Tara Polaris I 2026-2027

The Central Arctic Ocean is an isolated and extreme environment that we know little about, and most satellite observations do not extend beyond 80° North. It is not known how organisms living in the heart of this environment cope with the extreme seasonality of light, temperature, sea ice and ocean dynamics, or how they survive during the long polar night, which lasts for almost half the year.

In recent decades, this unique ecosystem has been increasingly threatened by global warming and human-induced pollution. The rapid pace of change and the fact that what happens in the Arctic has an impact on the entire planet make the Arctic our sentinel. But we absolutely need observations to better understand these phenomena, complete the annual cycle in its entirety, and track variability from year to year. Tara Polar Station will bear witness to the history of the Arctic over the coming decades.

The Arctic Ocean is a remote and extreme environment that we know little about. We do not know how the organisms living there cope with the extreme seasonality of light, temperature and sea ice, or how they survive during the long polar night, which lasts for almost half the year. In recent decades, this unique ecosystem has been increasingly threatened by global warming and human-induced pollution. The rapid pace of change and the fact that what happens in the Arctic affects the entire planet make it a true sentinel.

Better understanding the impact of climate change in the Arctic and on the rest of the planet

Improve knowledge of biodiversity on Earth by exploring regions that are currently inaccessible

Reveal the unique adaptations that have evolved to enable life in this extreme environment

Analyse the consequences of sea ice melt and pollution on these unique and fragile ecosystems

Observe Arctic fish stocks and the impact of the arrival of more temperate species

Discover new molecules/species/processes with new potential applications