Raw and post-processed precipitations were collected using a Thies Clima laser precipitation gauge. The instrument was mounted on the railing of the deck atop the bridge of the CCGS Amundsen. It should be noted that there was no good location to install the instrument, and wind eddies may have influenced the data.

Microplastics pollution has been found across the globe, but with limited information from the polar regions. Although there is evidence of microplastics in the Arctic and Antarctic, little is understood about the sources, fate and extent of contamination. We collected samples and will quantify the amount and identify the types of microplastics in snow (as a surrogate for air), water, sediments and zooplankton sampled from the CCGS Amundsen in and around the Hudson Bay and/or the central and eastern Canadian Archipelago. In addition, we will answer questions about sources and fate using two types of information. First, we will collaborate with an Indigenous community to quantify and type plastic along their shoreline. Second, we will examine patterns of microplastics contamination and compare them with land-use patterns and water and air circulation. Based on previous studies, and our preliminary findings, we believe that microplastics will be present in Arctic samples, but a detailed study will help us better understand how ubiquitous microplastics are, from where they are derived, and how they are preserved or degraded. Microplastics in the Arctic raise concerns about impacts to wildlife and local communities that rely on food from the sea. Results from this study will inform future experiments that answer questions related to such impacts.

Genelal description: Ice cores, samples of nilas and snow samples, under-ice water and a sample of frost flowers were taken in the Amundsen Gulf (Canadian Arctic) onboard the CCGS Amundsen. Methology: We used corer to collect ice cores and frost flowers and we used ice cage to collect nilas. We collected descriptive variables for the snow and frost flowers, ice cores and nilas, and for under ice water. For all samples, we measured pH, salinity and conductivity. Back in our university-based laboratories, we studied elemental composition of samples and we carried out scanning electron microscopy.

Microplastics pollution has been found across the globe, but with limited information from the polar regions. Although there is evidence of microplastics in the Arctic and Antarctic, little is understood about the sources, fate and extent of contamination. We collected samples and will quantify the amount and identify the types of microplastics in snow, ice, water, sediments and zooplankton sampled from the CCGS Amundsen in and around the Hudson Bay and/or the central and eastern Canadian Archipelago. In addition, we will answer questions about sources and fate using two types of information. We will examine patterns of microplastics contamination and compare them with land-use patterns and water and air circulation. Based on previous studies, and our preliminary findings, we believe that microplastics will be present in Arctic samples, but a detailed study will help us better understand how ubiquitous microplastics are, from where they are derived, and how they are preserved or degraded. Microplastics in the Arctic raise concerns about impacts to wildlife and local communities that rely on food from the sea. Results from this study will inform future experiments that answer questions related to such impacts.