The peer-reviewed, open-access journal Advances in Polar Science (APS) has released its latest issue—Volume 36, Issue 1—published in March 2025. This edition features eight research articles covering a range of topics relevant to polar science. Below, you will find the titles and key highlights from each paper. For full access to the articles and additional information, visit the APS website.
(1) A new paradigm of internal wave in the Arctic Ocean
In the Arctic Ocean, turbulent mixing drives vertical heat flux, thereby affecting the sea ice variability. Internal wave is regarded as one of the important energy sources of mixing in this region. The high latitude and sea ice cover make internal wave in the Arctic Ocean apparently differs from those in the mid-latitude oceans. However, the internal wave and its underlying mechanism are less understood due to the lack of observations. This paper briefly reviews the recent studies and unresolved questions on the internal wave in the Arctic Ocean, including wind-driven near-inertial wave, internal tide, and high-frequency internal wave. The aim is to provide new insights for in-depth research in future, with a focus on the mechanism responsible for the evolution of internal wave under the rapidly changing Arctic climate.
Citation: Li Q. A new paradigm of internal wave in the Arctic Ocean. Adv Polar Sci, 2025, 36(1): 1-4, doi: 10.12429/j.advps. 2024.0027
(2) Climate-relevant gases and their impact on the climate and environment of polar oceans
CO2, CH4, N2O and DMS (Dimethylsulfide) are all gases with significant climate effects, and IPCC reports have consistently tracked and reported on these climate related gases. Due to the amplification and feedback effects of polar regions on climate change, the circulation and source sink patterns of the above-mentioned gases in polar oceans are particularly noteworthy. However, the polar source sink patterns and regulatory mechanisms of the above-mentioned gases are still not very clear, and the correlation, coupling processes, and net climate effects between various gases are still rarely reported. This article summarizes the research progress of climate related gases in polar oceans and proposes the shortcomings of existing research and suggestions for further research work.
Citation: Zhan L Y, Ye W W, Yan J P, et al. Climate-relevant gases and their impact on the climate and environment of polar oceans. Adv Polar Sci, 2025, 36(1): 5-17, doi: 10.12429/j.advps.2024.0038
(3) Adaptations, cultivation and commercial prospects of polar microalgae
Polar microalgae are microscopic organisms adapted to survive in cold and extreme habitats such as sea-ice, glaciers, lakes and snow. These microorganisms provide an essential basis as primary food sources in polar ecosystems. Despite their ecological importance, polar microalgae remain relatively unexplored compared to their tropical and temperate counterparts, largely due to the practical challenges of obtaining and maintaining material from the harsh polar environments. However, interest has recently surged due to their specific adaptations and potential for utilization in various fields. This review explores the survival strategies of polar microalgae and their commercial applications in healthcare and other fields. We also consider the processes involved in processing polar microalgae, from cultivation to extraction of bioactive compounds. Our findings highlight a growing need for research in this rapidly evolving field to unlock the potential of polar microalgae in multiple fields.
Citation: Chia K F, Wong C Y, Koh R Y, et al. Adaptations, cultivation and commercial prospects of polar microalgae. Adv Polar Sci, 2025, 36(1): 18-40, doi: 10.12429/j.advps.2024.0033
(4) Modulation of dominant thermodynamic processes and relay dynamic processes in Arctic sea ice rapid melting
Thermodynamic processes dominate seasonal Arctic sea ice budget variations, particularly in marginal ice zones, while dynamic processes contribute less than half of thermodynamic effects and show strongest winter influence linked to ice drift circulation. The two processes exhibit opposite seasonal patterns, with dynamic processes demonstrating peak negative correlation with thermodynamics at 21-day lead. Notably, enhanced dynamic responses peaking at 76-day lag following strong thermodynamic forcing reveal a seasonal coupling mechanism that amplifies ice changes. Over the past three decades, thermodynamic processes have intensified during summer-autumn seasons, whereas dynamic processes show weakening in summer but strengthening in early autumn.
Citation: Ding R C, Huang F, Shi J, et al. Modulation of dominant thermodynamic processes and relay dynamic processes in Arctic sea ice rapid melting. Adv Polar Sci, 2025, 36(1): 41-50, doi: 10.12429/j.advps.2024.0035
(5) Conception and first results of the Russian National System of Background Permafrost Monitoring
In 2022, the Russian Federation commenced development of a national system for permafrost monitoring. The conceptual design of this system reflects three objectives: (1) to collect data on the impact of climate change on permafrost, (2) to provide data for evaluation of climate–permafrost feedback, and (3) to provide input to a model-based permafrost data assimilation system. It is intended that the system will eventually consist of 30 active layer monitoring sites and 140 boreholes situated near existing weather stations. As of October 2024, the network comprised 38 sites spanning from the High Arctic islands to the Altai Mountains and across western and eastern Siberia. Among these sites, the lowest recorded temperature at the depth of zero annual amplitude is −11.3℃ and the minimum active layer thickness is 0.3 m, as observed on the New Siberian Archipelago. In most boreholes, a positive vertical temperature gradient exists below the depth of zero annual amplitude, indicative of ongoing warming of the upper permafrost layer attributable to climate change. The annual maximum active layer thickness is observed in September with only two exceptions: at the High Arctic sites on Franz Josef Land and Wiese Island and in the low-latitude Sayan Mountain region, where maximum thawing is observed at the end of August. Talik was found in boreholes in Salekhard and Altai where the upper boundary of the permafrost is located at depth of 6–10 m.
Citation: Demidov N E, Anisimov O A, Anisimov M A, et al. Conception and first results of the Russian National System of Background Permafrost Monitoring. Adv Polar Sci, 2025, 36(1): 51-60, doi: 10.12429/j.advps.2024.0036
(6) Transformer-based skeleton extraction from all-sky images for estimating the number of auroral arcs
This study introduces a novel Transformer-based approach for auroral arc skeleton extraction, a critical task for analyzing complex auroral morphology in space physics. By leveraging ridge-guided annotation on all-sky images, the proposed method extracts key morphological features and estimates the number of auroral arcs more accurately than traditional methods. The model’s ability to capture both global structures and local details, aided by a Regional Fusion Module, enhances the precision of skeleton extraction and arc estimation. The method facilitates large-scale auroral data analysis, offering new avenues for understanding auroral activities and their impact on Earth’s magnetosphere. Despite its effectiveness, the model’s limitations in handling auroral structures with large folds suggest promising directions for future research. Overall, this work contributes significantly to space physics by improving the reliability and efficiency of auroral arc estimation, thereby advancing space weather prediction capabilities.
Citation: Wang Q, Zhang W, Miao M. Transformer-based skeleton extraction from all-sky images for estimating the number of auroral arcs. Adv Polar Sci, 2025, 36(1): 61-73, doi: 10.12429/j.advps.2024.0029
(7) Technologies and applications of polar air–ice–sea synergistic cooperative monitoring
The Arctic and Antarctic regions are sensitive to global climate change. Monitoring climatological and ecological changes in such areas has become urgently necessary to address climate change and ensure sustainable human development. Therefore, it is important to develop automatic monitoring technology for polar regions and to produce air–ice–sea long-period, multiscale, and unmanned monitoring equipment. This paper describes an unmanned ice station observation system, the autonomous observation platform of a polar unmanned aerial vehicle, dual-use ice–sea buoys, temperature chain buoys, and a wind–solar–hydrogen storage clean energy system suitable for use in the extreme polar environment. In addition, this article also conducted a certain degree of analysis on the meteorological data, sea ice data, and ocean current data collected by the polar collaborative observation network.
Citation: Dou Y K, Zhao J L, Liu G X. Technologies and applications of polar air–ice–sea synergistic cooperative monitoring. Adv Polar Sci, 2025, 36(1): 74-83, doi: 10.12429/j.advps.2024.0016
(8) XIV International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences: an opportunity to share and increase our knowledge of polar geoscience research
The SCAR XIV International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences (ISAES), which has been held every four years, will be held in Punta Arenas, Chile from 18 to 25 August 2025. ISAES aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of Antarctic Earth Sciences. The XIV ISAES calls for researchers from around the globe to share their latest research and insights on the Antarctic region’s geology, climate, and ecosystems.
Citation: Carrasco J F, Casassa G, Gimenez I, et al. XIV International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences: an opportunity to share and increase our knowledge of polar geoscience research. Adv Polar Sci, 2025, 36(1): 84-86, doi: 10.12429/j.advps. 2025.0002
Source: Editorial Office of Advances in Polar Science
Related news:
Advances in Polar Science calls for papers
Advances in Polar Science: December 2024 Issue Released!
Advances in Polar Science: New Editor in Chief addresses the vision & commitments!
The tags below provide an opportunity to view previously posted related news within the selected category