experiences with the STEM approach in Antarctica, we now move in the direction of STEAM. We briefly present the current status of our experiments, and some ideas for the future.

• 12:05 - 12:20 GMT: The relationship between Old Whaling Industry and Tourism in Antarctica: A Narrative Approach

  Presenter: Valeria A. Trezza

  Institution: Instituto Fueguino de Turismo, Argentina

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: This research distinguishes the origins and dynamics of the modern world on the Antarctic continent by looking at whaling activity from the end of the 18th century to the middle of the 20th century. Currently, tourism continues to use the vestiges of the whaling industry as resources for their practices. From 1991 to 2018, the sites most visited by tourists are precisely those areas which hold symbolic and material content related to whales, namely: Goudier Island, Cuverville Island, Port Neko, Half Moon Island and Whalers Bay; adding to the Grytviken Bay and the whale watching. Through a qualitative and descriptive methodology; this work analyses the relationships between the old whaling and tourism in Antarctica by highlighting four themes: 1) the incorporation of Antarctica into the capitalist system; 2) the relationships between scientific and economic activities;3) the participation of whaling and tourism during the 20th century; and 4) tourism as the last part of whaling´s commercial history. Concluding, the practices of old whaling and tourism in Antarctica coincide in responding to the global capitalist system and the regime of the Antarctic Treaty System. For example, the International Whaling Commission and the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators share similar aspects such as the contributions of scientific knowledge, and the competitiveness and complementarity of Antarctic tourism. Both are responsibly involved in Antarctic activities with the environment. Thus, tourism practices and the Antarctic tour operators in articulation with scientific and political actors build a hierarchy and resignification of historical sites and travel itineraries.

• 12:20 - 12:45 GMT: Breaking barriers to the inclusion of Early Career Scientists in the peer-review process: the APECS-organized group review of the IPCC SROCC

  Presenter: Jilda Caccavo

  Institution: Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) / Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research (BeGenDiv), Germany

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: Early Career Scientists (ECS) represent a large part of the workforce in polar science, and globally in research. While ECS receive substantial academic training, they often have limited exposure to how the scientific community self-evaluates and communicates. ECS face significant barriers to participation in the peer-review process. One way to break these barriers is by inviting ECS to participate in group reviews. Here we present a group review of the first and second order drafts of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) “Special Report on Ocean and Cryosphere and in a Changing Climate” (SROCC) supported by over 100 ECS from around the world during Spring/Autumn 2018. Overall, we found that PhD students spent more time reviewing than those further advanced in their careers but provided a similar proportion of substantive comments. After the review, participants reported feeling more confident about their skills, and 86% expressed interest in reviewing individually. By including ECS in peer-review processes, the scientific community not only reduces the burden imposed on more established scientists, but permits ECS to develop important professional skills relevant to their future careers and improve the overall quality of the review.

• 12:35 - 12:50 GMT: Using digital resources to break barriers to public engagement

  Presenter: Clare Eayrs

  Institution: New York University Abu Dhabi

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: The Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) is a multidisciplinary, international organization dedicated to maintaining a network of early career researchers to share ideas, develop collaborative research directions, provide career development opportunities, and promote education and outreach related to polar research. APECS has stimulated polar literacy through innovative science communication, well-integrated public outreach and engagement, and partnerships with Arctic and Antarctic organizations. Examples of one- and two-way engagement between APECS’ members and the general public are illustrated in our involvement with digital events and social media initiatives. Successful events include Antarctica Day, webinars, and our annual APECS Online Conference. One of our popular social media initiatives are biannual Polar Week celebrations; this includes Twitter campaigns, Reddit “Ask Me Anything” discussions, and photo and video contests. Benefits of using modern technologies and techniques for stimulating public engagement about polar research include easier dissemination of ideas across geographic distances as well as to remote areas with minimal cost and a low carbon footprint. While this presentation focuses on APECS’ experiences, we will also highlight how innovative communication promotes international discussion and cooperation across disciplines, then offer suggestions on how to incorporate similar elements into other outreach programs.

• 12:50 - 13:05 GMT: Hydro-chemical study of Gurudongmar Lake: A High Mountain Lake in Sikkim Himalaya, India

  Presenter: Arindam Chowdhury

  Institution: North-Eastern Hill University, India

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: High mountain lakes are especially vulnerable to climate change due to their small catchment area, less vegetation cover and low weathering rates. A detail hydro-chemical analysis of sacred Gurudongmar Lake, situated at an altitude of 5100 m above sea level in Sikkim Himalaya in India, was carried out during the pre-monsoon (June) and post-monsoon (November) seasons in 2018. In all the surveys, the lake was sampled in summer and early winter in the ice-free condition. The water samples were collected systematically from six different sites to represent entirely the quality of the lake (inlet, outlet, human influence site and littoral zones). Major concentrations of cations and anions were analysed by Ion chromatography and Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Water temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, turbidity and dissolved oxygen (DO) were measured on-site. The pH levels ranged between (8.03 – 9.66) ±0.01, followed by EC (52.01 and 60.10) ±1 µS cm-1, DO (7.90 – 10.60) ± 0.4 mg/L and low PO43- concentration 1.86 ±0.01 mg/L signifies that the lake is oligotrophic in nature. The increase in concentrations of most of the ions in the pre-monsoon time probably due to more snowmelt runoff and atmospheric transported pollutants through dry deposition, whereas higher concentrations of NO3- and Cl- in some sites reflect the localized impacts of nomadic settlement, tourist influxes and grazing. Further higher concentration of SO42- may be due to the higher rate of chemical weathering in the region. The findings of the present study can be a preliminary dataset for the evaluation of future anthropogenic influence on the lake and subsequent development for lake management in future.

• 13:05 - 13:15 GMT: Reconstructing population histories and biogeography of Antarctic Charcotia (Amphipoda, Crustacea)

  Presenter: Tim Plevoets

  Institution: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

  Type: Flash presentation

  Abstract: Antarctica is undergoing alterations induced by global warming and ocean acidification. However, also in the past, environmental changes have influenced many Antarctic species, for example, during glacial and interglacial periods. How they have accomplished this can also be studied to provide insights into future responses. The RECTO (Refugia and Ecosystem Tolerance in the Southern Ocean) project investigates the historical dynamics forced by previous glaciation periods and possible responses to future climate change. One part of the project reconstructs the population history of different taxa from various trophic levels. Here, we will specifically focus on the amphipod genus Charcotia (formerly known as Waldeckia sp.), of which two species are investigated: C. obesa and C. amundseni. The population history and biogeography will be reconstructed from different localities in the Southern Ocean with molecular tools, including sequencing the COI DNA barcoding region, to construct haplotype networks and test for cryptic diversity. We will also apply Next-Generation-Sequencing (NGS) techniques to unravel the complete mitochondrial genome of these amphipod species. Sequence data from complete mitochondrial genomes will allow us to design primers for long range PCRs to obtain mitogenomic data from different populations of both species.

• 13:15 - 13:25 GMT: Evidence of mercury bioaccumulation in skin samples of southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) at ASPA 132, Isla 25 de Mayo (King George Island), Antarctic Peninsula

  Presenter: Dalia C. Barragán-Barrera

  Institution: Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular de Vertebrados Acuáticos-LEMVA, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia

  Type: Flash presentation

  Abstract: The southern elephant seal (SES) (Mirounga leonina) has a circumpolar distribution, breeding mainly on sub-Antarctic islands, and making long trips up to thousands of kilometers between breeding or molting and foraging areas, exposing to pollutants. Individuals from the colony in Isla 25 de Mayo (Antarctic Peninsula) are distributed on an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA 132), but anthropogenic releases of pollutants can reach remote areas far away from emission sources and then affect local fauna in the long-term. To assess the mercury concentrations in skin samples of SES in Isla 25 de Mayo (62º15’S, 58º39’W), South Shetland, dermal tissue samples from free-ranging SES (n=50) were collected using a remote biopsy dart sampling method (PAXARMS system). Skin samples were analyzed to determine total-mercury (THg) concentrations. The results indicated that THg concentrations ranged between 142-1,915 µg/kg (mean=730 µg/kg, SD=388). The THg values reported here are relatively low compared to those in skin from e.g. Commerson dolphins in sub-Antarctic waters in Tierra del Fuego (Argentina) (mean=1,380 µg/kg, SD=850, n=9), but were higher than THg values reported in skin of humpback whales in Gerlache Strait (Antarctic Peninsula) (mean=35 µg/kg, SD=3.7, n=14). Differences in THg values between marine mammals may be explained by their feeding ecology, since whales feed on low trophic level prey (mainly krill), whereas dolphins and SES consume higher trophic level prey (pelagic feed and squid). These results show some insights about mercury pollution in top predators such as SES, and the need to continue monitoring the pollutants levels in Antarctic.

• 13:25 - 13:35 GMT: Benthic and planktonic communities in the Gerlache Strait, Antarctica

  Presenter: Cristina Cedeno-Posso

  Institution: Institute of Marine and Coastal Research (INVEMAR), Colombia

  Type: Flash presentation

  Abstract: The Institute of Marine and Coastal Research - INVEMAR, in 2014, begins the development of its Antarctic scientific agenda with three fronts of work focused on: climate change, conservation and biodiversity. Since then has participated in three of the five Scientific Expeditions of Colombia to the Antarctic, with the project Biodiversity and Oceanographic Conditions of the Strait of Gerlache "Biogerlache-Antarctica". The objective of the project is the characterization of the Antarctic fauna of the Strait, in order to create a baseline of biological and physical knowledge, which generates new contributions to the biological inventories and contributes to expand the information for define possible areas of conservation.

  Biological sampling was carried out during the austral summer of 2015, 2017 and 2018 in 36 stations, on board the ship ARC 20 de Julio, using shipek and van veen grabs samplers, plankton nets and a R.O.V Eloy V. 110 samples were collected and one video transect. The preliminary results obtained allowed to differentiate 137 morphospecies belonging to 12 phyla: Nematoda, Nemertea, Sipuncula, Foraminifera, Bryozoa, Porifera, Cnidaria, Mollusca, Annelida, Arthropoda, Echinodermata and Chordata. All the material collected has been deposited in the Museum of Marine Natural History of Colombia - MAKURIWA, of the Invemar and represents the firsts vouchers of Antarctic species collected by Colombia and deposited in a national collection.

• 13:35 - 14:05 GMT: Keynote: Polar Educators International; A Vibrant Global Network Bridges the Gap Between Education and Research to Share Polar Science with the Broader Community

  Presenter: Neelu Singh

  Institution: Vice president - Polar Educators International (PEI) Executive Committee

  Type: Keynote presentation

  Abstract: Effective science education, outreach and communication need to be higher priorities within the scientific and education communities to develop informed decision makers with a deep understanding of our world and the nature of science. Conversations along these lines occurred during International Polar Year (IPY) Conferences in Oslo and Montreal. Dedicated educators and early career researchers in attendance at IPY conferences created an international network from these conversations, that five years later, has developed into a respected resource for Polar science communities wishing to make more meaningful connections with non-science audiences. Polar Educators International (PEI) is an effective example of capacity building, education, outreach, and training efforts of researchers, educators, science communicators, and others across the globe working together to bridge the gap between education and research.

  This network of volunteer polar science education practitioners, has grown to include a general membership of over 1500 individuals from 30 countries. PEI working groups partner educators with polar researchers, to develop activities both on-line, and in face-to-face interactions to activate polar knowledge transfer and dissemination. These demonstrated partnerships have created Master Classes offering online professional development providing resources and tools to increase knowledge and skills as a science communicator. Classes address current polar research, and connects participants to the PEI network of researchers and teachers in meaningful ways.

  PEI sponsors international workshops, that have seen increasing attendance by researchers, demonstrating growing value in the connections and educational content PEI offers. Workshops offer value to educators, providing community, access to resources and professional development. The value to researchers is an expansion of professional networks to include educators, and partnerships to ensure educators have access to best-available polar science.

  Members of PEI’s Council and Executive Committee gather insights and perspectives to think strategically about the future of this network.

APECS Online Conference 2019 - Session-2 from APECS Webinars on Vimeo.

Session Chair: Christel Hansen; Technical Support: Prashant Pandit. The recording of the session is available below.

• 14:50 - 14:55 GMT: Introduction

• 14:55 - 15:05 GMT: Insights of Lange Glacier meltwater contribution in the Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica

  Presenter: Diego F. Mojica

  Institution: Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile; Centro de Investigaciones Oceanográficas e Hidrográficas, Colombia; Programa Antártico Colombiano, Colombia.

  Type: Flash presentation

  Abstract: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that glaciers are sensitive indicators of climate change. Glacier thickness has decreased and sea level has risen since we have records (the 1970’s) due to the temperature increase. One of the greatest areas of interest due to its sensitivity and implications of warming over the cryosphere is Antarctica. In particular, the Antarctic Peninsula and adjacent islands are areas where the greatest regional warming of the Southern Hemisphere has been identified. In this study, we describe methodological aspects and preliminary results obtained with a network of stakes, installed on the Glacier Lange King George Island, Antarctica. The aim is characterize the dynamic of the mass balance, temperature and water contribution in the Admiralty Bay. The equipment recorded surface glacier temperatures for 22days during the austral summer 2018-19. The devices were installed 200m from the Southern edge. We recorded an average movement of 8.8 m Southeast direction to the front of the glacier. The 85% of temperatures were above the melting point 0°C. From the oceanic point of view, 29 oceanographic stations were recorded. A clear freshwater contribution of the glacier between 60 and 80 m depth was evidenced with a low temperature in several stations of the front of the glacier from 0.7 to 0.5 °C. The measurements indicated that the glacier is in a continuous melting, with a clear freshwater contribution to the Admiralty Bay. Further monitoring is needed to establish direct implications of climate change and contributions to sea level rise.

• 15:05 - 15:20 GMT: Comparing object-based and pixel-based image processing approaches for effective mapping of glacier facies

  Presenter: Sagar F. Wankhede

  Institution: National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, India

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: Advances in glaciology have now found that the structurally unique and spectrally distinct expressions on the surface of a glacier called facies melt at differential rates. However, mapping the distribution of such facies through field campaigns is not always the most logistically viable choice. Moreover, in-situ data collection consists of a few points and is therefore limited in spatial coverage, which is insufficient to calibrate spatially distributed mass balance models. Hence, remote sensing plays a key role in globalizing a mechanism by which glacier surface facies can be mapped. Very high-resolution (VHR) sensors now provide the opportunity to map minute glacial spatial variations coupled with spectral differentiation. Therefore, this study aims to map glacier surface facies across selected glaciers from the Chandra basin, Himalaya, and the Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard using VHR WorldView-2 (WV-2) satellite imagery. Two prominent methods of mapping, the object-based image analysis (OBIA), and the pixel-based image analysis (PBIA) are engaged in this endeavor. A thorough preprocessing protocol was applied prior to classification to derive atmospherically corrected and enhanced imageries. The OBIA approach resulted in the generation of four customized spectral index ratios. The PBIA approach tested the conventional Mahalanobis Distance classifier for a comparative accuracy analysis with the OBIA approach. This was accomplished using error matrices. The OBIA approach achieved maximum overall accuracy of 93% (κ=0.91) and the PBIA approach registered a maximum overall accuracy of 85% (κ=0.82). Our future research will focus on the transferability of the proposed methods to other glacial regions.

• 15:20 - 15:35 GMT: A case study of mapping blue ice areas over Polar Record Glacier of East Antarctica

  Presenter: Prashant Pandit

  Institution: TERI University, India

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: Blue Ice Area (BIA) is characterized by hard ice in a cryospheric environ, which appears blue due to net ablation dominated by sublimation and wind scouring exceeds the accumulation by precipitation and snowdrift deposition. BIAs is also characterized by negative surface mass balance. Over the Antarctic continent, BIAs are widely scattered and cover about 1 % of its surface area. They are of great interest for paleoclimatic studies due to their sensitivity to climate change. Meteorites that fall in the accumulation zone gets transported and accumulated in concentration in the BIAs, also called meteorite traps, due to ice flow and therefore, are popular among glaciologist, meteorologist, geologist, environmentalist and climatologist. BIAs are the main source for drinking water for research stations and also serve as airplanes runway. This research is an attempt to evaluate and develop the techniques to map the BIA of the Polar Record Glacier, East Antarctica. This study estimates that more than 30% of the total surface area of the Polar Record Glacier is covered with BIAs, and a series of factors influence this variation. The total area is also depending upon the climatic and season changes, while the reliable knowledge of parameters like katabatic wind direction, the rate of sublimation and ablation, wind pattern and surface temperature, etc. can increase the accuracy of the result. This study also found that there is a high impact of surface albedo on the BIAs, causing significant variation in the spatial extent and total surface area of BIAs.

• 15:35 - 15:50 GMT: Monitoring Antarctic vegetation using very high resolution remotely sensed satellite data

  Presenter: Udhayaraj AD

  Institution: Wildlife Institute of India

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: Vegetation is one of the desirable pointers of climate change due to their susceptibility to carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. They form the active foundation of all terrestrial ecosystems. Robust monitoring of the changes in distribution and density of cryospheric plant species requires accurate and high-resolution baseline maps of vegetation. Due to the unstable climate and ice-covered land, plants colonize only 1% of the region. The mapping of vegetation in the cryospheric environment provides a significant tool, with the potential for revealing the contemporary pattern and dynamic nature of this land cover. Mapping such change at the landscape scale is often problematic, particularly in the remote Antarctica/Himalayas and Arctic. Less frequent imaging with high-spatial-resolution satellite sensors enables more detailed analyses of vegetation change frequently. This study uses high-resolution satellite imagery to map vegetation as an imperative indicator of environmental change. Multispectral imagery and panchromatic imagery from very high-resolution satellite data have been used for mapping of vegetation. A range of image processing methods have been executed using satellite data. This study statistically and comparatively evaluates the vegetation mapping results using supervised and unsupervised classification methods to extract vegetation in Schirmacher oasis, east Antarctica. We also focused on the use of supervised pixel-based classifiers and textural measures, in addition to standard multispectral information, to improve the classification of Antarctic vegetation communities. Classification results were validated with independent reference datasets. The present research indicates that the overall accuracy of mapping vegetation using high-resolution imagery and semiautomated target extraction methods exceeded 91%.

• 15:50 - 16:00 GMT: Assessment and provision of energy security in the Arctic regions

  Presenter: Tatiana Burmenco

  Institution: Siberian Federal University , Russia

  Type: Flash presentation

  Abstract: Since the Arctic is a region of interest to many states, security issues are relevant for a number of countries. The energy security of the Arctic region is closely interrelated with the socio-economic situation of the region, the environmental situation, the fuel and energy balance of the region. In its turn, energy security is one of the components of the economic security and in general the security of a country. The authors have analyzed the activities of the Russian Federation subjects in the Arctic zone and identified the main interests of these subjects in relation to the development of the Arctic zone according to the strategies of socio-economic development of these subjects. Difficulties in socio-economic development of regions are caused by uncertainty and instability of regional economic systems. Based on this, it is important to analyze the dynamics of the main socio-economic indicators of the regions, the analysis of which can reveal problems in the development of certain areas of the region or in general of the entire economy of the region.

• 16:00 - 16:15 GMT: Arctic Small Cities, Climate Change, and Multilevel Governance: Case Studies of Norilsk and Yakutsk, Russia

  Presenter: Nadezhda Filimonova

  Institution: University of Massachusetts Boston, USA

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: The Arctic is warming twice as rapidly as compared to the global average. Arctic cities are exposed to permafrost thawing, sea level rise, inland and coastal flooding that represent challenges to the effective functioning of cities. With the anticipated increase in intensity and scope of climatic challenges, risks for Arctic cities will increase even more. This paper aims to investigate how the Russian cities of Norilsk and Yakutsk have been framing the governance mechanisms to implement climate adaptation policies. More specifically, the study applies multilevel governance framework to explore how the cities frame their relations with the Russian state and non-state actors to formulate and implement climate adaptation policies. The academic literature mainly focuses on climate change policies of global cities; this study will contribute to the knowledge on the role of small cities in addressing climate change risks. The topic of small cities and their role in urban governance is especially important in connection to future sustainable and climate-resilient development of cities around the world.

• 16:15 - 16:30 GMT: Sustainable Development in Yakutia: Economic, Environmental and Innovative Aspects

  Presenter: Anisiia Lazareva

  Institution: North-Eastern Federal University, Russia

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: Sources of regional development are becoming critical in Yakutia, the biggest Russian region with enormous amounts of natural resources. After the 1990s, Yakutia focused mainly on extraction and export of oil and gas. However, this resource-dependent development is no longer sustainable due to changes in federal tax law regulations (2013) and the environmental situation. Currently, there are no sources for sustainable development of Yakutia, and the federal funding is inadequate to support the regional infrastructure development. This decline affects every aspect of living in Yakutia. It is therefore time to focus on new development advantages and possibilities in the region.

• 16:30 - 17:05 GMT: Keynote: Can fieldwork in the polar regions ever be green?

  Presenter: Heïdi Sevestre

  Institution: TBA

  Type: Keynote presentation

  Abstract: In times when the carbon footprint of every sector of society is being closely examined and monitored, the footprint of our own polar fieldwork is something we must also reflect on. The use of polluting motorized transportation and tools has become the norm, and is often considered to be the only option for the type of fieldwork that is being planned, and in regards to time efficiency and safety. But new solutions are being developed, solutions that work even in the most remote places on Earth and work for a wide array of measurements. The use of renewable energies is becoming more mainstream, and carbon neutral research stations can be found in both polar regions. This talk aims to take an in depth look into such new solutions and inspire scientists to implement them during their own field campaigns!

• 17:10 - 17:25 GMT: Deducing summer and winter surface ice flow velocities of western tributary glaciers, Amery ice shelf

  Presenter: Shubhang Kumar

  Institution: Central University of Jharkhand, India

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: Calculation of surface ice flow velocity and regular monitoring of the dynamics act as an important parameter in understanding the changes occurring in the glacier in different seasons. Unfortunately, frequent visit to glaciated areas in the Antarctic is limited due to extreme weather conditions, rough terrain and high logistical cost. Remote sensing serves as an efficacious way for estimation and calculation of glacier surface velocity throughout the year. The Amery Ice Shelf (AIS) in the East Antarctic is a major ice shelf of the Antarctic that contributes to 8% of total ice flow into the ocean from the ice shelf. The AIS is fed by various tributaries from the eastern, western and the head of the ice shelf. The ice shelf is fed by two major tributaries from the western side. One of the glaciers meets near the upstream area whereas the other glacier meets in Charybdis Glacier Basin (CGB). This study is focused on estimation and comparison of glacier velocity during summer and winter from the western tributaries. The velocity has been calculated using the Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Ground Range Detected (GRD) product. Offset tracking method was applied to the SAR data for estimation of the velocity. The velocity ranges from 41 m/yr. to 193 m/yr. during winter whereas from 33 m/yr. to 245 m/yr. during summer near the upstream region. Similarly, the velocity in CGB ranges from 50 m/yr. to 273 m/yr. during winter and from 41 m/yr. to 369 m/yr. in the summer season. The biases of the result are not observed beyond 10 m/yr. and the RMS error is observed to be within 20 m/yr. The accuracy was calculated using the MEaSUREs (Making Earth System Data Records for Use in Research Environments) yearly velocity (at 450 m and 1 km resolution) available on the NSIDC (National Snow & Ice Data Center) portal and was found to be 85 percent for maximum regions.

• 17:25 - 17:35 GMT: Implementation of an eolic turbine in Antarctica

  Presenter: Cesar

  Institution: Fuerza Aérea Colombiana

  Type: Flash presentation

  Abstract: This project aims to design, manufacture and validate a prototype of a Wind Turbine prototype in Colombia for its implementation in Antarctica. Designed for the use of extreme wind currents, which are abundant and constant throughout the year, being a friendly energy with the environment and the best option when implementing a Colombian kinetic base, contributing to the Antarctic treaty policies, being a model of development for the country as pioneers in the field of renewable energy implementation and in turn, mitigating the logistical impact of fossil fuels supply, a task that requires labor and unnecessary flight hours before the possibility of using a Wind turbine, saving high costs of these operations. During the month of December of the year 2015 there was a participation in the Antarctic Base of Marambio with the objective of identifying in what and how much electrical energy is consumed, as well as a preliminary measurement of winds with a portable weather station, the foregoing to design the Turbine prototype which was implemented for the year 2018 in the Antarctic Base of Marambio, obtaining positive results with Polar winds of 40 knots, temperatures of -50ºC, generating between 3 and 5 KW from a year ago, being the implementation of the same a great success and at the same time a challenge and experience for the deployment of the generator from Colombia and its installation. Both missions are possible thanks to the collaboration of host country Argentina.

APECS Online Conference 2019 - Session-3 from APECS Webinars on Vimeo.

Session Chair: Kara Layton; Technical Support: Deniz Vural. The recording of the session is available below. 

• 21:00 - 21:05 GMT: Introduction

• 21:05 - 21:20 GMT: Vegetation and disturbance drive variability in pond DOM at Cape Bounty Arctic Watershed Observatory

  Presenter: Joanne Heslop

  Institution: Queen's University, Canada

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: Inland waters receive and process significant but poorly-constrained amounts of terrestrial carbon (C). A portion of terrestrially-derived C in inland waters is microbially processed into the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) and outgassed into the atmospheric C pool, making inland waters an important component of the global C cycle. In the Arctic, ponds represent a substantial portion of inland water surface area. Thus, C processing and subsequent CO2 outgassing from ponds could play a significant role in the Arctic C cycle and potential greenhouse gas emissions. We quantified and characterized terrestrially-derived C export and composition from 19 ponds at the Cape Bounty Arctic Watershed Observatory, Nunavut, Canada. The ponds were selected to represent a range of hydrological inputs (precipitation-fed versus soil water-influenced), surrounding vegetation types (mesic tundra, polar desert), and permafrost disturbance regimes (active layer detachment, undisturbed). Ponds were sampled weekly from 16 July to 12 August 2018 and analyzed for: dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), major ions, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) optical properties. Ponds located in undisturbed, vegetated regions generally had the highest DOC concentrations. Ponds in disturbed regions had lower DOC concentrations than undisturbed ponds, but higher TDN and major ion concentrations. DOM optical properties suggest DOC in disturbed ponds is more bioavailable than DOC in undisturbed ponds. Results from this study will be compared to measured dissolved gas concentrations in the same ponds, with the objective of identifying major controls on CO2 production and upscaling pond CO2 emission estimates to the whole watershed.

• 21:20 - 21:30 GMT: Evolutionary processes that shaped the diversity of the amphipod genus Eusirus in the Southern Ocean

  Presenter: Lourine Salabao

  Institution: University of Liege/University of Hasselt, Belgium

  Type: Flash presentation

  Abstract: Diversity of the current Antarctic marine fauna. In the past, these Antarctic species have survived different glacial cycles through dispersal to refugia, and/or adaptations to novel abiotic and biotic conditions. With the increasing temperatures in the polar regions, marine fauna is currently faced with three possible outcomes: adaptation, migration or extinction. Based on how these organisms were able to survive environmental changes in the past will allow us to predict their future response. In this study, amphipods of the genus Eusirus are as model organisms as knowledge on their ecology and biogeography is still very limited. The evolutionary history of Eusirus amphipods is phylogenetically reconstructed through time with molecular data. DNA sequence data are obtained by sequencing the complete mitochondrial genomes, using a combination of skimming sequencing and long-range PCRs amplicons of different Eusirus species. Mitochondrial data will be complemented with additional sequence data from nuclear genes. Time-calibrated phylogenies will be used as basis for plotting ecological and trophic data generated by stable isotope analyses as well as morphological information. By combining data from time-calibrated phylogenies as well as from ecology and morphology, we aim to understand the evolutionary processes that led to the current diversity of Eusirus amphipods.

• 21:30 - 21:40 GMT: An interdisciplinary approach to test population structure and life history connectivity of Antarctic silverfish (Pleuragramma antarctica) in the southern Weddell Sea

  Presenter: Jilda Alicia Caccavo

  Institution: Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) / Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity (BeGenDiv), Germany

  Type: Flash presentation

  Abstract: The Antarctic silverfish (Pleuragramma antarctica) is a critically important forage species with a circumpolar distribution and is unique among notothenioid species for its wholly pelagic life cycle. Studies have provided mixed evidence of population structure in silverfish over regional and circumpolar scales. Microsatellite markers previously showed homogeneity in allele frequencies along the Antarctic Slope Current westward from the Ross Sea to the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. However, spatially recurring length modes observed in the Weddell Sea provide evidence for episodic connectivity. In this study, as part of a hydrographic survey of the Filchner Trough system in the southern Weddell Sea, otolith nucleus chemistry, which provides a record of environmental exposure during early life, was used to test between physical-biological hypotheses of silverfish population connectivity. Despite strong gene flow observed throughout areas of the southern Weddell Sea, significant population structuring was found using otolith chemistry, in the same samples as used for a previous genetic study. Self-recruitment shaped by circulation associated with the Filchner Trough, fluctuations in mixing between immigrant and locally-recruited fish, and feeding opportunities between inflowing Modified Warm Deep Water and outflowing Ice Shelf Water, help explain structuring revealed by otolith chemistry, length, abundance and biomass data, as well as gene flow along the continental slope. These results illustrate how comparisons between interdisciplinary techniques based on integrated sampling designs that incorporate hydrography can enhance understanding of population structure and connectivity of species around the Southern Ocean.

• 21:40 - 21:55 GMT: Ecology meets geomorphology to study the impacts of wildfire on permafrost

  Presenter: Jean Holloway

  Institution: University of Ottawa, Canada

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: Effects of climate change are being felt in all aspects of the cryosphere, and how permafrost will respond to these variations is of concern. Forest fire is rarely taken into account in predictive modelling of permafrost change even though severe fires have been shown to accelerate degradation. Moreover, the frequency and magnitude of fires is increasing as the climate warms. We are examining permafrost change following the 2014 fires in the Northwest Territories, Canada in order to improve our understanding of the fate of permafrost in the region. A total of 18 burned and unburned sites representing a range of conditions were established in 2015 and 2016. At each site, air and ground temperature are being monitored continuously, and direct current electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys and frost table measurements are being conducted annually. Burned sites were warmer than unburned ones: surface offsets averaged 0.5°C greater and the thermal offsets 0.1°C smaller. Average frost table depths at burned sites were 17 cm greater than at unburned sites, and were generally greater in 2017 compared to 2015. This reflects impacts of the burn as mean summer air temperatures differed by only 0.3°C. Results from ERT surveys show the possible loss of permafrost within some sites. The most-affected sites are underlain by coarser-grained substrates with thin organic layers, whereas peatland sites are less impacted. These results indicate the heterogeneity of permafrost reaction to fire at the landscape scale and suggest that permafrost may persist in peatlands while degrading elsewhere in the region.

• 21:55 - 22:10 GMT: Melttown: Changing climate, economy and society in Longyearbyen, Svalbard

  Presenter: Zdenka Sokolickova

  Institution: University of Oslo // University of Hradec Kralove, Norway

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: Svalbard in the high Arctic is often promoted as a peripheral „disappearing destination“. In reality, it is very much central when it comes to global trends such as climate change or overheating in terms of economy and culture & identity. Changing climate in Longyearbyen means temperature rise, heavy rain periods, melting glaciers, thawing permafrost, disappearing sea ice, avalanches, erosion and landslides. By changing economy, we mean that the former economic backbone of the community - the mining industry - is diminishing, while tourism and research activities are on rise and there is no substitute for the mining in sight. These developments influence the structure of the town's population, causing less stability, less integration and more transience. The so-called local community cannot be easily defined because it is being contested and deconstructed as the changes speed up. Several, sometimes only vaguely interlinked communities identify with the place, which leads to a feeling of segregation and, to some extent, alienation. This is strengthened by the mismatch between the official Norwegian policy promoting Longyearbyen as a Norwegian community, and the reality of numerous foreign citizens (including Thai or Philippino people) settling down, looking for jobs, housing and education for their children. In this small town with 2,500 inhabitants, global forces are translated into local side-effects, challenging the future of the overheated place. The talk summarizes preliminary results of the first 4 months of an ethnographic fieldwork planned to last for 2 years, based on in-depth interviews with residents and intense participant observation.

• 22:10 - 22:25 GMT: A computational framework and 3D model for interdisciplinary polar research

  Presenter: Tobias Staal

  Institution: University of Tasmania, Australia

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: Numerous data compilations, models and interpretations constrain aspects of Arctic and Antarctic solid Earth and cryosphere. Combinig datasets can be difficult as spatial data comes in different resolution, projection and extent. The interdisciplinary polar research community therefore needs a way of handling multiple models and constraints such that discrepancies may be understood. The platform should also contain uncertainty, provenance and likelihood information. I present a computational environment 'agrid', that aims to provide gridded multidimensional models. The environment is built using Python high level programming language, with the aim of providing an accessible user interface. Rasters, unstructured grids, vector data can be imported to the regular grid. It can be populated by datasets in a way that facilitates dynamic updating as the underlying geological and geophysical compilations improve. The grid can be linked the original data to allow for full reproducibility. The implementation is flexible and allows for stochastic modelling and increased dimensionality. Export formats are interoperable for a wide range of applications, and the code also contains methods for generation of maps and basic 3D visualisation. I illustrate the use through a comparison of segmentations of East Antarctica and implementations for subglacial heat flow.

• 22:25 - 22:40 GMT: Constraint of North American Glacial Cycle Histories in a Coupled Ice/Sediment/Hydrology Model

  Presenter: Matthew Drew

  Institution: Memorial University, Canada

  Type: Oral presentation

  Abstract: What new constraints does the addition of fully coupled subglacial hydrology and sediment production/transport add to data-constrained glacial cycle ice sheet modelling? As a corollary, what are the inferred local erosion/denudation rates and relative contribution from relevant processes? We probe these questions for the context of the last glacial cycle of the North American ice sheet complex.

  Currently there are few ice sheet models which implement sediment production/transport and even fewer with a realistic hydrology which modulates these sedimentary processes. To date, models of subglacial hydrology have been designed for either glacier scale (complex description of processes) or continental scale (heavily simplified for basal drag calculation). The model presented here represents a trade off: a parameterized choice of poroelastic and linked-cavity systems for inefficient drainage with a flux switch to efficient (tunnel) drainage. The subglacial sediment model incorporates both abrasion and quarrying with transport via both glacial entrainment and soft sediment deformation.

  These sediment and hydrology models have been fully coupled to the Glacial Systems Model (GSM), a 3D ice sheet model with full suite of ice dynamics, solid earth processes, and range of climate representations. GSM ensemble parameters are constrained by comparison of resultant ice histories against a range of geophysical and geological data. An esker-margin density time series is used to constrain the drainage regime, debris trains provide a control on sediment transport, and the present day distribution of sediment over North America is an outcome requirement. Our probe will invoke comparison of a large ensemble of last glacial model runs against the above constraints.

• 22:40 - 23:15 GMT: Keynote: Inspiring Girls Expeditions: Fostering scientific inquiry in young womxn through interdisciplinary field science immersion programs

  Presenter: Aurora Roth

  Institution: University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA

  Type: Keynote presentation

  Abstract: For 20 years, Inspiring Girls Expeditions (formally known as Girls on Ice) has been empowering young womxn (ages 16-17) through tuition-free wilderness-based science programs. Our programs interweave science, art, and wilderness travel skills to inspire future confidence, leadership, and success in our participants, particularly those who couldn't have an experience like this otherwise. 8-9 participants spend 12 days on glaciers, in kayaks, or rock climbing with an instructor team made up of professional earth scientists (glaciologists, ecologists, biologists, oceanographers, and more!), wilderness guides, and artists. Our participants create and conduct their own field science research projects and explore the landscape they are immersed in from many perspectives. This talk will focus on why an interdisciplinary approach and curriculum is essential to the mission of Inspiring Girls Expeditions, why it is necessary that our programs promote diversity in the sciences, and how YOU can become involved with our programs.

APECS Online Conference 2019 - Session-4 from APECS Webinars on Vimeo.