Introduction to the Eastern Arctic Marine Environmental Studies Program

Abstract

The primary objective of the EAMES program was to collect, collate and interpret environmental data in order to prepare Environmental Impact Statements to be submitted to the Federal Environmental Assessment and Review Process. A secondary objective was to provide data to be used in the development of oil spill contingency plans. Within this context, two basic approaches emerge regarding the acquisition of environmental data: (1) survey techniques and (2) process-oriented studies. ... Most of the studies carried out were either comprehensive ship-borne operations or aerial surveys. Work was also undertaken from shore-based camps. Extensive use was made of remote sensing, by radar and satellites. ... The physical studies ... [comprised] three principal disciplines: oceanography, meteorology and geomorphology. ... The biological studies were primarily large-scale surveys, although there were several smaller-scale studies of specific features such as ice edges. The larger-scale studies were designed to document the distribution and abundance of organisms in all trophic levels .... Given the fact that the original reports were far too voluminous for distribution ... the decision was made to ask each of the scientists who contributed to the EAMES program to write up the essence of his or her study(s) as a scientific manuscript and subject it to the peer review system. The papers favourably evaluated would be published together in a single number of Arctic. ... This edition of Arctic contains that series of papers. ... The content of this issue is a reflection of the integrated, multi-disciplinary approach of the EAMES program and will permit the reader to see the ecosystem of the Baffin Bay/Lancaster Sound area as a whole, as well as the sum of its component parts. ...