MarineBasis was initiated in 2005, and thus already comprises data from several years. MarineBasis has monthly pelagic sampling throughout the year, combined with seasonal recordings of sea ice, benthic flux, fauna and flora, marine mammals and sea birds in Godthåbsfjord.

Monitoring of Baffin Bay shows a seasonal cycle of ice cover with a maximum sea ice cover in March/April. The ice cover is influenced by the West Greenland Current, which conveys warm water masses northwards. Minimum sea ice extent is in July/August where no sea ice was observed. Digital photos and satellite images showed that Godthåbsfjord is generally ice-free throughout the year, apart from sea ice formed in some smaller inlets and inner part of the fjord system near the Greenland Ice Sheet. The neighbouring fjord, Kobbefjord, showed large inter-annual variation with a sea ice cover of six months in the winter 2005-2006 and virtually no sea ice in 2006-2007, partly due to repeated storms which exported sea ice to offshore waters.

Hydrographical measurements from Godthåbsfjord revealed large variation in salinity, temperature and algal biomass along a length transect from the inner part of the fjord to Fylla Banke. Some inter-annual variation were observed between May 2006 and May 2007, but the overall picture each year was similar with a wide salinity range (31 - 33.8) and warm (1.5 - 2 °C) water in the inner part of the fjord, a section of more isohaline (33.4 – 33.6) and colder (1-1.5 °C) water in the outer fjord and wider salinity range (33.3 – 35.0) and wide temperature range (0 -4 °C) water over and around Fylla Banke. The algal biomass was largest in the inner part of the fjord and over Fylla Banke with low levels at the fjord entrance, where tidal mixing is high. Low levels of pCO2 in the surface layer were observed in the inner part of the fjord (~100 µatm) increasing to a maximum of 240 µatm in the outer fjord. Over Fylla Banke, the pCO2 decreased below 200 µatm. Hydrographical cross sections across Godthåbsfjord from Nuuk to Akia showed some variation, reflecting the effect of the Coriolis force.

The detailed monitoring of the water column at the fjord entrance revealed a distinct annual pattern in the more than 30 measured biological, chemical and physical parameters. Though differences in annual variation, abundances and concentrations are evident between the years 2006 and 2007, an overall pattern can be described. The surface pCO2 exhibited maxima in autumn. All measured surface pCO2 values are below the concentration of the atmosphere, indicating the Godthåbsfjord acts as a sink throughout the year. The upper water column was well mixed during winter, with periodic inflow of warm and saline water below 150 m during the same period. The water column was stratified in autumn with low salinity and high temperature in the upper 100 m. The light attenuation in the water column varied, with maximum attenuation in May and minimum in November;very little irradiance was available for primary production during winter.

Chlorophyll a concentration and primary production were low in winter and began to increase in April. Two blooms in algal biomass were distinguished, one in May and a minor bloom in July. This productivity was reflected in the vertical sinking flux of chlorophyll a which peaked in May. Nutrients (silicate, phosphorus and nitrate) concentrations were high in winter, and decreased to a minimum in July. In autumn, nutrient levels increased again, presumably due to remineralisation or inflow of nutrient rich waters. Remineralisation of organic matter in the sediment can be estimated by the oxygen flux, with the lowest rates in winter and highest rates in late summer.

The algal bloom in May consisted mainly of the prymnesiophyte Phaeocystis sp. while diatoms dominated the algal community the rest of the year, complimented by silicoflagellates in winter. 

       
The detailed taxonomic analysis of the zooplankton community reflects the life cycle of copepods with maxima of egg abundance in May/June, nauplii abundance in July and copepodite and copepod abundance in August/September. The zooplankton community was diverse. Calanoid copepods were present in June, while the genera Microsetella was dominant the rest of the year. Ichthyoplankton (fish larvae) was dominated by sand eel (Ammodytes sp.) and arctic shanny (Stichaeus punctatus), and the highest abundance was observed in May. The benthic fauna and flora monitoring was initiated in 2007, with analysis of gonad and condition indices for Chlamys islandica and Strongolycentros droebachiensis. The macroalgae Laminaria longicruris is monitored at two sites for annual growth (150 – 180 cm y-1) and C:N content.

The number of breeding seabirds at Qeqertannguit was comparable in 2006 and 2007 with dominance of surface feeders such as kittiwake and arctic tern. Nunngarussuit was dominated by guillemot, with an increased abundance from 2006 to 2007. Though a few humpback whales may overwinter in Godthåbsfjord, the majority arrives early May, and stay until September.