After a year of dedicated effort, the National Academy of Marine Research (NAMR), in collaboration with the Department of Oceanography at National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) successfully passed the review by Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute. In August this year (2024), NAMR represented Taiwan aboard the internationally renowned "RV Polarstern" icebreaker, embarking on a two-month marine science expedition to the Arctic Ocean north of 80°N. Through hands-on participation in oceanographic surveys, the team obtained invaluable hydrographic data from the Arctic Ocean, marking a pioneering achievement for Taiwan's marine research institutions.
NAMR President Jiahn-Horng Chen emphasized a significant milestone in Taiwan's polar research history: on June 25, 2022. NAMR, in collaboration with Central University and Nicolaus Copernicus University of Poland, established the Taiwan Polar Research Workstation in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Marked with a national flag and plaque, this station became Taiwan's first research outpost in the Arctic. Building on this achievement, the current opportunity for international collaboration in the Arctic Ocean further highlights the growing global recognition of Taiwan's contributions to polar marine science and marks a new chapter in the nation's ocean research journey.
Ke-hsien Fu , Research Associate at NAMR, participated in the Arctic science expedition ARCWATCH2 aboard the RV Polarstern. He shared that the mission was a multinational collaborative effort involving 12 countries and 53 researchers. The primary objective was to continue long-term scientific investigations of the Arctic Ocean. Global climate change has significantly impacted the Arctic Ocean, with the extent of sea ice coverage continuing to shrink. For example, satellite observations in early September this year revealed that the Arctic Ocean's summer sea ice coverage reached its ninth-lowest extent in the past 45 years, maintaining a negative annual trend of reduction in summer sea ice.
Fu noted that the RV Polarstern expedition departed from Norway and ventured more than 12,000 kilometers north into the Arctic Ocean. Along the journey, the team conducted a series of marine and sea ice investigations, including monitoring changes in seawater temperature and ocean currents, collecting chemical samples, studying marine fishery resources, and examining the interactions between sea ice and the ocean. The primary aim was to better understand the dynamics and environmental changes in the Arctic Ocean under the influence of global climate change. Taiwanese scientists aboard the RV Polarstern focused on observing and analyzing vertical profiles of temperature and salinity, as well as ocean currents, along the ship's route. The subsequent research and analyses will provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of global climate change, enhance predictive capabilities, and offer foundational data for Taiwan's academic and research community in Arctic studies. These findings will also serve as critical references for developing marine policies and advancing international ocean affairs.
The expedition was also marked by several memorable moments. Early in the journey, a crew member fell ill and required an emergency return to seek medical support, disrupting the planned route and survey schedule. Despite this setback, the research team successfully completed all planned tasks. During the voyage, the team encountered a wild polar bear hunting on the ice. They also worked on sea ice in extremely heavy cold-weather gear, conducting research activities at the North Pole (90°N), including hydrographic profile surveys. The expedition included taking helicopters from the research vessel to nearby ice sheets for additional hydrographic measurements. On the return journey, the team experienced a strong geomagnetic storm, offering the rare opportunity to witness the northern lights.
Assistant Professor Ying-chih Fang from the Department of Oceanography at National Sun Yat-sen University highlighted that Taiwan's participation in this multinational Arctic Ocean research collaboration demonstrates its proactive engagement with global issues and the changing polar marine environment. This endeavor not only underscores Taiwan's commitment to addressing global challenges but also lays the groundwork for fostering further international collaborations, marking a significant step forward in connecting Taiwan with Arctic Ocean scientific research.