Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 05:45
Forums
Ocean, Atmosphere, Sea Ice, and Snowpack Interactions

Are the chemical changes good or bad?

Wed, 06/03/2009 - 11:48

Betsy Wilkening

One of the main purposes of the OASIS Project is for the researchers to understand how chemicals are transferred between the Ocean, Atmosphere, Sea Ice and Snow.  The Arctic is a remote place yet it receives many pollutants from people in lower latitudes.  These are transferred up to the Arctic and many pollutants can concentrate up there.  In the case of POP's, Persistant Organic Pollutants, and Mercury these can also accumulate up the food chain and be harmful.
We all know that the amount of multi-year sea ice is declining and the climate is undergoing changes.  The Arctic is experiencing these changes quicker than other areas.  The OASIS scientists are taking the first step towards understanding these atmospheric pollutants that concentrate in the Arctic and how they are transferred.  Once they get a better understanding of the the physical and chemical mechanisms involved, they hope to better predict how these might behave or change in the future.