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Glacier Ice Sheet-Ocean Interactions in Greenland
Warming Greenland's Coastal Environment
In Greenland, which is located in the Arctic region, the mass of the glacier ice sheet has been rapidly decreasing in recent years. We are conducting research using field surveys and satellite data, with the focus on the environmental changes along the coast of Greenland, where the glacier ice sheets meet the ocean.
Research
Greenland is approximately six times the size of Japan, and 80% of its area is covered by glacial ice sheets. The ice in Greenland is rapidly diminishing due to the effects of global warming. In particular, glaciers flowing from the ice sheets into the ocean are undergoing remarkable changes, suggesting the influence of the warming ocean. In addition, the inflow of meltwater into the ocean is expected to raise sea levels and cause changes in ocean circulation and ecosystems, although the details are still unclear. Against this background, we are working to understand the interaction between glacier ice sheets and the ocean, and the resulting changes in the coastal environment of Greenland. We are conducting field observations and satellite data analysis with special focus on the Kanak region in the northwestern part of the country. Ultimately, we aim to clarify the impact of environmental changes on fisheries and traffic, and to provide feedback to local residents.
Shin Sugiyama Professor -
Glowing Plankton
GFP and luciferase in copepods
Marine organisms include various bioluminescent creatures. We have identified a green fluorescent protein (GFP) and a secreted luciferase (luminescent enzyme) from copepods, the most dominant plankton species.
Research
Zooplankton serves as energy transmitters in marine ecosystems, passing basic production to higher organisms. The dominant zooplankton species in the Arctic Ocean are copepods, most of which have a lifespan of one year or less, but their samples can be preserved semi-permanently with formalin fixation, making them an ideal taxonomic group for assessing the interannual variability in biological production in the region. Some species of copepods are also bioluminescent. It is thought that they emit light when they are about to be predated upon in dark waters, and use it to distract predators. We have identified a fluorescent protein (GFP) and a luciferase (luminescent enzyme) from copepods.
Atsushi Yamaguchi Associate Professor
