The Chukchi Sea off Alaska (IMAGE)

University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

The Chukchi Sea off Alaska

Caption

Arctic researchers Jacqueline Grebmeier and Lee Cooper from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science have been visiting the Bering and Chukchi seas off Alaska for nearly 30 years, collecting information about the biological diversity of the watery world under the sea ice to understand how marine ecosystems are responding to environmental changes. This year, a late-season research cruise in October revealed a surprise. At a time of year when an ice-breaking ship is usually required to get them to some of the data-gathering outposts, scientists found nothing but open water and an unusually active ecosystem.

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University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science/Lee Cooper

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