The Natural Environment Research Council is set to invest £10 million in a major UK research programme will investigate the impact of diminishing sea ice on the fragile marine environment of the Arctic Ocean.

The Arctic is the fastest-changing environment on the planet, supporting complex yet still poorly-understood ecosystems. Rising global temperatures have caused drastic thinning and decline in the extent of the Arctic summer sea ice. Some climate models predict an ice-free summer in the Arctic Ocean within a few decades.

Launching the programme, NERC said while it is not yet known exactly how this will affect the creatures, plants and habitats of the Arctic Ocean, it is clear that changing these diverse marine ecosystems could have far-reaching implications for the UK environment and economy. This could include influencing UK climate, migratory species and having a knock-on impact on industries such as fisheries and tourism.

Scientists will start work on research projects to shed light on how life in the Arctic Ocean is coping with dramatic changes - including ocean acidification and pollution as well as sea ice loss - by looking at key species in the food webs such as small creatures which are essential for the diet of whales and commercially-important fish, studying the ocean floor, and measuring the health and resilience of the environment. Understanding how marine life is responding today will help scientists predict future changes.

NERC Chief Executive Professor Duncan Wingham said:

"This £10m investment demonstrates NERC's commitment to high-quality research in the Arctic region, building understanding of how this complex marine environment is changing in response to global climate change. Profound and fast-paced change in marine ecosystems in the Northern Hemisphere has implications for the UK and internationally. Today's research into the impacts of stressors on Arctic marine ecosystems, including diminishing sea ice, ocean acidification and pollutants, will help scientists understand and predict future environmental change. It is vital to understand our changing Arctic Ocean, both to help manage environmental change globally and to inform appropriate decision-making around the use of our natural resources."

Funded under NERC's Changing Arctic Ocean: Implications for marine biology & biogeochemistry research programme, 16 UK research institutions will take part in four research projects starting in February which will run for four years. The four projects have been awarded a share of £10 million. The Changing Arctic Ocean programme has £16 million funding in total.

Projects will conduct fieldwork using NERC research vessels and equipment from the NERC National Marine Equipment Pool, including the use of autonomous underwater vehicles, as well as charter vessels provided by international partner institutions.