Research Topics

Atmosphere

The polar atmosphere is characterized by high stability and a the strong thermal inversion that occurs in these regions (the temperature increases with increasing altitude with respect to the ground, as opposed to what happens at mid-latitudes), both phenomena are a consequence of the almost perpetually frozen ground that is often covered with snow and ice. This also applies to the frozen surface of the sea, when covered by ice.
Another important element of the polar atmosphere is the presence of the so-called polar vortex, a swirling motion of the air masses around the pole that keeps the cold polar air masses separate from the warmer ones in mid-latitudes.
Knowledge of the thermodynamic characteristics of the polar atmosphere is fundamental studying the biogeochemical cycles of natural species and long-distance transport processes of atmospheric components from populated areas.
The research activities carried out at ISP are aimed to deepen the knowledge of the processes and the interactions between the different components of the climate system, in particular at the interfaces air-snow-soil and air-sea-sea ice.

Atmospheric composition

The polar regions represent an open laboratory to study the biogeochemical cycles of natural species, the atmospheric chemical transformations in an uncontaminated continent, as well as the transport processes from the middle and low latitudes. Several constituents characterize the atmospheric composition, among which the so-called greenhouse gases (such as water vapor, carbon dioxide and methane whose concentrations are influenced by anthropogenic activities and natural processes), and aerosols are of considerable importance. The latter have a major impact in the polar regions because they are strongly linked to the feedback processes that amplify climate change.
The atmospheric aerosol is composed of particles suspended in the atmosphere, which can be of natural origin (through the lifting by winds of particles from bare or desert surfaces, of marine spumes and of volcanic origin or linked to large fires) or anthropogenic (industrial and fuel emissions). The study of the chemical composition of Antarctic and Arctic aerosols is one of the key points in polar research. These studies are performed through the use of specific chemical tracers, such as water-soluble components, organic acids, sugars, phenolic compounds, amino acids, trace elements or rare earths. Aerosol plays an important role in climate regulation by interacting with solar radiation and modifying the microphysical properties of clouds.

Meteorology and climate

The dynamics of the polar atmosphere is dominated by the presence of the so-called polar vortex, a zonal flow whose flow lines close around the pole, separating the polar cold air masses from the warmer ones in the middle latitudes. The intensity and size of the vortex can change during the season: while it decreases in spring and summer, it expands in winter forming lobes that reach mid-latitudes causing particularly severe weather conditions, especially in the northern hemisphere.
As in other regions of the planet, in the polar areas, meteorological phenomena are linked to climate change; but in the polar regions the processes associated with climate change are amplified by feedback mechanisms as a consequence of the increase in air temperature. This accelerates melting of the sea ice, leading to increased humidity, cloudiness and precipitation, which in turn, to amplify the processes, due to their overall impact on the radiation balance and therefore on the energy of the climate system.
It is essential to monitor the physical parameters (temperature, humidity, wind and precipitation, cloud cover, radiation) and the composition (gas and aerosol) of the atmosphere to understand the interactions between the various components and improve the quality of the meteorological and climatic forecast models.

Physical processes in the boundary layer

The exchange of energy and mass between the surface and the free atmosphere takes place through the atmospheric boundary layer. The mechanism is regulated by the radiative balance, which in the polar regions is negative (surface cooling), and mainly determines conditions of strong atmospheric stability. Exchanges occur mainly through vertical motions but, given the stable conditions , the processes are very weak and it is difficult to verify the applicability of theories that are valid at medium and low latitudes. The study of such processes under these conditions is fundamental for characterizing the boundary layer and developing specific parameterizations for polar environments to improve the quality of the results of meteorological and climatic forecast models.

Remote sensing

Remote sensing offers numerous opportunities for the remote study of the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere above. Remote sensing can be active or passive and can be used on various ground, aircraft or satellite platforms. Active ground instruments (such as lidar, sodar, radar) allow us to obtain profiles of the parameters measured in the atmosphere for generating aerosol, wind and precipitation profiles. The passive instruments are so-called radiometers and photometers and provide an integrated measure of the parameters observed in the atmosphere using spectral bands, from visible to ultraviolet, to microwaves.
The same type of sensors can also be used by aircraft or by satellite to observe clouds, sea, snow, ice and the ground to obtain information on extended spatial scales of temperature, albedo, wind, and soil characteristics. ISP has considerable experience in the use of UV radiometry for ozone measurement, photometry (solar and lunar) for the definition of the atmospheric optical thickness, near infrared radiometry for the study of the spectral characteristics of snow and broad band radiometry for the measurement of the radiative balance at the surface.

Introduction

The ISP’s research activities are mainly carried out in the Antarctic and Arctic Regions where snow and ice are the dominant aspects of the landscape. These regions, more than others, are affected by climate change and because of this the work of scientists has become a real race against time to be able to learn more about the history of our planet in order to understand how human activities, from the dawn of civilization to present day, have impacted ecosystems, by interacting with and modifying the delicate balances that govern the Earth’s climate system.

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Water, is fundamental for life and unifies various compartments that form the Earth system; it is the only substance that it is found on our Planet that exists in three states are the same time: liquid, gaseous and solid, that is nothing than … frozen water! Like snow, during winter, it covers the ground of vast areas at medium and high latitudes and then melts in the warmer seasons. In the colder zones, on the poles and on the higher mountains, it remains all year around, transforming over time into firn and then into ice. The soils of high-altitude alpine regions and polar areas, called permafrost, are a mixture of soil, rock and sediment bonded together by ice. Oceans, lakes and rivers are the liquid phase of water and without them life on our Planet would not be possible. Clouds are nothing more than water vapor that carries dust, ash, metals or pollen, depositing them onto the polar regions, and in doing so, revealing changes in the circulation of air masses and the occurrence of global events such as sudden volcanic eruptions.

Polar biological communities are often mute witness to the changes taking place: the manmade impact on them can be devastating so it is becoming essential to improve our knowledge about the current state of polar ecosystems so we can make better predictions for the future. Some polar habitats are also important terrestrial laboratories for astro-biological studies in preparation for future space research missions.

The history of our Planet, and its inhabitants including people, from before the rise of mankind, is enclosed and preserved in ice and sediments.

The ice is evidence of the past because every snowflake preserves the history of what our Planet was like at with every snowfall. The temperature is recorded directly in the water molecules through the different isotopic ratios of oxygen and hydrogen that make it up. Traces of dust, ash, metals or pollen reveal changes in the circulation of air masses or the occurrence of global events such as sudden volcanic eruptions. A story preserved in tiny crystals; real pages of ancient manuscripts kept in a frozen library! Information of extraordinary importance to understand not only the past but also our today, the information found can be used to implement and validate the climatic models that are essential when simulating future scenarios.

Marine sediments retain an even more distant history that allows us to see far beyond human history, allowing us to lay the foundations for understanding the whole Earth System and how humans have impacted its natural cycles. Microscopic organisms have left their witness of the climate in the epochs in which they lived in their isotopic make up and chemical composition, helping us to understand the evolution of our Planet.

Biology and Ecosystems

Polar environments are highly biodiverse on a spatial temporal scale as well as at different levels of biological organization, from the molecular level to the entire ecosystem. Recent and rapid climatic and environmental changes give urgency to understanding the response of biological communities to these changes, and their impact in the short and long term. In this context, ISP researchers study the different bio-ecological aspects of the marine and terrestrial ecosystems of both poles. Their research is developed along four main often interconnected research fields.

Biodiversity and adaptation

Polar biological communities are heavily influenced by several local factors concomitant to low temperatures, such as dryness, ice cover, poor nutrient availability, exposure to harmful solar radiation (e.g. UV-B radiation), extremely variable light periods and, in specific cases, high salinities and osmotic stress. Biodiversity guarantees the functioning of all ecosystems, so studying the properties and temporal evolution of polar ecosystem is fundamentally important for improving our knowledge of its current state and predicting its future development, particularly in the light of climate change. The analysis and monitoring of the biodiversity of biological communities and their ecological dynamics constitutes the focal point of this research topic. The study of the morphological-functional adaptation mechanisms adopted by polar organisms for survival in extreme conditions is particularly interesting.

Response to natural and anthropogenic forcing

In recent decades, the anthropogenic impact on polar regions has significantly increased due to a local and global scale human activities. The effects of human activities can be assessed by the response of organisms, populations and communities to global changes and anthropogenic pressure (especially from chemical and noise pollution). As these can cause modifications in ecosystems and their biodiversity. Specific biometric, biochemical and immunological indicators can also be used for this purpose. The most evaluated aspects are the impacts on physiology and behaviour, the geographical distribution and composition of species within biological communities, as well as changes in intraspecies interactions.

Biotechnology

Biotechnological aspects Deeper understanding of biological processes and recent advances in biotechnology allow us to use the natural world to progress in various industries, such as in the development of drugs and food additives. In general, the term bioprospecting is used to indicate the exploration of living beings and biological materials for biomolecules that may be useful to humans. In this field, poorly known or poorly described genetic resources have a great potential for the discovery of new and valuable natural products. Therefore, polar organisms, given their unusual metabolic abilities and physiological adaptations to extreme environmental conditions, are well suited for this purpose. Furthermore, the possible future potential of polar organisms in of the bioremediation of pollutants, even persistent ones, at low temperatures should not be overlooked.

Astrobiological implications

In the search for answers related to the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the universe, extreme environments can represent terrestrial analogues for astrobiological studies. Their geological and environmental parameters do not fully replicate, but certainly mimic those found for example, on Mars and Venus, and the moons of Jupiter (e.g. Europa) and Saturn (Titan and Enceladus). In this context, to establish whether the physical/chemical conditions of a celestial body can support life as we know it on Earth, some polar habitats are the object of investigations on galactic habitability. Such environments lend themselves to testing methodologies, protocols and technologies, for establishing the physical and chemical processes or the mechanisms of survival and adaptation of microorganisms. Furthering our current understanding of the limits of life, both in the present and in the geological past.

ICE-MEMORY

Ice Memory is an international Research Project, recognized by UNESCO, which aims to preserve a testimony from current glaciers, threatened by global warming, for future generations. The project aims to collect ice cores from glaciers all over the world and to store them in a library to preserve the information that such real archives of past eras can provide. For this purpose, a site has been set up in Antarctica, where the cores will be transferred and stored to safeguard the information contained therein for future generations of scientists.

Starting in 2015 various core drilling campaigns in different parts of the planet have been performed:
  - Col du Dôme, Mt Bianco, Italy
  - Nevajo Illimani, Bolivia
  - Mt Elbrus, Georgia
  - Altai, Russia
  - Grand Combin, Switzerland

Contact person: carlo.barbante AT cnr.it
For further information visit www.ice-memory.org

Oceanography

The oceans and the polar seas are studied for their physio-chemical and biological properties, their water mass circulation patterns, their exchange of heat and energy with the atmosphere and the geological processes that are active in the different oceanic basins that contribute to the deposition of marine sediments.

Scientists at the Institute of Polar Sciences deal with several aspects of oceanography in the polar seas:

Physical and chemical oceanography

The polar oceans are one of the most important elements driving global climate. Dense and cold waters produced at high latitudes spread throughout the oceans and contribute to the global ocean Conveyor Belt. These water masses transport both heat and dissolved substances, gases and particles around the globe, significantly affecting the overall composition of the oceans and, ultimately, the Earth's climate. The chemical composition of water masses flowing in the polar seas, including their trace elements, organic compounds, stable and radiogenic isotope composition, allows us to evaluate the relationships between the different water masses (e.g. old vs. recently ventilated waters) and improve our understanding of the underlying processes. These data will then be used by climate modelers to tune and refine model parameters to improve understanding of the interactions between the water masses and improve our knowledge of the overall global climate system.

Biological oceanography

The relationships between the abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem generate a cyclical flow of matter in the epipelagic environment, which is driven by solar radiation and can be modified by natural and/or anthropogenic causes. Low temperatures and the absence of light in the meso- and bathypelagic zones are not limiting factors for life, including in the benthic habitat. The long polar night heavily affects life under the seasonal sea ice by reducing the supply of organic matter for the marine food web, which is forced to migrate during the winter months. In spring, the sea ice becomes the template habitat for a number of autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms. After melting, it releases a significant amount of essential nutrients and organic matter and promotes the fertilization of the sea. In summer, the marine trophic web participates in the transfer of organic matter towards the mainland, by partially contributing to the terrestrial food web in coastal areas.

Paleoceanography

Marine sediment cores collected in the polar regions represent a unique climate archive for studying recent global changes and past variations. The study of these archives can shed new light on the impact of different natural forcings, including sea ice extent, ocean productivity and volcanic eruptions, on the climatic evolution of our planet. One of the major topics in the climate change studies is the ability to discriminate between the natural variability of the climate system and the anthropogenic influence. Paleoceanography uses biological, physical and geochemical proxies which are measurable descriptors for key environmental variables. In particular, the analysis of trace elements, stable and radiogenic isotopes, organic compounds and biogenic silica in marine sedimentary archives and in biogenic carbonates (foraminifera, cold-water corals, barnacles) enables us to reconstruct past variations in seawater temperature, salinity, carbon cycle, sea ice extent, productivity, circulation and ventilation of the polar oceans. In addition, a better understanding of the natural climate variability through the acquisition of paleoceanographic data and the comparison with model simulations, helps us to improve the performance of predictive climate models. The Institute of Polar Sciences is actively involved in the acquisition of high resolution paleoceanographic records in the Ross Sea and in different regions of the Arctic Ocean as well as the development of new geochemical proxies for paleoclimate-related studies in the polar regions during the Quaternary.

Photo by Leonardo Langone (CNR-ISP) - Laminated sediments taken from the Bay of Edisto (Ross Sea)

Cryosphere

The increasingly evident melting of the ice sheets and glaciers with the consequent changes in sea level, together with the destruction of the ice shelves, highlight how this part of the cryosphere is an extremely fragile portion of the Earth system. Glaciers are unique climate archives that give us the opportunity to investigate the climate of the past and to assess the changes taking place with a long-term perspective. However, these changes are also evident from the melting of the permafrost, which has a dramatic impact in polar and high-altitude mid-latitudes areas. In the difficult context of climate change, the researchers of the Institute of Polar Sciences, through their interrelated research activities, deal with the study of snow and ice, their chemical composition and their main physical parameters, the evolution of the permafrost and the impact of increased melting on the atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere at both regional and global levels.

Snow cover

As well as affecting the mass balance of glaciers and polar ice caps, snow preserves the chemical composition of the atmosphere and interacts dynamically with all other environmental components of the polar regions. It represents an extremely reactive portion of the cryosphere where multiple post-depositional processes can occur. The study of snow cover in these regions is therefore essential to understanding the processes, interactions and changes that are occurring as a result of climate change and help us to assess the impacts on the global system. It is also critical for understanding the mechanisms of re-emission and release of compounds accumulated during the polar night and the significant impact that these releases may have on polar bio-geochemical cycles.

Photo by Elena Barbaro (CNR-ISP)

Paleoclimate

The ice cores, taken from both polar areas and glaciers of medium latitudes, constitute a real climate archive, allowing the study of climatic and paleoclimatic events that occurred over time, allowing us to assess the impact of natural forcings like volcanoes, fires, sea ice, ocean productivity, understanding these allows to estimate what impact human activities have had and will have on the climatic evolution of our planet. Further diagnostic elements are provided by the marine climate archives which, in analogy with the terrestrial records, allow the reconstruction of sea ice, primary productivity and the human impacts.
In this perspective, the integration of different but complementary records is fundamental to the integrated study of the climate of the past. Analysis of organic compounds, ionic species, trace elements and climatic proxies can provide useful information on the evolution over time of environmental processes, how they have changed in historical epochs and how they may have amplified/mitigated climatic alterations. The study of data related to our planet’s climate past as well as understanding the climate impact of human activities and/or exceptional natural events, can help us to define possible future scenarios through the implementation of climate models and multi-proxy approaches.

Photo by Jacopo Gabrieli (CNR-ISP)

Permafrost

The permafrost keeps large amounts of organic carbon (OC) stored and segregated inside. The rise in temperature, due to climate change, is causing melting of large portions of permafrost, making the OC content available for microbial decomposition. Metabolic processes linked to the reactivation of permafrost can therefore release significant amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and methane, which can affect climate change. The extent, the melting rate and the spatial variability of these processes are poorly known and represent one of the main unknowns about predicting climate feedbacks. But the permafrost, as well as on land, is also found under the seabed, in the continental platforms of the polar regions. The undersea permafrost, formed during the last ice age, is a very important factor for the stability/instability of coastal areas and structures based on the seabed, but above all its destabilization can lead to the release of large quantities of methane gas, which is a powerful greenhouse gas.

Photo by Rachele Lodi (CNR-ISP)

Remote-sensing

The ISP has expertise in the use of satellite remote sensing for the study of the Earth and marine surfaces, using passive and active sensors.

Remote Sensing with active sensors
Active sensors are radar that operates day and night and with and without cloud cover at microwave frequencies. They are therefore suitable for monitoring polar zones. In the Svalbard and the Arctic, images provided by the Synthetic Aperture Radar high spatial resolution sensors (a few meters) allow us to identify areas of marine ice in coastal areas, the determination of wind on the surface of the sea and the movements of arctic ice. The latter activity is carried out as part of the Arctic project MOSAiC with the SAR images of CosmoSkyMed provided by the Italian Space Agency. Wind data provided by scatterometers on the sea, for climatological studies and dynamic meteorology are also used.

Glaciers modelling of Van Pelt (Paper - data repository)

An example of ASI COSMO-SkyMed satellite SAR images in the operations area of the MOSAiC expedition obtained daily. The asterisk in red indicates the position of the Polarstern icebreaker, while the red lines show its movements in the previous days.

Remote sensing with passive sensors
Passive sensors are designed to record reflected solar radiation from the Earth’s surface in specific spectral ranges ranging from visible, near infrared, medium and thermal. By measuring the reflected radiation in these ranges, it is possible to recognize remotely the chemical and physical properties of surface materials.
In polar areas, the use of multispectral images, with different spatial and temporal resolutions, therefore, plays an important role in the recognition and monitoring of snow cover, sea and terrestrial ice extent and vegetation coverage. The satellite missions dedicated to Earth observation (Copernicus) are increasingly numerous. Through the integration of acquired data from active and passive sensors we try to monitor the delicate balances present in polar areas.

Ministero dell'Universita e Ricerca
Programma Ricerche Artico
Programma Nazionale di Ricerca in Antartide

Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale
L'Italia e l’Artico
L’Italia e l’Antartide

   CNR-ISP
   National Research Council
   Institute of Polar Sciences
   c/o Scientific Campus - Ca' Foscari University Venice - Via Torino, 155 - 30172 VENEZIA MESTRE (VE)
   Phone: +39 041 2348547 - E-mail: protocollo.isp AT pec.cnr.it
   Fax: +39 041 2348 549 - Codice Fiscale: 80054330586 - P.I.:02118311006

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