Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks recently published an article using data gathered with a submerged observatory in the Chukchi Sea. The Chukchi Ecosystem Observatory is in its fifth year of observation, and it is located near a known walrus feeding area. The site allows expansion of research to include ice-covered portions of the year, improving the amount of data gathered and the ability to understand the ecosystem.

The research, which included enlisting Fairbanks artist Klara Maisch to illustrate the seasonal variability of the Chukchi Sea, was published in the journal Ocean Science. Read and download the open-access article online: “From sea ice to seals: a moored marine ecosystem observatory in the Arctic.” View the artwork here.

Watch a video about the Chukchi Ecosystem Observatory below.