Climate change, associated with large-scale anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases, results in warming of the Arctic leading to sea ice retreat, melting of glaciers and thawing of permafrost. Changes in freshwater export from the Arctic Ocean have the potential to alter ocean convection in the North Atlantic, while mobilization of large organic carbon stocks in Arctic watersheds (most notably those trapped inpermafrost) have the potential to accelerate the build-up of atmospheric carbon dioxide1. Knowledge of carbon cycling in the coastal zone receiving input of terrigenous carbon from rivers and glaciers is an important pre-requisite for understanding potential climate feedbacks associated with storage and release of fresh water and carbon as well as regional impacts on Artic marine ecosystem production, structure and functioning.

We will study the influence of climatic drivers (with a focus on sea ice cover and the influence of meltwater on stratification and nutrient dynamics) on marine primary production and carbon cycling and complement the existing monitoring work in Young Sound with seasonal process studies that will help interpret the 10 years of marine monitoring data in Young Sound

PI: Mikael Sejr, Thomas Juul-Pedersen

Field site: Daneborg Field Station, N.E. Greenland

Fieldwork summary/photo blog

Link to project summary report