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Review

Environmental and Ecosystem Changes in the Western Arctic Ocean: A Research Overview

서북극해 해양 환경 및 생태계 변화 연구의 종합적 고찰

EUN JIN YANG12*
양 은진12*
1Principal Research Scientist, Division of Ocean & Atmoshpere Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Korea
2Professor, Korea National University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
1극지연구소 해양대기연구본부 책임연구원
2국가연구소대학교 교수
*Corresponding Author
30 November 2025. pp. 303-324
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Abstract

The Arctic is experiencing the fastest rate of warming on Earth, leading to the rapid disappearance of sea ice and causing profound impacts on the global climate system, marine environments, and ecosystems. These changes are not merely environmental issues but complex challenges closely linked to climate change, fisheries, Arctic shipping route, resource development, and geopolitics, all of which directly affect global climate stability. This review synthesizes environmental and ecosystem changes in the western Arctic Ocean using multidisciplinary observations from the IBRV ARAON, including long-term field surveys, moorings, sediment traps, eDNA analyses, satellite data, and numerical modeling. The study provides the first evidence that Atlantification has expanded into the East Siberian region, identifying the intrusion of Atlantic-origin water as a key process that can accelerate sea-ice loss. Phytoplankton communities are shifting from diatom-dominated to small flagellate-dominated structures, and both under-ice blooms and subsurface chlorophyll maxima were found to contribute substantially to primary production. Under-ice ecosystems were also shown to play an important role in regulating carbon fluxes. In addition, previously unrecognized biogeochemical anomalies including low-oxygen and highly acidified water masses were identified for the first time in the study. This study demonstrate that increased Atlantic water inflow, enhanced freshwater inputs, and sea-ice decline are jointly intensifying ocean acidification in this study area. Overall, the findings indicate that the western Arctic Ocean is undergoing a rapid transitional phase in which its physical, chemical, and ecological systems are being transformed simultaneously. Future research should focus on advancing long-term Arctic monitoring systems, strengthening international collaborations, and enhancing data interoperability to establish a robust scientific foundation for prediction and management. Furthermore, intensive year-round observations utilizing Korea’s next-generation ice-breaking research vessel will provide critical support for sustainable Arctic Ocean governance and contribute to global climate-change mitigation efforts.

Keywords
Arctic warming
Western Arctic Ocean
Atlantification
Carbon cycle
Ecosystem change

현재 북극은 전 지구에서 가장 빠른 속도로 온난화가 진행되면서 해빙이 급속히 소멸하고 있으며, 이는 기후 시스템과 해양환경, 생태계 전반에 중대한 영향을 미치고 있다. 이러한 변화는 단순한 환경 문제가 아니라 기후변화, 수산자원, 북극항로, 자원개발, 국제 지정학 등과 밀접하게 연관된 복합적 이슈로서, 전 지구 기후 안정성에 직접적인 영향을 미친다. 본 종설 논문은 쇄빙연구선 아라온을 활용한 서북극해 장기 현장관측, 해양계류장비, 퇴적물 트랩, eDNA 분석, 위성자료, 모델링 등 다중자료를 기반으로 북극 온난화가 초래한 서북극해의 해양환경‧생태계 변화를 통합적으로 정리하였다. 연구를 통해 북극해의 대서양화가 서북극해 동시베리아까지 확장되었으며, 대서양수 확장이 해빙소멸을 가속화할수 있는 핵심 메커니즘임을 세계 최초로 확인하였다. 서북극해 식물플랑크톤은 규조류 중심에서 소형 편모조류 중심 구조로 전환되고 있었으며, 해빙하 대번성과 엽록소 최대층이 실제 일차 생산에 크게 기여함을 규명하였고, 해빙하 생태계가 북극해 탄소플럭스에 중요한 역할을 함을 제시하였다. 또한 조사해역에서 저산소‧고산성화 수괴 등 새로운 생지화학적 이상 현상을 세계 최초로 규명하였으며, 대서양수 유입‧담수화‧해빙 감소 변화가 복합적으로 작용하여 서북극해 산성화가 빠르게 심화되고 있음을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과는 북극해가 물리‧화학‧생태계가 동시에 변화하는 전환기에 있음을 보여주고 있다. 향후 연구는 북극해 장기 모니터링 체계의 고도화, 국제공동연구 강화, 데이터 상호운용성 확보를 통해 예측 기반을 확립하고, 2029년 건조 예정인 차세대 쇄빙연구선을 활용한 집중 탐사를 통해 지속가능한 북극해 관리와 기후변화 대응을 선도하는 과학적 기반을 마련할 것이다.

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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Oceanography
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국해양학회
  • Journal Title :The Sea Journal of the Korean Society of Oceanography
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국해양학회지 바다
  • Volume : 30
  • No :4
  • Pages :303-324
  • Received Date : 2025-10-13
  • Revised Date : 2025-11-18
  • Accepted Date : 2025-11-20
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7850/jkso.2025.30.4.303
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