Polar Science Team
Palmer LTER
The Palmer LTER studies a polar marine biome with research focused on the Antarctic pelagic marine ecosystem, including sea ice habitats, regional oceanography and terrestrial nesting sites of seabird predators. Learn More »
Growing Need for Polar Science
Polar regions play an integral role in regulating the Earth’s climate and have a major influence on biogeochemical cycles. Both the Arctic and Antarctic are particularly vulnerable to climate change. The loss of sea ice and permafrost and the collapse of glaciers as a result of climate change will impact the rich diversity of biota in these ecosystems as well as sea level rise. Our department has a very active polar research program, supported by multiple NSF grants, and involving many students from various disciplines. Rutgers scientists are engaged in both Arctic and Antarctic research using both regional and global climate models and via large collaborative efforts including the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research program, and utilize fieldwork opportunities in these regions to enrich undergraduate and graduate education.
Resources
Kim, H., Bowman, J. S., Luo, Y., Ducklow, H. W., Schofield, O. M., Steinberg, D. K., Doney, S. C. 2022. Modelling polar marine ecosystem functions guided by bacterial physiological and taxonomic traits. Biogeosciences. DOI: 10.5194/bg-19-117-2022
Bascur M, Morley SA, Meredith MP, Muñoz-Ramírez CP, Barnes DKA, Schloss IR, Sands CJ, Schofield O, Román-Gonzaléz A, Cárdenas L, Venables H, Brante A, Urzúa Á. 2021. Interpopulational differences in the nutritional condition of Aequiyoldia eightsii (Protobranchia: Nuculanidae) from the Western Antarctic Peninsula during austral summer. PeerJ 9:e12679 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12679
Schofield, O. (Chair), Barger, A., Brunt, K., Clauer, R., Das, I., Detrich, W., Gooseff, M., Halanych, K., Halpern, M., Murray, A., Rignot, E., Shevenell, A., Takai, H., Wilson, T., Wolff, E. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Mid-Term Assessment of Progress on the 2015 Strategic Vision for Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. DOI: 10.17226/26338
Oscar M. Schofield, Deborah K. Steinberg, and Scott C. Doney. 2021. WAP-1D-VAR v1.0: development and evaluation of a one-dimensional variational data assimilation model for the marine ecosystem along the West Antarctic Peninsula. Geosci. Model Dev., 14, 4939–4975. DOI: 10.5194/gmd-14-4939-2021
Meredith, M. P., Stammerjohn, S. E., Ducklow, H. W., Leng, M. J., Arrrowsmith, C., Brearley, A. J., Venabkes, H. J, Barnham, M., Melchiorr, Wessem, J., Schofield, O., Waite, N. 2021. Local- and large-scale drivers of variability in the coastal freshwater budget of the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Journal of Geophysical Research. DOI: 10.1029/2021JC017172
Saba GK, Bockus AB, Shaw CT, Seibel BA (2021) Combined effects of ocean acidification and elevated temperature on feeding, growth, and physiological processes of Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 665:1-18. DOI: 10.3354/meps13715
Brown, M. S., Bowman, J. S., Lin, Y., Cassar, N., Schofield, O. 2021. Low diversity of a key phytoplankton groups along the West Antarctic Peninsula. Limnology and Oceanography. DOI: 10.1002/lno.11765
Schultz, C., Doney, S. C., Hauck, J., Kavanaugh, M. T. Schofield, O. 2021. Modeling phytoplankton blooms and inorganic carbon responses to sea-ice variability in the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). Journal of Geophysical Research. Geosciences. DOI: 10.1002/essoar.10505538.1
Nardelli, S., Cimino, M., Conroy, J. A., Fraser, W., Steinberg, D., Schofield, O. 2021. Krill availability in Adelie and Gentoo foraging regions south of Anvers Island, Antarctica. Limnology Oceanography DOI: 10.1002/lno.11750
Gutt, J., Isla, E., Xavier, J., Adams, B., Ahn, I., Cheng, C., Colesie, C., Cummings, V., Prisco, G., Griffiths, H., Hawes, I., Hogg, I., McIntyre, T., Meiners, K., Pearce, D., Peck, L., Piepenburg, D., Reisinger, R., Saba, G., Schloss, I., Signori, C., Smith, C., Vacchi, M., Verde, C., Wall, D., (Dec 2020). Antarctic ecosystems in transition – life between stresses and opportunities. Biological Reviews, Cambridge Philosophical Society. DOI: 10.1111/brv.12679
Conroy, J.A., Steinberg, D. K., Thibodeau, P. S., Schofield, O. 2020. Zooplankton diel vertical migration during Antarctic summer. Deep Sea Research II DOI:10.1016/j.dsr.2020.103324 PDF
Hunter-Thomson, K., Kohut, J., Saba, G. 2020. Empowering Students with Polar Science Through Real World Data. Current: The Journal of Marine Education 34(1): 13-18.
McDonnell, J., Hotaling, L., Schofield, O., Kohut, J. (2020). Key concepts in polar science: Coming to consensus on the essential polar literacy principles. Currents: Journal of Marine Education. 34(1): 2-8
McDonnell, J., Schofield, O., Bean, C. 2020. Bringing long-term ecological research (LTER) at Palmer Station Antarctica to your classroom. Currents: Journal of Marine Education. 34(1): 15-17
| Public Webinar for US National Academy of Sciences | November 3, 2021 | |
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| Oscar Schofield | Mid-Term Assessment of NSF Progress on the 2015 Strategic Vision for Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research |
| Virtual Meeting on Behalf of the National Academy of Sciences | Jan 8, 2021 | |
| Oscar Schofield | Mid-Term Assessment of NSF Progress on the 2015 Strategic Vision for Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research |
| Virtual seminar at the University of Connecticut | Sept 18, 2020 | |
| Oscar Schofield | Ecological Change from Algae to Penguins in the Rapidly Changing West Antarctic Peninsula |
| 4 year review of the West Antarctic Working Group | Sept 16, 2020 | |
| Oscar Schofield | West Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Arc RWG |
| Earth and Planetary Sciences Lecture series | Sept 2, 2020 | |
| Oscar Schofield | Ecological Change from Algae to Penguins in the Rapidly Changing West Antarctic Peninsula |
| Virtual Science Symposium for the West Antarctic Peninsula as part of Southern Ocean Observing System | July 28, 2020 | |
| Oscar Schofield | Polar food web resilience in the face of a shifting climate |
| SOCCUM Annual Team meeting (virtual meeting hosted by Princeton) | June 17-19, 2020 | |
| Oscar Schofield | Optics and Primary Productivity in Southern Ocean |
| Oscar Schofield | Polar Food Web Resilience in the face of a Shifting Climage |
| PhD Dissertation Defense (virtual meeting hosted by Rutgers) | May 28, 2020 | |
| Michael Brown | Drivers of phytoplankton dynamics and corresponding impacts in biogeochemistry, along the West Antarctic Peninsula |
| LTER Annual Science Council Meeting | May 5, 2020 | |
| Oscar Schofield | Polar food web resilience in the face of a shifting climate |