(image: Pixabay)
SEOUL, July 20 (Korea Bizwire) — An increase in river water flowing into the Arctic Ocean can lead to alterations in the distribution of marine organisms and resources in the region, a local polar research institute said Wednesday.
A joint research team from the Korea Polar Research Institute, Pukyong National University and the Pohang University of Science and Technology measured the volume of river water flowing into the Chukchi Sea and the East Siberian Sea since 2016 and examined the impact on the local marine cycle and ecosystem.
The results indicated that the habitat of Arctic phytoplankton, which previously existed in the Barents Sea northeast of Greenland, will shift towards the East Siberia-Chukchi Sea due to the significant inflow of river water.
As climate change continues to cause ice melting in the Arctic region, an unprecedented amount of freshwater is entering the Arctic Sea.
The change in Arctic phytoplankton habitat implies a shift in fishing grounds, which are also expected to move from northeast Greenland towards Russia and northern Canada.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
