0 projects

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Comparing InSAR and field observations for assessing slope processes in Svalbard, RiS ID 11868

Mountainous and periglacial areas are affected by a wide range of slope processes leading to ground movement, often which are hard to discriminate from one another based on remote sensing techniques. This project aims to explore the potential of InSAR (Synthetic Aperture Interferometry) to charac...

Awarded: NOK 30,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Trøndelag - Trööndelage

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Do landscape factors and seasonality modulate resource partitioning by the Arctic scavengers of Svalbard?

This project is part of the REINCAR project (RiS ID 11512), which has an ongoing carrion ecology study in Svalbard. One of the REINCAR objectives is to investigate to what extent reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) cadavers affect soil biogeochemistry and vegetation locally and on the land...

Awarded: NOK 65,999

Project Period: 2023-2024

Location: Viken

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Digitizing Svalbard: Hopen's Digital Outcrop Model Data Acquisition Campaign and Virtual Field Guide Development for educational research

This project’s data collection campaign will focus on digitizing the outcropping rocks surrounding the island of Hopen. I plan to visit the island in the summer field season of 2023. The field assistant and I will embark on a coast guard vessel in Tromsø between Mid-June to Mid-July, heading to H...

Awarded: NOK 99,999

Project Period: 2023-2024

Location: Svalbard

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

PHARMARINE- Transport of pharmaceuticals and impact on arctic biota. RIS: 11719

The increased use and large disposal volumes of pharmaceuticals in Europe has raised concern about their impacts in marine ecosystems. Though pharmaceuticals undergo degradation, some compounds can escape through sewage treatment and remain in the environment over time. The Arctic is particularl...

Awarded: NOK 52,999

Project Period: 2023-2024

Location: Trøndelag - Trööndelage

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Effects of goose grubbing, rain-on-snow events and warming on soil arthropods and plant matter decomposition RiS12131

The High Arctic systems are changing rapidly with increased temperatures, winter rain and increasing goose populations, and subsequent grubbing. Increases in grubbing, icing and warming will all change the conditions for soil dwelling animals, and through them affect soil nitrogen mineralisation ...

Awarded: NOK 61,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Svalbard

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

The effect of polyploidisation of Saxifraga oppositofolia on metabolic fluxes

One of the biggest global challenges in plant science´s is to determine how plants can increase stress tolerance (ST) without penalizing productivity. I hypothesise that exists a trade-off at leaf level between the maximal photosynthetic capacity (Amax) and ST and it can be explained by foliar st...

Awarded: NOK 86,999

Project Period: 2023-2024

Location: Oslo

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Nitrate mobilization during the melt season in Central Spitsbergen

Although Arctic soils store approximately half of the global nitrogen stock, research on nitrogen and its integration into active biochemical cycles is limited. Climate warming, which is amplified in the polar regions and particularly on Svalbard, is leading to a deepening of the active layer of ...

Awarded: NOK 79,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Svalbard

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Thermal properties of Arctic fox fur and the effect of fur lice infestation

This project will collaborate and run alongside the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) annual monitoring program on arctic fox population in Svalbard. Fur lice in the arctic fox was first identified on Svalbard in 2019 (Buhler et al. submitted). The prevalence at the time was low (approx. 10% of the...

Awarded: NOK 39,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku - Tromssa ja Finmarkku

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Laser Drill for Arctic Snowpack Stratigraphy Study, RiS ID 12098

The proposed project ‘Laser Drill for Arctic Snowpack Stratigraphy Study’ (LASER ARCS) will test a new device for measuring snowpack stratigraphy under Arctic conditions. The SnowLaserDrill (SLD), consists of two lasers. The drilling laser is used to melt a hole into the snow; the second laser is...

Awarded: NOK 89,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Svalbard

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Wet Fingerprints - Constraining the Influence of (Near-)Surface Melting on Svalbard Snow Structure and Chemistry

Ice cores are unique climate archives. However, our ability to extract environmental information from structural, chemical, and isotopic proxy records is severely limited by a lack of understanding about melt-induced post-depositional alterations. Svalbard ice cores have provided invaluable infor...

Awarded: NOK 99,999

Project Period: 2023-2024

Location: Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku - Tromssa ja Finmarkku

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Investigating spatial and seasonal patterns in settlement of benthic communities in Kongsfjorden

Early life history ecology, especially settlement of benthic invertebrates is a black box in marine ecology. Researching larval and settlement ecology in-situ is incredibly difficult and logistical constraints have further restricted studies in the Arctic. I will investigate early life history st...

Awarded: NOK 94,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku - Tromssa ja Finmarkku

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

The source and evolution of Quaternary volcanic activity in NW Spitsbergen (RiS ID 12102)

Several small volcanic centers of Pleistocene age occur in the Woodfjorden area of NW Spitsbergen and are collectively known as the mantle-sourced Bockfjorden Volcanic Complex (BVC). The main magma type identified is basanite, an alkali basaltic variety that is typically associated with active co...

Awarded: NOK 99,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku - Tromssa ja Finmarkku

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

RiS ID 12111: Hydrobatic AUVs for Polar Ocean Sensing (HAPOS)

The term hydrobatics stems from aerobatics and refers to the agile maneuvering of underwater robots. Small and agile underwater robots can revolutionise sensing in polar regions, reducing risks and costs while enabling access to previously inaccessible areas. When coupled with new planning and co...

Awarded: NOK 96,999

Project Period: 2023-2024

Location: Trøndelag - Trööndelage

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Identifying drivers of senescence in Arctic tundra plants using field and PhenoCam observations, RiS ID: 12093

I propose a study to establish a crucial, yet missing, link between plant senescence observed using manual field methods, and using remote sensing derived vegetation indices. I further aim to identify potential climatic, biogeochemical, and plant physiological drivers of plant senescence in Arcti...

Awarded: NOK 99,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku - Tromssa ja Finmarkku

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Terrestrial biodiversity assessment of Jan Mayen Island through airborne environmental DNA (RIS ID 12148)

Within the scope of this international research network, we aim to conduct an expedition on Jan Mayen Island to collect airborne eDNA through air filtering. We will collect, extract DNA, and perform both PCRs using a portable thermocycler and sequencing using a Minion Oxford Nanopore sequencing d...

Awarded: NOK 32,999

Project Period: 2023-2024

Location: Oslo

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Geological survey of oveRbAnk sedimeNts In arcTic strEams

To gain a better understanding of the processes that occur during weathering processes of local geological material connected to Arctic catchment areas and river systems studies of overbank sediments plays a vital role. In general, knowledge about properties of the composition and physical-chemic...

Awarded: NOK 45,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Trøndelag - Trööndelage

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Effect and responses of experimental warming on Dryas octopetala-dominated vegetation in High Arctic versus alpine ecosystems, RiS ID 10030

This master thesis aims to investigate the responses of experimental warming of the shrub Dryas octopetala in terms of its abundance, plant height and NDVI at a High Arctic and alpine site. It is expected that both abundance and plant height of Dryas will increase with warming, and that plant hei...

Awarded: NOK 48,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Svalbard

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Response of shallow marine prokaryote ecosystems in the Boreal Ocean to the Permo-Triassic climate crisis (RiS ID: 12064)

This project aims to reconstruct the microbial community in the shallow Boreal Ocean during the environmental crisis at the Permian/Triassic boundary that coincided with the most severe mass extinction in Earth’s history. By collecting new samples for lipid biomarker analysis at three Permian-Tri...

Awarded: NOK 92,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Svalbard

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Targeting a Svalbox hiatus: Palaeozoic and Beyond (RiS 12108)

Currently-available Svalbox data mostly cover the Central Spitsbergen Basin, with clear data sparsity north of Pyramiden (“northern hiatus”) and south of Van Keulenfjorden. The "Targeting a Svalbox hiatus: Palaeozoic and Beyond (Svalbox404)" targets the northern hiatus, focusing on the acquisitio...

Awarded: NOK 77,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Svalbard

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Methylmercury and Total Mercury in Arctic Permafrost (RIS-ID: 12073)

As a student in the international master program in Environmental Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry at NTNU there is a formal study direction for Arctic research. Aim of this direction in the master program is to educate the future Arctic researchers, and the topics for master projects are d...

Awarded: NOK 25,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Trøndelag - Trööndelage

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Acoustic monitoring of ice-loss processes in Kongsfjorden

We propose a field campaign in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, with focus on the bays of one or more tidewater glaciers in this region (likely Kronebreen), in September 2023. We will study the acoustics of ice-loss processes in these glaciers, especially submarine glacier melting whose contribution to ic...

Awarded: NOK 99,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Trøndelag - Trööndelage

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Effect of Extreme Rainfall on Arthropod Abundance and Emergence across Altitudinal Gradients in Svalbard, RiS ID 11968

Arthropod communities in all ecosystems are being affected by climate change. In the Arctic, preipitation will increase and become more variable. A larger proportion of precipitation will fall as rain rather than snow and extreme summer rainfall events are expected to occur more frequently. There...

Awarded: NOK 40,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Svalbard

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Traceable Abrasion of Snow Vehicle Belts in Svalbard

The project TRACES will focus on abrasive particles from snow vehicle belts in snow and soil samples collected in Ny-Ålesund and Longyearbyen. The collection will take place in high-trafficked areas and in locations where less or no snow vehicle utilization is considered. Moreover, samples will b...

Awarded: NOK 90,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku - Tromssa ja Finmarkku

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Re-surveying historical vegetation records in Svalbard

The Arctic belongs to the areas most affected by climate change. Following the overall warming of their environment, tundra plant species have been shown to track their suitable climatic niche by shifting their ranges towards cooler places, specifically upward or poleward. With accelerating rates...

Awarded: NOK 99,999

Project Period: 2023-2024

Location: Svalbard

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Linking metagenomics and microscopy to investigate the formation of aggregates of glacial materials on Svalbard. RiS ID 12117

Little is known about the formation of cryoconite – aggregates of mineral particles and microbes held together by exopolymeric substances (EPS) - on glaciers. This project will investigate the different microbial communities found in different sedimental structures throughout a polar year on Foxf...

Awarded: NOK 65,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Svalbard

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Goose herbivory and strong winter rainfall limit plant uptake of permafrost N, RiS 11069

Plant roots are often associated with mycorrhizal fungi. i.e. mushrooms that colonize plant roots belowground, and play a crucial role in plant uptake of nitrogen (N) which is essential for plant growth. During this fieldwork we will take soil cores at the peak of the growing season to examine th...

Awarded: NOK 63,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Svalbard

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Tracing warm Atlantic Water in Tempelfjorden, Svalbard - RiS ID 12116

This project uses a combination of high-resolution modelling and observations in Tempelfjorden, a side fjord of Isfjorden with 2 marine-terminating glaciers (MTGs), to investigate under which conditions Atlantic Water (AW) enters the fjord, how it affects MTGs and how it will change with an enhan...

Awarded: NOK 98,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Svalbard

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Early-Holocene coastal and environmental evolution Isfjorden, Svalbard: lithological and foraminiferal evidence RiS ID: 12101

The aim of this project is to identify and study raised marine deposits from the Early Holocene from two sites in Isfjorden, West Spitsbergen (Bogebekken/Hollendarbukta, Erdmannflya). The study will focus on marine sedimentary processes and environmental changes during the Early Holocene. The stu...

Awarded: NOK 74,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Svalbard

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Developing methodology to measure the bioluminescence of key bioluminescent species (RiS ID: 12158)

Bioluminescence is one of the chief contributors to the light environment at depth in the sea and plays a key role in biological interactions and animal behaviour. There is a wide range of spectral compositions, the various wavelengths which combine to produce light of a particular colour, pre...

Awarded: NOK 38,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Trøndelag - Trööndelage

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Timing and origin of Miocene flood volcanism on Spitsbergen: the Seidfjellet Formation revisited (RiS ID 12088)

Mantle-derived volcanism accompanied the Cenozoic lithosphere evolution of the NE Greenland and NW Barents Sea shelves during final separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It is unclear, however, to what extent continental breakup was influenced by deep-sourced mantle plume...

Awarded: NOK 99,999

Project Period: 2023-2023

Location: Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku - Tromssa ja Finmarkku