Under the Arctic Sea Ice
In 2005, thirty-five scientists spent a month in the Arctic Ocean studying the little-known marine life that exists within and below the sea ice and on the seafloor. The research expedition, called the Hidden Ocean Expedition, traveled through the Arctic Ocean aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Healy. During their voyage, scientists found amazing species that had never been described. The team studied the algae and tiny animals that live within sea ice, phytoplankton, gelatinous zooplankton, polychaetes (marine bristle worms) that inhabit the seafloor, and many other organisms.
As part of their studies, specially trained scuba divers, called ice divers, collected incredible photographs and video that show what it is like to be under the Arctic sea ice. The photos below show what it is like under the Arctic sea ice.
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Ice divers Katrin Iken (left) and Elizabeth Calvert (right) get into the chilly waters of the Arctic Ocean. The icebreaker, a US Coast Guard Cutter, that got them out to this location is in the background. Do you see the ice behind the divers? |
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This diver is holding an underwater camera. The sea ice is above the divers head. Do you see the bubbles? This is the air that the divers has exhaled. |
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Sea ice moves on the ocean surface. These pieces of sea ice have pushed together, forming a pressure ridge. Below the pressure ridge, there is a somewhat protected habitat for marine life. |
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These arctic cod are living under the sea ice. Arctic cod prefer temperatures around freezing or just above freezing. Arctic cod are a very important part of the diet of Arctic marine mammals, birds and other fish. |
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Here's an amphipod, a small shrimp-like animal that lives on the underside of the sea ice. |
