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Special Feature: ASPIRE: The Amundsen Sea Polynya International Research Expedition
Understanding the climate-sensitive processes supporting the Antarctic's most productive marine ecosystem
The Amundsen Sea is a place on Earth about as far as you can get from human civilization. Satellites reveal it to be the most productive region of coastal Antarctica. Nearby glaciers and ice sheets are melting rapidly. Between November 2010 and January 2011, the U.S. Research Icebreaker Nathaniel B. Palmer was joined by the Swedish Icebreaker Oden for the Amundsen Sea Polynya International Research Expedition (ASPIRE). Scientists on the NBP focused on understanding the climate-sensitive dynamics of the open water region, known as a “polynya,” while the Oden investigated the disappearing sea-ice ecosystem nearby. Here we report our findings from this extraordinary place.

PL Yager; RM Sherrell; SE Stammerjohn; HW Ducklow; OME Schofield; ED Ingall; SE Wilson; KE Lowry; CM Williams; L Riemann; S Bertilsson; A-C Alderkamp; J Dinasquet; R Logares; I Richert; RE Sipler; AJ Melara; L Mu; RG Newstead; AF Post; R Swalethorp; GL van Dijken
C.M. Williams; A.M. Dupont; J. Loevenich; A.F. Post; J. Dinasquet; P.L. Yager
R.M. Sherrell; M.E. Lagerström; K.O. Forsch; S.E. Stammerjohn; P.L. Yager
In situ phytoplankton distributions in the Amundsen Sea Polynya measured by autonomous gliders
Open Access
Oscar Schofield; Travis Miles; Anne-Carlijn Alderkamp; SangHoon Lee; Christina Haskins; Emily Rogalsky; Rachel Sipler; Robert M. Sherrell; Patricia L. Yager
Freshwater distributions and water mass structure in the Amundsen Sea Polynya region, Antarctica
Open Access
E. Randall-Goodwin; M. P. Meredith; A. Jenkins; P. L. Yager; R. M. Sherrell; E. P. Abrahamsen; R. Guerrero; X. Yuan; R. A. Mortlock; K. Gavahan; A.-C. Alderkamp; H. Ducklow; R. Robertson; S. E. Stammerjohn
Rachel E. Sipler; Tara L. Connelly
S. E. Stammerjohn; T. Maksym; R. A. Massom; K. E. Lowry; K. R. Arrigo; X. Yuan; M. Raphael; E. Randall-Goodwin; R. M. Sherrell; P. L. Yager
Particle flux on the continental shelf in the Amundsen Sea Polynya and Western Antarctic Peninsula
Open Access
Hugh W. Ducklow; Stephanie E. Wilson; Anton F. Post; Sharon E. Stammerjohn; Matthew Erickson; SangHoon Lee; Kate E. Lowry; Robert M. Sherrell; Patricia L. Yager
The influence of light and water mass on bacterial population dynamics in the Amundsen Sea Polynya
Open Access
Inga Richert; Julie Dinasquet; Ramiro Logares; Lasse Riemann; Patricia L. Yager; Annelie Wendeberg; Stefan Bertilsson
Anne-Carlijn Alderkamp; Gert L. van Dijken; Kate E. Lowry; Tara L. Connelly; Maria Lagerström; Robert M. Sherrell; Christina Haskins; Emily Rogalsky; Oscar Schofield; Sharon E. Stammerjohn; Patricia L. Yager; Kevin R. Arrigo
Meso- and macro-zooplankton community structure of the Amundsen Sea Polynya, Antarctica (Summer 2010–2011)
Open Access
Stephanie E. Wilson; Rasmus Swalethorp; Sanne Kjellerup; Megan A. Wolverton; Hugh W. Ducklow; Patricia L. Yager
Spatial variability of surface p CO 2 and air-sea CO 2 flux in the Amundsen Sea Polynya, Antarctica
Open Access
L. Mu; S. E. Stammerjohn; K. E. Lowry; P. L. Yager
Lollie Garay; Anna Marie Wotkyns; Kate E. Lowry; Janet Warburton; Anne-Carlijn Alderkamp; Patricia L. Yager
Kevin R. Arrigo; Zachary W. Brown; Matthew M. Mills