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Study led by the University of Edinburgh indicates that the accelerated loss of sea ice has reduced nitrate in the Arctic Ocean since 2009, posing a risk to plankton, food chain, carbon absorption, and regions linked to the North Atlantic.
Reduction of nitrate in the Arctic threatens the base of the marine food chain and may decrease the Arctic Ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon, indicates a study published in Communications Earth & Environment, with data spanning over 20 years.
Loss of ice changes the functioning of the Arctic
The research, led by the University of Edinburgh, analyzed ocean samples collected in the Fram Strait, a passage where Arctic waters flow to the Atlantic. The data show a turning point around 2009.
From this period, nitrate levels began to steadily decline in the waters leaving the Arctic Ocean. This moment coincides with the acceleration of sea ice loss in the region.
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With less ice, previously protected shallow areas began to receive more sunlight. This exposure intensified benthic denitrification, a natural process where nitrate is converted into nitrogen gas at the sea bottom.
Less nutrient may reduce marine life
Nitrate is essential for the growth of plankton, the base of the region’s marine ecosystem. When this nutrient decreases, the amount of life the Arctic can sustain may be reduced, affecting fish, birds, and marine mammals.
Scientists warn that nitrate-poor waters may favor smaller plankton. These organisms tend to support less productive food chains, with less energy available for larger animals.
Impact may reach the North Atlantic
The change is also concerning due to the climatic role of plankton. Through photosynthesis, it helps remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and its reduced growth may weaken the ocean’s carbon storage.
The study involved the Norwegian Polar Institute, the Scottish Association for Marine Science, the Technical University of Denmark, and the Alfred-Wegener-Institut. The authors advocate for monitoring, including possible effects on the North Atlantic and commercial fishing.
Study conducted by the University of Edinburgh.
