This month’s Tide Bite takes us very far afield, to some near-polar research in northern Japan! The UW linkages within this essay are clear, with the two authors connected to the School of Oceanography. The FHL link stems from a wonderful set of funds established by, and in honor of, long-time “labbie” Dr. Trish Morse. An ancestor of Trish and then Trish herself have deep ties to marine scientists in Japan, and there are two funds whose purpose is to encourage scholarly exchanges between the two countries. Jackson and Gio got to go to Japan for the research adventure described below, and this summer we hope to enable two students from Japan to come to FHL for courses and workshops. Dr. Billie Swalla, who has also collaborated with numerous Japanese researchers, is now working to strengthen these connections; we hope to keep them going for years.
Freshwater Frost Flowers: A Winter Expedition to Japan’s Icy Lakes
by Jackson Page-Roth and Georges Kanaan
Main essay written in the voice of:
Jackson Page-Roth is an incoming Microbiology PhD Candidate at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. He graduated from the University of Washington School of Oceanography in 2024 and participated in the 2022 Spring Marine Studies Program at FHL. During his PhD he will work on subglacial aquatic microbiology in Antarctica.
With a takeaway near the end by:
Georges Kanaan is a PhD candidate in Dr. Jody W. Deming’s lab within the University of Washington School of Oceanography & Astrobiology program. His research is focused on understanding the genetic and epigenetic strategies used by bacteria to adapt to freezing temperatures and hypersaline conditions, mainly in Arctic sea-ice brine.
Introduction
What if I told you that on the coldest days of winter, rare flowers begin to bloom atop freezing lakes and oceans? Although these formations aren’t produced by plants, frost flowers do just that (Figure 1). When specific weather conditions are met, ice crystals form beautiful flower-like structures that lie on thin layers of newly formed ice. This phenomenon has been observed by polar scientists for decades, offering a window into the interactions between the atmosphere and hydrosphere, as well as the microorganisms living within them (Style and Worster, 2009).
My advisor, Dr. Jody W. Deming, is one of those scientists. Along with fellow researchers, she conducted multiple experiments in the High Arctic to observe the unique properties of frost flowers. They found that frost flowers can pull underlying sea-ice brine into their structures, bringing with it marine microorganisms and dissolved compounds (Barber et al. 2014). However, it has yet to be determined whether freshwater frost flowers operate via a similar mechanism.
Lake Akan, located at the northern tip of Hokkaido, Japan, is no ordinary body of water. Unlike the cold, saline waters of the Arctic Ocean, Lake Akan is fresh and volcanically heated. That heat is likely what allows frost flowers to form on Lake Akan. The large temperature gradient between the chilly air and the warm water results in a high level of humidity at the ice-air boundary, enabling frost flower formation. The weather requirements for frost flower formation at the lake are uncommon, requiring temperatures below -15°C with low or no wind, as well as greater than 83% relative humidity (Orita and Ohno, 2023). These conditions were especially rare given the warm winter Lake Akan experienced this year.
Supported by the E.S. Morse Scholar Exchange Program, Georges (Gio) Kanaan and I visited Lake Akan this winter to investigate its unique microbiology (Figure 2). Our research aimed to answer the following questions: Do the frost flowers of Lake Akan, like their marine counterparts, draw water and microorganisms from beneath the ice? What microbial communities are present in the lake and surrounding environment?
Pre-Expedition Preparation
Going to Japan had been a longtime dream of mine. I first learned of the Morse Scholar Program during my sophomore year at UW while studying at FHL, and was ecstatic at the opportunity to visit and learn from researchers across the world. However, this would not come to fruition for over 2 years, when a lab meeting with Dr. Deming sparked my interest in frost flower formation and I learned that Lake Akan is one of the only accessible freshwater frost flower sites.
Preparation began months before the trip itself. We had a general idea of what to expect at the lake but also wanted to leave as much room for flexibility as possible. Accompanied by a cooler packed to the brim with supplies and a large dewar (container for liquid nitrogen to preserve samples), I hopped on a plane bound for Hakodate, Japan. Hakodate is the southernmost city of Hokkaido, and our field site was at the northern tip of the island. There I joined the rest of the team, loaded up all the gear into a van crammed with 7 of us, and started our road trip across Hokkaido. The trip took 3 days, stopping in Sapporo on day 1, Lake Akan on day 2 for some scouting of the site, and arriving to our accommodation about 2 hours north of the lake on day 3. Outside of trips to the lake, our days were full of planning, sample processing, and helping with other projects. Our nights were spent chatting with the other researchers over fresh seafood and Sapporo Classic beer.
The Lake Akan Expedition
The field site was as dynamic as it was beautiful. What was immediately apparent upon our first visit to Lake Akan was just how much geothermal heat impacted the lake and surrounding area! Steam hovered above the lake in a wispy fog, and we found multiple sites where gas was bubbling up as it escaped from the muddy soil. A hot spring-fed stream flowing into the lake revealed a dramatic temperature gradient: near its source, temperatures reached nearly 14°C (57°F), while the lake itself dipped below 2°C (35.6°F). The soil along the lake edge reached 17°C (62.6°F), despite the air temperature routinely being below freezing. As a result of this large temperature gradient, we expect to see a unique and rare community of organisms growing in this environment.
One of the most thrilling moments came on February 2nd. Forecasts had predicted a temperature of -13°C (8.6°F), just shy of the threshold for frost flower formation. All we could do was cross our fingers and hope we got lucky. At 4:30 a.m., we checked the current weather at the lake and saw the temperature had dropped to -18°C (-0.4°F)! We piled into the van and drove 2 hours to the lake. Upon arrival, we scrambled down to the lake’s edge and saw small, scattered frost flowers along the newly formed lake ice! The rest of the day was filled with sample collection of the frost flowers and their surrounding environment (Figure 3). We had to move fast to collect the flowers before the sun melted them. Dr. Emiliano Cimoli, a post doc from Tasmania, was able to collect both hyperspectral imaging and photogrammetry of the frost flowers, allowing him to build high resolution models of their structure (Figure 4). These models will not only enhance our understanding of frost flower formation but also serve as a digital record for future studies.
We also visited the lake on a warmer day to collect samples of the surrounding environment. We focused on the hot spring-fed stream, collecting samples of both the stream and the lake, as well as the outlet where the two mixed (Figure 5). These samples will be analyzed for cell counts, nutrient content, and methane, as well as 16S rRNA gene and metagenome sequencing in hopes of better understanding Lake Akan’s unique winter environment.
SLOPE25 Insights
Our research at Lake Akan was part of a larger field expedition led by Dr. Daiki Nomura from the University of Hokkaido. Saroma-ko Lagoon, located on the coast of Hokkaido bordering the Sea of Okhotsk, is an ice-covered lagoon just 2 hours north of Lake Akan. SLOPE25 (Saroma-ko Lagoon Observations for sea ice Physico-chemistry and Ecosystems 2025) is the most recent contribution to a 20-year research initiative in the region “for the study of sea ice processes, the inter-comparison of methods, the testing of equipment, and the training of researchers new to the Polar regions” (Nomura et al. 2020).
During SLOPE25, researchers conducted many experiments such as measuring gas exchange through sea ice, measuring the sea ice stratigraphy with sonar, and water sampling for chemical and nutrient analysis. Additionally, SLOPE25 served as a training ground for University of Hokkaido undergraduates, who were able to learn polar fieldwork techniques during this time.
Cross-cultural collaboration in science is important not only because each person brings their own worldview, but their unique scientific perspective as well. My journey in academia has been primarily in Washington state, working at UW, FHL, or a boat somewhere in between. While I have learned from all these experiences, conducting international fieldwork has shaped my perspective on science tremendously. During my time in Japan, I got a taste of the life of a Japanese graduate student, learned about cutting-edge Antarctic research from Tasmanian postdocs, and observed ice-air gas exchange sampling techniques from a British scientist. Additionally, we lived and worked together in a way I never had before: enjoying daily onsen baths and midnight seafood feasts to unwind. Cross-cultural and interdisciplinary collaboration leads to incredible work that would be impossible on its own. I hope to foster this sentiment throughout my PhD studies and following career.
From Georges “Gio” Kanaan:
As a senior graduate student starting to look ahead toward my academic future, this expedition provided an opportunity to meet new colleagues, form friendships, and lay the foundation for future collaborations. I look forward to using the contacts I’ve made during this trip to develop future projects with Japanese collaborators who have complementary expertise. There is a thriving polar science community that will undoubtedly be beneficial to my career. Moreover, the cultural experience of working in Japan was very enriching. It is always interesting to discover how different peoples approach work, food, and socializing, and I have long been dreaming about a trip to Japan to experience its rich culture. In no other place would my mid-day field lunch consist of incredibly delicious Katsu-don from the nearby convenience store, a significant upgrade from the usual protein bar. Having returned to the Seattle lab, I now look forward to analyzing the samples to study what bacteria are present in this unique environment.
This research was made possible with the generous support of the E.S. Morse Scholar Exchange Program. The Morse Institute is dedicated to fostering connections between Japanese and American scholars. These investments in marine science not only enable groundbreaking research but also cultivate the next generation of scientists dedicated to understanding all aspects of our planet’s environment. Additionally, I would like to thank Dr. Daiki Nomura and his team for inviting us to be a part of their expedition.
To learn more about opportunities for U.S./Japan collaborations through the E.S. Morse Institute, click here.
References:
Barber D.G., Ehn J.K., Pućko M., Rysgaard S., Deming J.W., Bowman J.S., Papakyriakou T., Galley R.J., and D.H. Søgaard. 2014. Frost flowers on young Arctic sea ice: The climatic, chemical, and microbial significance of an emerging ice type. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 119(20), 11,593-11,612. https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JD021736
Nomura D., Wongpan P., Toyota T., Tanikawa T., Kawaguchi Y., Ono T., Ishino T., Tozawa M., Tamura T.P., Yabe I.S., Son E.Y., Vivier F., Lourenco A., Lebrun M., Nosaka Y., Hirawake T., Ooki A., Aoki S., Else B., … M. Vancoppenolle. 2020. Saroma-ko Lagoon Observations for sea ice Physico-chemistry and Ecosystems 2019 (SLOPE2019). Bulletin of Glaciological Research: 38, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.5331/bgr.19R02
Orita S., and H. Ohno. 12 February 2023. Observation of frost flowers at Lake Akan.
Style R.W., and M.G. Worster. 2009. Frost flower formation on sea ice and lake ice. Geophysical Research Letters: 36(11). https://doi.org/10.1029/2009GL037304
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