Complete Project List up to 2008

2008
Annual check: In spring 2008, the radiation sensor package will be changed for calibration purposes. Further, the met-tower system will be controlled. Continuous measurements will be run throughout the year, comprising the daily radio soundings.

2008
In 2008 the analysis and reanalysis of water vapour is the major topic. The observations at the AWIPEV station will be compared with comparable observations near the equator, in Venezuela.

In spring 2006 the current laser system for the Koldewey lidars shall be replaced by a new one, which will deliver higher output, have better remote control options, and better maintenance features. The replacement is done together with the tropospheric lidar activities (KOL 09), which use the same laser.

2008
During the winter season 2008/09 (November to March) campaign activity is dedicated to IPY contributions, as well as to the EU project GEOMON. This includes routine observations of the stratospheric parameters ozone, aerosol content, and temperature. Additionally, measurement times shall be adjusted to overpasses of the CALIPSO satellite, which will investigate by lidar tropo- and stratospheric aerosol content.
During fall one engineer from Impres GmbH shall be at the observatory to prepare the instrument for the winter measurements. This includes maintenance of the lasers and fine adjustments of the detection system. Also during that time modifications of the receiver will be prepared or implemented, depending on the further development of the combination of tropo- and stratospheric lidar detectors (see KOL 09).
Measurements with the UV-laser system (ozone profiles) shall also allow to detect the mesospheric OH layer by resonance fluorescence. Regular and dedicated measurements shall be performed, which will require exact recording of the laser wavelength by a spectrometer on site and the "high altitude" mode of operation.

2008
The overall aim is to follow the long-term evolution of the stratospheric trace gases. Throughout the last years the focus of the NDACC has changed and now includes tropospheric trace gases. In 2008 we will concentrate on the profile retrieval of tropospheric trace gases, like HCN and CH2O. In addition the analysis of water vapour from the FTIR-measurements will be performed.

2008
The measurements within the photometer measurements include:

• Measurements with the full-automatic sun photometer SP1A
• Measurements with the star photometer during polar night

• Study of the long-term variation of Arctic aerosol
• Study of the seasonal variation of tropospheric aerosol
• Polar night observation of Arctic aerosol variation

In addition the under water UVB instrument will be deployed during May - August 2003 in connection with the KOL06 project. 
Both measurements combined will allow to determine the optical properties of the marine water column. 
 
2004
Calibration of the spectroradiometer on the NDSC building 
Installation of the underwater UV spectroradiometer 
Installation of the sediment trap for project KOP 51

UV effects on of marine macroalgae: gene expression and growth: 
The effect of enhanced ultraviolet radiation on gene expression is studied in different macroalgal species, the two brown algae Laminaria saccharina and Laminaria digitata and the green algae Monostroma arcticum and Acrosiphonia arcta. These algae are ecologically important and abundant species in the Kongsfjorden ecosystem and grow in depths that are subjected to biologically relevant doses of UV-radiation. Therefore the algae will be exposed to the ambient light climate in UV-transparent plexiglas-tubes and growth measurements will be carried out by the use of specially designed growth chambers in-situ 

UV effects on marine macroalgae: Effects on brown algal spores: 
Collection of fertile specimen of brown algae 
Exposure of released spores in the laboratory 
Measurement of the absorption of UV radiation by the released spores before and after UV exposure 
Exposure of spores at different water depths in the field.

2007
A.    Abiotic and biotic interactive effects on brown and green algal spores
Stratospheric ozone depletion leads to enhanced UV radiation at the earth’s surface and in the water. Algal spores are the stages most susceptible to a variety of stresses, in particular UV radiation and temperature. Their UV susceptibility determines the depth zonation of the adult plants. In the first part of our study we will investigate the damage to different components of the photosynthetic machinery of various brown and green algae from different water depths under different radiation and temperature regimes. In particular, we will investigate the fate of the D1 protein parallel to the down regulation of photosynthesis, carboxylation and regeneration of Ribulose biphosphate in the Calvin cycle. Growth rates (as a function of germination capacity) of green macroalgal spores and gametes will also be measured using growth fluorometry. On the other hand damage can be prevented by the formation of UV absorbing substances. In this respect brown algal phlorotannins were invoked to protect the spores from damage. In green algae flavonoids may have a similar role. The formation of these substances under different UV and temperature regimes are studied as well and will be complemented by an investigation of the fine structural changes during exposure. The results of these studies will further enhance our understanding on the physiology and ultrastructure of spores and will explain the different UV and temperature susceptibility of the various species, which finally determines the seaweed zonation pattern in Kongsfjorden.
    In the second part of our study we will investigate the effect of enhanced UVB radiation on the germination pattern of brown algal spores by use of a sunshine simulator. So far, the radiation regime used in our laboratory experiments is highly artificial. Photosynthetically active radiation is always too low and UVB radiation is always too high compared to natural sunlight. A newly developed sunshine simulator allows to simulate the present solar radiation regime and radiation regimes occurring under scenarios of stratospheric ozone depletion. The use of the sunshine simulator will allow for the first time to directly relate the atmospheric conditions to biological processes, a great step forward.
    Beside abiotic factors recruitment of seaweeds depends also on biotic factors e. g. on interspecific competition for space. In this respect we plan for the first time investigations on the interactive effects between spores of various species exposed to different temperature and UV radiation regimes. The obtained results will allow to draw conclusions on the impact of global climate changes on seaweed species composition.

B. To be or not to be: On the fate of Alaria esculenta refuges in urchin barrens at Kongsfjordneset

Kelp beds have strong ecological implications at temperate and polar rocky shores, where they serve as feed and/or habitat for many macroalgae and animals. The Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) is able to consume and thereby destroy extensive kelp beds. The destructive urchin grazing depends on the urchin density, resulting in two stable community states. When urchin densities are low, kelp beds prevail, but under high urchin density, kelp beds change into encrusting red algal dominated ‘urchin barrens’. Interestingly, small (<1000 m²) kelp patches permanently exist in ‘urchin barrens’, which may serve as export areas for kelp and other algal propagules and, thus, redevelopment of kelp beds at times when urchins are removed from barrens, e.g. as a result of catastrophic parasitic infestations. The persistence of kelp is linked to the refuge surrounding wall-like presence of the brown algae Desmarestia viridis, which repels urchins and, thus, demonstrates an example of associative defence of macroalgae against urchin grazing.

2008
The seasonal fertility of Alaria esculenta, Saccorhiza dermatodea, Laminaria saccharina and L. digitata will be studied between July and September. In particular, we focus on the seasonal ger­mination capacity and the seasonal activity variation of the photosynthetic apparatus.

The fate of Alaria esculenta refuges in urchin barrens at Kongsfjordneset will be studied further by monitoring the seasonal sea urchin density, the abundance of Desmarestia viridis, which repels sea urchins and by analysing macrobenthic community structure inside and outside the Alaria refuges (research period July).

To complement the effects of single and multi-stress factors on physiological and biochemical responses of the early life stages of macroalgae (i.e. photosynthesis, germination, DNA damage and repair), the interactive effects of UVR and temperature will be studied for the first time on the photosynthetic and accessory pigments of spores from different species of brown and green macroalgae. In this respect carotenoids will be studied, which have protective functions either as direct quenchers of reactive oxygen species or play a role in the thermal dissipation of excess energy (research period July).

The content and chemical composition of UV absorbing phlorotannins will be studied in zoo­spores of A. esculenta, Saccorhiza latissima, Laminaria digitata, L. solidungula and Saccorhiza dermatodea after exposure to different UVradiation and temperature conditions. Further on a cDNA library of zoospores and sporophytes of these species will be established which will allow to study the effect of UV radiation and temperature changes on gene expression through microar­ray analysis (research period July)

• characterision of snow algae fields and probe collections 
• physiological characterision of single algae cells at different stages of development (e.g. by dielectric single cell spectroscopy, immuno-fluroescence microscopy and element analysis), 
• cultivation in home laboratories. 

2008
Continuing the permanent aerosol measurements of AWI Potsdam
Collection of a data base for projects as CLIF, DANIELA
Derivation of microphysical properties of aerosol
Tests for a reduced overlap-height of the current KARL set-up for cloud measurements
Preparations for intended modification of KARL
Joint measurements with star-photometer

2008
Maintenance of detector and control units.

2008
The following work is planned for the Bayelva catchment:

• Installation of a new radio transfer system so that data can be transferred from the automated stations every day to Potsdam.
• Maintenance of automatic soil, weather and eddy covariance stations
• Continuation of spatial distributed sampling of soil and surface characteristics
• Continuation of collection air pictures via ballon, kite or parasail (drone) using new sensors
• Installation of new automated stations with infrared sensors within Bayelva catchment
• Drilling of 2-3 m deep boreholes for instrumentation of temperature sensors
• Geophysical measurements (electrical resistivity) along transects

2008
y launching several hundred ozonesondes at many Arctic and sub-Arctic stations, one of them Ny-Alesund, the stratospheric chemical ozone loss will be determined. The launches of all stations will be coordinated by analysis of trajectory calculations based on analysis and forecast wind fields. The aim is to get as many ozone sounding pairs as possible, each of them linked by trajectories in space and time. A statistical description of the ozone differences given by the first and the second measurement of individual sonde pairs will yield the chemical ozone loss with spatial and time resolution.

The primary objective of Match campaigns is to determine the degree of ozone loss in the polar stratosphere. Part of the understanding of the ozone loss chemistry is currently under discussion. The main objective of Match campaigns is to provide high quality ozone loss data sets which are very well suited to be compared with model results in order to tackle these open questions.

Ny-Alesund will be the most important station within the network since it is almost always situated below the stratospheric polar vortex during the winter time. The ozonesonde launch rate will be increased to 3-5 sondes per week during the campaign.

Backscattersondes (BKS): 
The backscatter sonde from the University of Wyoming is a well proven balloon borne aerosol sounding instrument operating with two channels ("blue" 480nm and "red" 940nm). Light emitted from a xenon flashlamp is backscattered by atmospheric aerosols and recorded by two photomultiplier devices. The flashlamp is triggered approximately every 7 seconds, giving a vertical resolution of the retrieved backscatter profiles of about 30m as determined by the ascent rate of the balloon. A standard meteorological package giving atmospheric pressure and temperature allows to calculate the altitude of the balloon. The resulting backscatter profiles can be compared with corresponding Lidar measurements and allow to derive properties of the aerosols. As the measured quantity "backscatter ratio" is directly comparable with the backscatter ratio derived from an aerosol Lidar, simultaneous measurements are planned, which will allow to evaluate the Lidar measurements also within the NDSC framework. A combination of the different wavelengths from the Lidar and balloon sounding will allow to better characterise polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) according to their particle sizes, surface, mass and volume densities. 

Optical particle counter sonde (OPC):
The balloon-borne aerosol sonde based on  an optical particle counter (OPC) was developed at the University of Nagoya, Japan. Air sampled by a pump is analysed by light from a laser diode. Retrieved spectra allow to determine aerosol size distributions and other properties of aerosols. Pressure, temperature and humidity from a VAISALA radio sonde are transferred by telemetry to the AWI receiver station together with the aerosol data, allowing to retrieve the altitude profiles. 

The project aims at a better understanding of the processes which form, change and evaporate Polar Stratospheric Clouds.

Further ten natural areas of hard bottom will be marked, thereafter photos will be taken and the organisms removed. The succession of the cleaned natural areas will be monitored during the following years. 

Likewise macrophotos of the surfaces of the 28 installed SBSC will be taken by SCUBA divers. Five SBSCs will be sampled by an underwater airlift system and species composition analysed in the laboratory thereafter. Individuals will be counted, meassured, weighted and thereafter ashed in order to calculate ash free dry mass. The Benthonit/sand mixture of the sampled SBSC will be removed completely and replaced by an accordant new sediment mixture. Additionally ten new SBSCs will be installed. Further soft sediment samples will be taken with a diver-handled box-corer. Species will be identified and community analyses conducted. 

Supplementary a sediment trap ISITRAP (by Isitec, Bremerhaven, Germany) will be installed in the research area of the SBSCs and samples taken daily during the summer season.  These samples will provide a good knowledge of the sedimentation on the soft-bottom succession experiment and will be the basis for future correlations in species occurrence, abundance and growth in relation to sinking plankton blooms. 
 
2004
Hard bottom succession panels (HBSP) will be sampled again during 2004. Photos of all 40 HBSP will be taken like last year. As already in 2003 five original panels will be removed from the installed adapters and replaced by new panels. Furthermore five of the 2003 replaced panels will also be replaced again in order to study annual differences in primary succession. Settled organisms will be removed in the laboratory and fixed for later identification. Biomass will be estimated from a subsample in Bremerhaven, thereafter this subsample will be dried at 60°C, weighed again and ashed thereafter in order to estimate ash free dry mass. 
The ten natural areas of hard bottom cleaned and marked in 2003 will again be photographed and the succession be monitored by image analyses in Bremerhaven. The hard bottom succession will be followed during the next years. 
Macrophotos of the surfaces of the 27 installed SBSC will be taken by SCUBA divers. Like in 2003 five SBSCs will be sampled by an underwater airlift system and species composition analysed in the laboratory thereafter. Again individuals will be counted, measured, weighted and thereafter ashed in order to calculate ash free dry mass. The Benthonit/sand mixture of the sampled SBSC will be removed completely and replaced by an identical sediment mixture. Furthermore soft sediment samples will be taken along transects at six different depths. 
The installed sediment trap (ISITRAP, Isitac, Bremerhaven, Germany) will be taken out, reprogrammed for daily samples during the summer season and reinstalled in the research area of the SBSCs. At the end of the season the sediment trap will again be programmed in a way that one sample will be taken per month during the winter season in order to get comparable data to the winter 2003/04 series. Sediment samples will be fixed in 4% Borax buffered formalin and species identification performed in Bremerhaven. These samples will provide a good knowledge of sedimentation on the soft-bottom succession experiment and will be the basis to correlate species occurrence, abundance and growth to sedimenting plankton blooms.

2008
Yearly sampling of long-term experiments
Validation with field observations

• Refurbishment and preservation of the samples in the Arctic Marine Laboratory at Ny-Ålesund for geochemical and molecular biological analyses
• Experimental determination of mineralisation rates in sediment using labeled substances
• Accumulation of psychrophil bacteria with the intention to establish pure culture
• Laboratory-experiments on decomposition of polymer, organic material to substrate for sulfatereducing bacteria
• Laboratory-experiments on temperatureregulation of bacterial processes in sediment
• Analysis of porewater constituents
• Sampling for molecular biological analyses on the bacteria population

2005

Expedition with MS "FARM" from Longyearbyen

• Sampling of sediment cores from Isfjorden, Kongsfjorden, and Smeerenburgfjorden.
• Subsampling and preservation of the samples in the Arctic Marine Laboratory at Ny-Ålesund for geochemical and molecular biological analyses
• Experimental determination of mineralisation rates in sediment using labeled substances
• Analysis of porewater constituents

• Collect sediment for freeze-thaw experiments from intertidal environments
• Collect suspended particles from the water column for sulfur isotopic analysis, for investigations of spore-forming thermophilic microrganisms, determination of bacterial hydrolysis rates
• Determine of porewater nutrient and metal profiles
• Determine sediment oxygen uptake rates
• Collect water column and sediment samples for experimental and molecular investigations of the nitrogen cycle in Arctic sediments
• Quantify mineralization rates by iron- and manganese-reducing microrganisms
• Collect sediment and water samples for further investigations of thermophilic spore-formers in Arctic environmentsy

2008
Sailing with MS FARM from Longyearbyen along the west coast of Spitzbergen with main sampling sites in Smeerenburgfjorden, Kongsfjorden, Ymerbukta and Isfjorden. Sediment sampling will employ HAPS and Rumohr corers and water sampling will use a Niskin bottle. Detailed sample processing, rate measurements, initial experiments and initial analytical work will be done in Ny Alesund. During the field season 2008, the primary goals will be to:

A) Sample sediment and water in fjords on the west coast of Spitzbergen for microbiological, biogeochemical, and experimental process studies in the laboratory.

B) Explore the spatial distribution of thermophilic spore-forming sulfate-reducing bacteria in the western fjords.

C) Additional sediment material will be collected to continue temperature adaptation experiments with Ymerbukta and Smeerenburgfjorden sediment.

D) Bottom water and surface sediment will be collected to test a suite of new tagged polymeric substrates to continue our investigations of enzymatic hydrolytic decomposition of organic matter in low-temperature environments.

E) Samples will be assayed for molecular studies using fluorescent in-situ hybridization and quantitative PCR targeting 16S ribosomal RNA and dissimilatory sulfite reductase (dsrAB) genes. In addition, we will apply 16S rRNA gene microarrays to assess the microbial diversity of the sulfate-reducing community both in situ and following high temperature incubations.

F) Pathways, rates and microbiology of dominant mineralization processes for sediment organic carbon, including nitrate, manganese and iron reduction will be studied and compared to overall nutrient cycling of nitrogen and phosphorus.

G) Temperature regulation of motility in the large filamentous sulfur bacteria, Beggiatoa spp., will be studied by microscopic imaging techniques.

The campaign is based on simultaneous airborne measurements from the German research aircraft POLAR 4 and ground-based measurements in Ny-Ålesund. 

The main goals of the project are 

• to measure aerosol parameters of climate relevance, like extinction coefficient, absoprtion coefficients, and phase function. 
• to create an Arctic Aerosol Data Set for climate impact investigation, by using the regional climate model HIRHAM. 
• to carry out comparison measurements with the SAGE II (Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment) and the ground based Raman-Lidar.

For winter 2006/2007, a minimum of 4 FLASH-B soundings is planned, with 1 launch per month starting from November 2006. In support of IPY activities, additional soundings may complement other specific stratospheric measurements.

2008
For the IPY winter 2007/2008, a minimum of 4 regular FLASH-B soundings is planned, with 1 launch per month starting from November 2007. In addition, 2 soundings of FLASH-B in combination with the Swiss frostpoint hygrometer radiosonde SnowWhite are planned in cooperation with the German Meterological Observatory Lindenberg. For winter 2008/2009, regular soundings of 1 FLASH-B per months are envisaged so far.

1. The field of photosynthesis is of prime importance, because plant life depends on the activity of photosynthesis to produce carbohydrates and additional energy for anaple-rotic or defence metabolism. Therefore chlorophylls, carotenoids as well as photosynthetic activity will be estimated. Oxygen production/consumption measurements will be done in the field or in the station. 
2. An exact determination of the protective role of xanthophylls and radical scavengers like alpha-tocopherol in leaves from field samples is required to find possible limits of adaptation. Assay of pigments and tocopherol will be performed on small extract volumes prepared for long stability and subjected to HPLC in Innsbruck. 
3. Fluorescence induction measurements (non-destructive) for the detection of fine changes in the function of the photosynthetic apparatus in the field will also be performed. 
4. Methanolic extracts from field samples will give information on general flavonoid composition, and via the same samples separated by HPLC later in the lab, and b) allow an estimation of general antioxidant activity via kinetic assay of the stable radical DPPH. 
5. Most challenging is the preparation of samples for ultrastructural studies with chemical fixation at the sample`s growth site. Final processing to embedded specimens can be done in the station. 

The whole program of activities has been tested for several years under high alpine field and small laboratory conditions. Using the present laboratory facilities at 
Koldewey, there should not any difficulty to run the programme as it is planned, if weather conditions allow field work. 
 
2004
This compilation of planned activities is similar to the activities described for 2002 and changed according to newer plans based on the results from our first research visit: 
The research activities include a) to a large extent field experiments, b) continued with mechanistic laboratory studies, and c) the preparation of plant material for extended studies at the home university. 
We want to find out, whether adaptations found in some alpine plants and alpine snow algae occur similarly in arctic forms. In case of marine algae we want to continue an existing coop-eration to describe UV-effects on plant ultrastructure to connect such cytological results with metabolic functions. 
It is the advantage of the work planned for 2004, that most investigations ranging from ultra-structural studies over different aspects of photosynthesis to assays of UV-B sensitive com-pounds and antioxidants have already successfully been performed during the working period in July 2002 in the Kongsfjord area.

• To investigate special ultrastructure of leaf cells from selected high arctic plants
• To describe marine algae ultrastructure after different UV-treatments according to the program of the group of Ch. Wiencke
• To isolate proteins from leaves and cell organelles for following antifreeze proteins and respiratory enzymes
• To measure antioxidant capacity and pigments in selected plants to compare with alpine plants

2008
Earlier test samples from the ice surface of the 'Midre Lovenbreen' glacier at Svalbard, situated south-eastern from Ny Alesund, revealed that it is inhabited by a specialized algal flora, mainly consisting of the cryophilic species Ancylonema nordenskioeldii (Zygnemaphyceae, Chlorophyta).
The close proximity to the AWI polar station enables us to do a close investigation of the glacier surface and evaluation the local occurrence and abundance of this extremophilic organism. This includes sampling on the glacier in combination with a filed microscope. Because the algal cells hardly cause a pink to purple colouration of the (they are mainly covered by greyish 'dirt like' cryoconite material), it is not easy to find the populations in the field. Local places of high and clean occurrence have to be found by microscopy. There, field measurements will be undertaken, including surface temperature, nitrogen/nutrient content of the melt water and chlorophyll fluorescence of algae. Further material will be brought to the lab at Ny Alesund for measuring photosynthesis and for fixation for electron microscopy.
There had been no investigations on Ancylonema nordenskioeldii for decades and this will be the first physiological approach ever to describe the ecological and cellular adaptation of this very specialized organism to its harsh habitat.

(As a sub-part of the International Project: Input of atmospheric mercury to the Arctic ecosystems – Impact of Arctic springtime depletion events)  

The major goal of the process study between April 15 and May 15, 2003 is to obtain quantified information on reaction path-ways, products and net deposition of mercury during Arctic sunrise. 
http://coast.gkss.de/aos/research.html

Though, all authors dealing with the two species immigrated into the European estuaries were unable to name these species. The main reasons for this uncertainty are: 
- species identification is difficult, because diagnostic characters vary with growth (BICK, 1995), 
- the geographical distribution of Marenzelleria species is far from clear, 
- type material no longer exists or it is in poor condition (BICK & ZETTLER, 1997). 
Specimens of the type species of the genus, Marenzelleria wireni, were recorded from the Arctic region, Franz-Joseph Land and Spitzbergen (WIREN, 1883 and von MARENZELLER, 1892). As mentioned above, these specimens deposited in the Zoologisches Museum Hamburg and the Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm are in poor condition. As far as we know further material from these regions does not exist. In order to eliminate the taxonomic uncertainty it is necessary to investigate morphologically and genetically specimens from the type locality. 

The stay at the Koldewey Station will also be used for a faunistic analysis of the littoral meiofauna. The investigation will especially focus on the harpacticoid copepods. The results obtained are intended to be a basis for further studies dealing with the problem of recolonization of areas which were covered by ice over a long period of time. This is insofar of interest since many of the benthic meiofauna members are no swimmers and don’t have any pelagic larvae. If species are found that also occur in the Baltic or North Sea, their different functional position in the environments concerned will be studied. 

• Collections of macroalgae to investigate the influence of the season (July 2003 compared to August 2002)
• Cultivation of selected algae in the laboratory under extreme photon fluence rates and under UV-radiation
• Cultivation of selected algae in different depths in the Kongsfjorden
• Extraction of the algal samples, isolation of RNA and secondary metabolites for further investigation in the AWI laboratories at Bremerhaven

At the laboratory in Bremerhaven, cockles will be measured to the lower mm and growth increments calculated. These parameters will be used to establish a von Bertalanffy growth function. Additionally acetat peels will be produced. The results will be needed for further investigations and age estimates from free living cockles for future campaigns. The reproductive cycle of Serripes groenlandicus will be analysed using histological methods. 

2004
About 10 individuals of Serripes groenlandicuswill be sampled monthly over a year`s period. Since there is no scientific diving team available throughout the year bivalves will be sampled, marked with the help of two parallel sanding discs fixed to a handhold electric driller and released in stainless steel cages. In 2003 these cages were already installed under the sediment surface in northern direction of the sheet piling of the harbour, at app. 10-meter depth that they will not interfere with the docking ships. Cages were fixed to a rope, which has been installed on the ground, turned around on a ground weight at the lower end of the sheet piling and fixed at the surface. Each month one cage will be lifted and cockles be frozen (-80°C) for further investigations (growth, reproductive cycle).

2007

2006 we found a newly settled juvenile population of Greenland cockles (Serripes groenlandicus) off the Corbel station. 2007 this population will be sampled quantitatively (replicates along a transect) using a SCUBA operated corer. Each individual cockle in the sample will be measured (anterior ? posterior shell length) to the lower 0.1mm with vernier calipers. After measurements, cockles will be released in the habitat with the exception of a sub-sample. The sub-sample will be used to determine ash free dry mass (AFDM). Production will be estimated from the length frequency diagram and the biomass data by monitoring the new population during the coming years.

The previously (2004 until now) achieved knowledge between S. groenlandicus and its effecting environmental factors shall now be applied to know the impact on the cockle by the freshwater runoff from the surrounding glaciers. Hereby S. groenlandicus will be employed as a biological temperature and salinity proxy along a perpendicular gradient of ever increasing sediment and freshwater load towards the glacial front. Since this type of investigation only requires low numbers of samples the failure rate is accordingly low in spite of potential hazards by iceberg scouring. Nevertheless the respective individuals shall be protected by cages, already used earlier in this project and obsoleted in Bremerhaven. The cages will be filled with sediment, include 15 individual physically marked juvenile S. groenlandicus (appr. 3cm anterior ? posterior shell length) and will be installed along a gradient of freshwater impact from a glacier towards the mouth of the fjord. Cages will be marked and recovered at the end of the season 2007. Shell analyses will be carried out in Bremerhaven. The analysis will focus on stable oxygen ¹⁸O and carbon ¹³C isotopes following Khim (2001). As Khim et al. (2003) and Simstich (2005) pointed out, freshwater discharge has a significant effect on bivalve physiology and growth rate. Therefore the clam has the ability to serve as a temperature proxy since increased air temperatures raise the freshwater discharge from the glaciers and thus salinity and ¹⁸O concentrations in the water column. The overall goal is to archive a longterm temperature reconstruction with a S. groenlandicus proxy for the Kongsfjorden area.

Obviously water samples have to be analyzed for the concentrations of ¹⁸O as well. As soon as these data are available they will be applied to historical valves and even to fossil records if available. In conjunction with glacier development data it shall then be possible to develop a comprehensive reconstruction of the sea surface temperatures in Kongsfjorden. This in turn provides valuable background information for future research and the understanding of the local ecosystem in times of changing climate.

2008
Shell growth of Serripes groenlandicus as a biological temperature and salinity proxy; production estimates

Progress from previous year(s): 
The activity based on the airborne measurements in the vicinity of Svalbard in March and April 2000 (ASTAR: Arctic Study of Tropospheric Aerosol and Radiation) and the March 2002 campaign (AAMP: Arctic Airborne Measuring Campaign). 

Description for planned research stay: 
For the Arctic, the main focus of the project is to provide an observational over-determined data set, which is necessary to improve the assessment of the aerosol direct and indirect effects on the Arctic radiative balance. This will be achieved by utilizing unique aircraft instrumental payloads, addressing both aerosol and cloud measurements, combined with ground-based (Ny-Ålesund) and satellite observations and by using appropriate modeling tools. Measurements will be performed during periods of Arctic Haze (April 2005) as well as during the transition to the clean Arctic summer conditions (May/June 2004). 
The program will focus on both aerosol (POLAR 4) and cloud micro-physical and optical properties (POLAR 2). The operation base for the both AWI aircraft’s is Longyearbyen during 10th May and 17th June 2004.

Topic / goals

1. To investigate genetic and metabolic diversity in marine arctic bacterial communities.
2. To investigate genetic and metabolic differences in free living and satellite (attached to microalgae) bacterial consortia.
3. To investigate the role of light quantity and light quality (in particular UVR) on bacterial community composition and metabolic activity, both in the free living and satellite fractions.
4. To compare genetic diversity and irradiance responses of bacterial communities in Antarctic and Arctic regions.

Field study in order to:

• Determine lipid content and lipid compositions of ctenophores Mertensia ovum and Beröe cucumis on a seasonal basis
• Study the life cycles of the two ctenophores
• Determine the trophic position of the ctenophores Mertensia ovum and Beröe cucumis, and the pteropods Limacina helicina and Clione limacina by means of stable isotopes (d13C and d15N)

Laboratory study in order to:

• Perform experiments with ctenophores and pteropods to investigate their lipid metabolism (e.g. feeding, starvation and labelling experiments)
• Acquire knowledge of the processes determining lipid accumulation and composition of Mertensia ovum and Beröe cucumis.
• Describe the transfer of lipids from calanoid copepods to Mertensia ovum, the reconversion of wax esters and the fate of long-chain fatty alcohols of zooplankton origin.

Tethered balloon experiments will be performed in the altitude region from ground to about 2 km. Rather than detecting profiles during ascent and descent of the balloon, we plan to have simultaneous measurements with up to 6 meteorological sondes over a time period of several hours. The temporal resolution of the detected profiles of humidity, temperature, pressure, and wind will allow to analyse the dynamical evolution of the Arctic boundary layer.

We plan to obtain maximum meteorological information both in the temporal and the spatial dimension by operating the tethered balloon system in two different modes.  Performing these measurements over a time span of several hours allows to monitor the dynamical evolution of the Arctic boundary layer with a high temporal resolution. On the other hand, the tethered balloon system will be used to obtain vertical profiles with high spatial resolution by ascent and descent of one meteorological sonde.

Tethered balloon experiments in the altitude region from ground to about 2 km will be preformed in two different measurement modes. In the long duration mode ("high temporal resolution mode"), simultaneous measurements with up to 6 meteorological sondes along the tether will be run over a time period of several hours. The temporal resolution of the detected profiles of humidity, temperature, pressure, and wind will allow to analyse the dynamical evolution of the Arctic boundary layer. The other measurement mode ("high spatial resolution mode") implies the detection of profiles during ascent and descent of the balloon, mainly in support of the ASTAR campaign.

2008
n the period March-April 2008, tethered balloon experiments with high temporal resolution will be performed to capture the dynamical variation humidity, temperature, pressure, and wind in the planetary boundary layer. As similar measurements will be obtained from the North Pole drifting station NP-35, the combination of the land site (Ny-Alesund) and the Arctic Ocean region (NP-35) observations will comprise the nature of the Arctic planetary boundary layer. The tethered balloon measurements will provide a major data base for a PhD study on the connection between cyclogenesis, storm tracks, and Arctic boundary layer conditions.

The overall aim of the upcoming season is to continue the observations of CO₂ and CH₄, and to understand the differences between measurements and models.

• Sedimentological investigation at the coastal interface below Austre Lovenbreen glacier (time dependent on precipitation period); conducting several sampling cycles of terrestrial particle discharge, sea water, bottom sediments; most probably daily moves by zodiac between Koldewey and Corbel stations
• Preparation of tank experiments and Kolhamnlaguna field work
• Filtration of particle samples, binocular microscope investigation of sampled material and storage of samples

2008
One of the main 2008 goals is to further develop the algae-related bio-sedimentological and hydrodynamic research in Kongsfjorden jointly established between IPOE, the University of Bremen, AWI and the Universities of Rouen/Besancon in 2005-07. In Kolhamna Bay, we trace pathways of terrestrial particles from river discharge to littoral deposition, and we investigate the light-stress related ecological impact of sediment particles on macroalgae. We further progress the littoral sedimentological studies conducted in 2005, 2006 and 2007 ('AWIPEV-INVEST Kongfjorden I to III'; 'GLACIO-MARINE SEDIMENT DYNAMICS') between Kolhamna Bay and Austre Lov,nbreen glacier, thereby further completing our knowledge on sedimentary dynamics of various Kongsfjorden shallow water ecosystems.

2008
The field campaign ARCTEX-2008 (two weeks in August or September 2008) will comprise: a) Continuous measurements of high-resolution (20 Hz) turbulent fluxes of sensible and latent heat, of momentum and of carbon dioxide and water vapour using the new AWI Eddy-Flux Station located at the AWI permafrost research site in the Bayelva catchment. b) Additional measurements with a LASER Scintillometer across the Bayelva catchment during the stay in autumn 2008. c) In-situ quality checks, instrument position correction, maintenance and necessary calibration (esp. Campbell LiCor 7500 gas analyser) of the whole Eddy-Flux Station d) Detailed coverage of the whole FOOTPRINT area around the EC-Station and eventually position correction.

A. Survey on the biomass and abundance of microbenthic diatoms from Kongsfjorden

B. Isolation of benthic diatoms and the establishment of unialgal cultures for ecophysiological studies

C. Primary production of microphytobenthic diatoms

The main goal of the campaign in 2007 will be the estimation of microphytobenthic primary production in situ at different stations along the Kongsfjord. Such measurements have only rarely been done in polar waters, for example, in the Young Sound (Greenland) where very high production rates based on benthic diatoms (up to 40% of total aquatic primary production) were determined.

Typical methods used to measure microphytobenthic primary production include ¹⁴C-tracer techniques, microelectrode profiling, optical methods (reflectance, fluorescence) and so-called benthic chambers. Like a cheese-cover the chamber is typically pushed into the sediment and left for several hours thereby covering a defined area of microphytobenthic organisms. After defined time intervals small water samples are taken from the chamber and chemically analysed for their oxygen concentration. From all data the oxygen production versus time can be calculated and related to the area covered or to the total biomass in the chamber. This standard approach, however, has many methodological disadvantages under in-situ conditions (e.g. sampling from the chamber under water; chemical oxygen analysis in the laboratory etc.) which are well recognized by the marine scientific community.

1. Installation of a Bonner multi-sphere spectrometer at the Koldewey Station .
2. Installation of a data link between GSF and Koldewey Station to ensure remote control of the spectrometer from GSF, and regular data transfer.
3. Continuous measurement of the energy spectrum of cosmic radiation neutrons at low geomagnetic cut-off.
4. Comparison of the measured spectra with calculations of the cosmic radiation field at the spectrometer site based on Monte Carlo simulations.
5. Comparison of the measured energy spectra with those measured by us at the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus (altitude 2,650 m) at the summit of the Zugspitze mountain, Germany, and with data from the world-wide web of neutron monitors.
6. surement of the neutron energy spectra during GLE.

1. Continuous measurement of the energy spectrum of cosmic radiation neutrons at low geomagnetic cut-off, at the Koldewey station.
2. Comparison of the measured spectra with calculations of the cosmic radiation field at the spectrometer site based on Monte Carlo simulations.
3. Comparison of the measured energy spectra with those measured by us at the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus (altitude 2,650 m) at the summit of the Zugspitze mountain, Germany, and with data from the world-wide web of neutron monitors.
4. Measurement of the neutron energy spectra during GLE´s caused by SPE´s.
5. Tests of two additional detectors that are intended to upgrade the spectrometer in the future (see below). These tests will be performed at GSF, and on the Zugspitze mountain
first, before the detectors will be installed at the Koldewey station.

The Zoo Rostock cooperates with the AWI in public outreach in the year 2007. The topic for the whole year is polar research with special emphasis on climate change an the impact on animal life. To increase public awareness, several highlights within the year are planned. The first half of the year 2007 is devoted to mainly Arctic topics, while the second half of the year is focused on the Antartic.

A Part of the Zoo Rostock − the so-called Darwin Box − is decorated with lots of exhibits on polar research. One part of the Darwin Box is a large screen on which movies and presentations can be shown.

From the point of view from the AWI, public outreach especially in the International Polar Year is very important. The proposed projects fits within the many outreach activities that are planned or proposed.

During the German spring holiday, the Darwin Box will be connected directly to the AWIPEV research base by the means of a video conference. In addition, the accompanying journalist should collect material for one of the large German TV broadcasters, NDR, for a 45minute feature about research in the arctic and the impact of climate change to the fauna. Material for both kinds of use should be collected in the field around Brøggeralvøya.

The Impact of both kinds of communication should be to give the public at the Zoo Rostock a direct link to the endangered habitat in the Arctic. Interaction with the project group on site will allow much more information transfer than just showing a movie about the polar regions.

Firstly, microbial community structure and the physico-chemical environment (salinity, irradiance, turbidity, nutrients) will be studied during regular surveys (once a week) of a transect in the Kongsfjord and adjacent Krossfjord, during early summer. Secondly, regular (2-3 times per week) radio labelling experiments will be conducted from a fixed point close to Koldewey to assess microbial productivity (PP, BP) in relation with environmental variables. Thirdly, microcosm manipulation experiments on shore will be executed to unravel the effects of salinity, turbidity and irradiance changes on microbial community activity and composition. Phyto- and bacterioplankton composition will be studied using a range of chemotaxonomic (a.o. HPLC fingerprinting) and molecular (DGGE, DNA sequencing), techniques. The recently implemented MICRO-CARD-FISH will be used to study group specific bacterial activities.

2008
Field surveys of the Kongsfjorden-Krossfjorden marine microbial communities and the physico-chemical water properties will be performed. To this extend, samples will be collected from different depths at fixed locations in the fjords: twice a week from the Kongsfjorden and once a week in the Krossfjorden. Shifts over time and space in the marine pelagic microbial communities will be assessed by application of molecular tools (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis and sequencing), pigment fingerprints and microscopy analysis. Simultaneously changes in the physico-chemical environment (salinity, irradiance, turbidity and nutrients) will be measured. The primary and bacterial productivity of microbial communities of the Kongsfjorden will be assessed by radio labeling assays conducted ashore. Additionally groups specific activity for bacteria will be determined by the application of MICR-CARD-FISH, a technique combining in situ hybridization of fluorescently labelled probed developped for specific bacterial groups and uptake of radioactively labelled amino-acids.
The minicosm manipulation experiments on shore will be executed to unravel the effects of varying physico-chemical factors on microbial community activity and composition. We will use similar techniques as described for the field survey.

For the upcoming season we plan to determine the bacterial and archaeal production of the free-living vs. the attached prokaryotic community in the coastal Arctic. Samples will be collected from different layers of the water column for quantification of selected functional genes in Archaea vs Bacteria. Microautoradiography will be combined with CARD-FISH in order to determine the single cell activity of specific archaeal and bacterial populations.

Microbial communities (phytoplankton, bacteria, archae, heterotrophic protozoa and viruses) comprise the majority of the biomass in the oceans and drive nutrient and energy cycling, thereby supporting also the polar ecosystems. The emergent awareness that the response of ecosystems to climate change depends largely on the responses of the underlying microbial community and that viruses are major players influencing biodiversity and biogeochemical processes, underlines the need to elucidate the ecological role of viruses in polar ecosystems. Despite the likely importance of viruses in polar aquatic ecosystems, the ecological role of viral mediated mortality of polar microbes and the quantitative significance of polar viruses with respect to climate and global environmental change are barely studied.

Arctic climate change may cause rising water temperatures, increased precipitation as well as melt water input that will strongly affect salinity (stratification) and turbidity in Arctic coastal systems. These factors are all likely to affect the performance and composition of microbial communities.

In the proposed project viral dynamics, its impact on the numerically dominant microbial hosts (bacteria and phytoplankton), and the effects of climate change related changes in environmental conditions on marine microbial communities from the Kongsfjord will be studied. In close collaboration with the CAMPproject by Dr. A. Buma (RUG, NL), both in situ measurements in the Kongsfjord and Krossfjord during early summer, and microcosm experiments will be performed where physico/chemical variables will be manipulated. The microbial community structure will be studied during regular surveys of a transect in the Kongsfjord and adjacent Krossfjord. Growth and mortality (viral lysis and grazing) assays will be conducted from a fixed point close to Koldewey. And microcosm manipulation experiments on shore will be executed to unravel the effects of salinity, turbidity and irradiance changes on microbial community activity and composition.

Feeding experiments will be carried out in sea-ice habitats of the Arctic. These field experiments will be used to establish a useful procedure for the determination of feeding rates under field conditions. In addition the field sampling will be used to isolate additional strains of nanoflagellates for morphological, molecular and ecological studies and to quantify nanofauna distribution in sea-ice habitats.

Marine nanoflagellates will be isolated using MPN techniques and single cell isolations using micromanipulation. The growth of co-occurring polar bacteria assemblages will be supported by cereal organic substrate and used as a food source for bacterivorous nanoflagellates. Cultures will be stored at 4°C, feeding experiments will be carried out with field samples. Tracer bacteria isolated from polar planctonic samples will be added to experimental vessels for feeding experiments and samples will be fixed after a determined feeding time using glutar aldehyde and Bouin. Field sampling will also be used to isolate and establish new strains of nanoflagellates for morphological, molecular biological and ecological studies and to analyse nanofauna distribution in marine and sea ice habitats.

The Arctic is a sensitive environment where aerosol radiative properties and aerosol-cloud interactions with respect to natural and anthropogenic aerosol sources have been investigated in the last years. Past experiments conducted over the last 40 years have mainly focused on the Arctic Haze phenomenon that occurs during late winter and spring. Optical properties of the aerosol during these events have been studied within projects such as the AGASP program or ASTAR 2000 and ASTAR 2004. The strong intrusions of polluted air masses during Arctic Haze events are important for determining the anthropogenic influence on the radiative balance including cloud formation processes.

Combining the aircraft observations with ground-based and satellite measurements extends the output of the experiment to a larger temporal and spatial scale. Thus coordinated research activities with present satellite projects ATSR-2, CALYPSO, ENVISAT/SCIAMACHY, ILAS II, MERIS, MODIS, OMI, SAGE III, SeaWiFS, and ground-based stations in the Arctic are essential.

1. Determination of the vertical structure of the chemical, physical and optical properties of Arctic aerosol particles, including solar radiative closure between observed and calculated aerosol properties (direct climate effect)
2. Investigation of cloud microphysical and optical properties in the Arctic as a function of different tropospheric aerosol load and the regional extend of aerosol and cloud structures (indirect climate effect)

Project aim:

The main focus of the project is to provide an observational over-determined data set, which is necessary to improve the assessment of the aerosol direct and indirect effects on the Arctic radiative balance. Measurements will be performed during periods of Arctic Haze.

2008
In the field season 2008 we aim at establishing the origin of englacial debris and that in moraines in the forelands of at least four glaciers around Ny-Ålesund. Two days at each glacier snout should suffice to carry out this task based on our previous experience with Arctic glaciers. Geomorphological mapping will be followed by logging natural exposures through moraines; enlarging or creating new exposures if those present are not sufficient to obtain detailed and representative data; and detailed measurements of sedimentological structures, clast shape and orientation. Together, this data will allow us to reconstruct processes leading to debris entrainment into the glacier, transport to the snout, mechanisms of deposition near the snout (moraine formation) and finally potential processes leading to an alteration of these moraines.

An accurate testing of the new MPL instrument is highly recommended on proving its PSC detection capabilities, as well as to perform operational training and prepare documentation for current Antarctic operators, before sending the MPL to Antarctic.

AWIPEV Lidar Facilities in Ny-Ålesund (Spitsbergen, Norway) offer the possibility of observations in mid-winter when there are large chances of PSC occurrence.

Data obtained during the campaign will be analyzed in real time. After the end of the observational period, PSC occurrences will carefully be evaluated in order to determine the reliability of our MPL for PSC detection and finally decide the future MPL emplacement in the Antarctic Belgrano station.

• Dates of stay (approx.): from January 10 to February 10, 2007 (1 month).

Arctic haze occurs in spring time in the European Arctic and is attributed to the advection of air from polluted areas. It was assumed, that industrial pollution mainly from eastern Europe was responsible for the Arctic haze. In 2006 unusually strong haze events were recorded in Ny-Ålesund. It was shown that biomass burning of crop fields was the main source for this particular pollution in the Arctic.

Aerosol plumes can be observed with high temporal and vertical resolution by lidar. However, with the currently available Lidar-techniques it is very difficult to determine the type of aerosol. The detection of fluorescence with a lidar overcomes this limitation, since biomass burning plumes are known to exhibit a specific fluorescence spectrum which is not observed at other types of aerosol.

For detail see: MARL Homepage

The goal for the upcoming season is to integrate a Fluorescence spectrometer in to the Koldewey Aerosol Raman Lidar (KARL). We will use a Cerny- Turner-spectrograph with an attached 32-Channel multi anode photomultiplier, which was already successfully used with the mobile ComCAL lidar system during the ACLIT campaign in Paramaribo/Suriname (5.8°N, 55.2°W)

1. Exploration and Sampling of the fossils.
2. Transport to Germany.
3. Preparation by Dr. M. Dolezych.
4. Anatomical analysis by Prof. H. Walther, Dr. W. Schneider and Dr. M. Dolezych.
5. Complex palaeontological interpretation, reconstructing Palaeocene vegetation, and using this data for paleoenviromental and palaeoclimatic interpretations.

2008
Beside mapping of the glacial trimlines, other evidence such as striations, depth of rock joints and micro-scale erosion features will be used to constrain the level of trimline altitude and nunataks.
Samples from bedrock will be taken for cosmogenic nuclide dating. For this purpose a rotary hammer drill (UNIS) will be used.

• Identify suitable biomarkers for soil organic carbon in permafrost soils
• Determine residence times of selected biomarkers in permafrost soils, fluvial and marine sediments
• Quantify carbon transfer from source (soil) to sink (marine sediment) and its timescale.

We will investigate the effects of combined enhanced temperature (2 and 6 ºC, culture temperature) and CO2 (current levels and 0.5% CO2) on growth, photosynthetic performance, biomass composition (C:N, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids) and nutrient assimilation. Additionally we will elucidate the potential of high CO2 to alleviate photoinhibition of algae exposed to excess irradiance, and the role of external carbonic anhydrase in both acclimation to low temperature and photoprotection. We will quantify the amount of carbon being released to the external medium, so closing the carbon balance.

Photosynthesis and growth. We will examine the effects of enhanced CO2 and temperature in photosynthetic efficiency by using PAM-fluorometry, a non-invasive method that gives a number of photosynthesis-related parameters. Growth rate will be calculated from the increase in biomass (fresh weight) during incubation period.
Nutritional key enzymes. We will be assaying nitrate reductase activity by the in situ method in the different species after the incubation period. Another key enzyme involved in the acclimation of cells will presumably be eCA. The activity of this enzyme will be measured by the potentiometric method at the end of the incubation period.
Biomass composition. Samples will be assayed for pigment, protein, carbohydrate and lipid content. Standard colorimetric methods will be used. Samples for total C and N (C:N ratio) will be frozen and lyophilised to be analysed once in Spain.
Organic Carbon release. The incubation medium will be filtered and both the filter and the filtrate will be analysed for particulate organic carbon (POC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), respectively, once in Spain.
Photoinhibition experiments. Photoinhibition is quickly and easily studied by using the PAM-fluorometer (Hanelt et al. 2001). A number of representative species will be incubated for three days under excess irradiance (e.g. 500 µmol m¯²s¯¹) and then analysed. Growth rate and the activity of eCA will be also estimated in these experiments.

1. Spitzberg: repetition of the measurement at Ny-Alesund to improve our knowledge of the long-term variation of the gravity and constrain the present-day ice melting.
2. Iceland: repetition of the measurements at 5 sites, which belong to a permanent GPS network, to constrain the interaction between tectonics and deglaciation.
3. Antarctica: repetition of the measurements at Terra Nova Bay (I), Mc Murdo (USA), and Dumont d'Urville (F); first measurements at Concordia (F-I), David (AUS), and Casey (AUS) to increase the number of AG measurements in Antarctica and obtain new geodetic constraints to the study of the past and present deglaciations.

1. Understand physico-chemical processes of oxidation of elemental gaseous mercury in the atmosphere during Mercury Depletion Events (MDE) in Corbel, Svalbard from 2004 to 2007 with a continuous monitoring station for gaseous mercury and its speciation,
2. Evaluate deposition and emission fluxes of mercury above the Arctic snow pack by a continuous monitoring of these fluxes in Corbel, Svalbard and in Station Nord, Greenland, from 2005 to 2007.
3. Determine the Air-Snow-Firn-Ice transfer function for mercury and its speciation with a complete balance of mercury in the different compartments in Summit, Greenland from 2006 to 2007.

2007
The campaign 2007 will be devoted to the study of the contamination of the continuum atmosphere-snow-ecosystems from marine and fresh water environments. During spring, 2007 (from mid April to mid-June) mercury and its speciation will be measured in the atmosphere, in the snow, in the micro-organisms present in the snow as well as in the melting water during snow melt. This event of melting will be studied by field systems adapted to melt water collection so as to evaluate the mercury load introduced into the ecosystems once snow melts. Furthermore, the role of micro-organisms in the snow as a possible conentration system will be studied in order to point out the entrance door for mercury into the food chain. Monitoring of mercury in air, in snow, and in the ecosystems. A complete study will be done onto marine and fresh water ecosystems so as to link atmospheric mercury deposition onto snow surfaces and mercury concentration in fishes. We will continue to collect snow and firn samples from the Kongsvegen glacier so as to study past and recent changes in mercury deposition.

2008
The program is a mix of field and laboratory experiments through a large group of teams coming from various disciplines. We plan to: (i) Understand the origin of the contamination of the ecosystems by mercury from Arctic Regions by an holistic approach, by determining exactly the role of the spring atmospheric chemistry on the deposition of mercury onto the snow pack. (ii) Determine the behaviour of mercury in the snow during the spring up to the melting, and to understand the transfer of this pollutant to the ecosystems. The purpose of this program is to supply the data of fluxes between the various compartments and to understand the processes involved in the chemistry, the microbiology and the transfer to produce a biogeochemical model of contamination of these fragile ecosystems.

1. to have a first assessment of the environmental factors that influence the most aphid population biology in Svalbard,
2. to precise on site with our French and Norwegian colleagues specialized on plant ecology in Svalbard a joint programme on plant-aphid interactions and
3. to initiate in the field the 3 years work programme.

The field work includes:

1. Composition of aphid species in Svalbard : prospecting and identification
2. Habitat characterization of aphid species and colonization rate
3. Assessment of the relative importance of endemic and introduced species : elaboration of a sampling design for a temporal survey of aphid population dynamics over the whole growing season during the next two years
4. First approach of population genetic structure of the endemic species Acyrthosiphon svalbardicum : several populations will be collected in geographically distant sites and genotyped in the lab. Between population differentiation and inbreeding coefficient will be assessed based on population structure analyses.

1. recording the dynamics of production of clonal and sexual forms of the endemic species Acyrthosiphon svalbardicum in sites located around Ny-Ålesund during the whole active part of the life-cycle (July-Mid August)
2. sampling in collaboration with Prof. Ian Hodkinson (U. Liverpool) and the support of UNIS (Dr Liz Cooper) the second species, A. calvulus around Longyearbyen to examine the dynamic and genetic structure of its populations which are localized in Adventdalen only.
3. prospecting for aphids nearby Ny-Ålesund and Longyearbyen to
1. confirm the distribution and the relationships with their host-plants and
2. to search for newly introduced aphid species.

1. ascertaining the life-cycle of A. svalbardicum (2 or 3 generations? Environmental/genetic variation of this trait?),
2. getting more insight into the spatial genetic structure at very fine scales and
3. extending studies on the distribution of arctic aphid species to southern sites of Svalbard and continental Scandinavia.
    
    The last campaign (2005) allowed increasing knowledge on the dynamic and genetic components of aphid populations in high arctic environments. First, we found an even more simplified life-cycle for Acyrthosiphon svalbardicum than the one described in earlier studies, with only two generations, one being parthenogenetic and the other, sexual. Second, our genetic data showed that populations of A. svalbardicum can be highly differentiated even at short distances as a result of limited dispersal capacities in that species.

2008
The PRACEAL programme for 2008 is focussed on a description of the spatial and seasonal variability of the population of planktonic predators and their potential preys at both small and meso scales in the Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden interconnected ecosystems. The operations will take place from April to October and will be concerned with objective 1 (population dynamics of predators and preys) and 2 (interspecific competition). This synoptic budget type approach will yield functional 2D maps which will provide information on questions under objective 3.
The sampling will take place in Kongsforden and Krossfjorden using the continuous Optical Plankton Counter (OPC) fitted on a V-Fin. Four survey periods of 15 days will range from April to October are considered. Each survey period will comprise two cruises of 3 days for a spatial coverage of both fjords according to high resolution grids. Complementary sampling will be done for CTD/ fluorescence, OPC calibration with plankton hauls and particulate chlorophyll at different depths.
The size spectrum recorded by the OPC sensor ranges from 200 ´m to 3 cm and encompasses simultaneously both predators (>1cm) and potential preys (200-800 ´m). Our study will quantify the overall biomass and specific size spectra. In the case or the predatory hyperiids, the data will completed with an analysis of the size structure kinetics derived from the net hauls. The potential preys are dominated by the copepods which represent a size gradient, which can be well discriminated by the OPC sensor.
The definition of algorithms between size and physiological processes can be used to map these processes in 2 dimensions and will yield small and mesoscale synoptic vision of the variability of both predation pressure and supply of energy as zooplankton lipid.

In 2006, the field work will allow the different teams to prepare the next 3 years of observations. In 2006 we will essentially set up the monitoring devices for the survey of the basin hydrology for at least the next 3 years. This first campaign will occur from August to the end of September, ie the winter runoff depletion.
We will prepare all the sensor stations to be ready to run from Spring 2007 :

• hydrology : 1 station (water pression sensor, Ph, T°C, electrical conductivity, turbidity), 1 automatic water sampling station and field measurements (gauging)
• climatology : setting up of the weather automatic station and of the 20 air-temperature loggers (coming from Bioclim program funded by IPEV)
• snow study : setting up of the 30 snow stakes and accurate-GPS measurement of the glacier surface at the end of summer 2006
• remote sensing from the ground : test and data downloading of the 8 automatic photo stations. NB : these stations will be set up in Spring 2006 during a field operation funded by the University of Franche-Comté (Bonus research quality program).

• March-April (downloading of the data [meteo stations, T°C] ; starting of the sensors network [cameras] ; yearly measures [hydrology, snow cover]
• July-August (establishment of the gauging curv (h/flow rate), hydrological measurements in situ, deltas investigation, geophysical investigations)
• September-October (establishment of the gauging curv [h/flow rate], yearly measurements [glacier front positionning], hydrological measurements in situ, geophysical investigations.

• March-April: downloading of the data [meteo stations, T°C] ; starting of the sensors network [cameras] ; yearly measurements [hydrology, snow cover] ; geophysical investigation GPR ; rectification of DEM by differential GPS on the whole basin ; quantification of the volume of ice dynamics by tracing the glacier with a differential GPS set on a snow scooter ; winter glaciological balance by measurement on the ice-stakes and snow coring in the 30 places of ablation/accumulation spots.
• July-August: establishment of the gauging curve (h versus flow rate relationship), hydrological measurements in situ, investigation of deltas, summer glaciological balance measurements)
• September-October (establishment of the gauging curve [h/flow rate], yearly measurements [glacier front positioning], hydrological measurements in situ. At the moment, due to the new participation of a PhD student concerning snow and ice, we cannot define the field trips schedule. Anyway, we will have, as each year, to set up and to remove the instruments which cannot stay outdoor in winter.

The second objective during the summer 2007 campaign will be to deploy altimeter and OBS in the Kolhamnlaguna bay, and to begin the long term (12 months), high-resolution (minute) and high-frequency measurement of the sedimentary parameters in this area.

2007
During the first fieldwork of the SPITZBAY program we sampled 150 bottom sediment (0-30 m depth) on the southern bank of the Kongsfjorden (from Brandalpunten to Austre Lovenbreen). An altimeter-turbidimeter has been settled at a 4m depth near the Bayelva outlet. The acquired data will be analysed by a 2nd year research Master student during the next year. Two summer campaigns are planned during 2008.The first one (June 2008) will target to complete the bottom sediment map (i.e. analysed binge samples) using imagery analyses either by ROV (IPEV) or Side-scan (UMR CNRS 6143). The second objective will be to settle a second device (altimeter-turbidimeter) on the Adventfjorden (Longyearbyen) in collaboration with UNIS. The second fieldwork (August/September 2008) will study the plume and the water mixing at the Bayelva and Goule outlet (linked to the HYDROLOVEN FLOWS program). For this part, sampling using sediment trap, CTD profiles (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) and current measurement will be achieved at the same time under neap and spring tide conditions. The frame deployed on the Bayelva outlet will be removed and the instruments will be settled on the Goule's outlet. Finally the frame settled on the Adventfjorden will be removed.

It is proposed here to investigate the role of marine biogenic aerosols on the levels of condensation nuclei (CN) and could condensation nuclei (CCN) in the Arctic region (Spitzbergs) and over a limited period of the year (1 month), when the marine productivity is at its maximum. Field and scientific expertise are widely inspired from similar on-going studies on the DMS cycle and biogenic marine organic aerosol studies at the high latitudes of the southern hemisphere (AEROTRACE and CESOA IPEV-funded programs).