Pollutants and carbonate system parameters in polar environment media: snow-ice-seawater-sediments-coastal discharges

The Norwegian-Russian expedition to Svalbard was organized in the frame of the collaborative bilateral project POMPA. The goal was to study chemical composition of the main Arctic environmental media - sea water, sea ice, coastal discharges, bottom sediments, soil and permafrost on the base of the same methods. Besides, we aimed to compare and intercalibrate methods that are in use in Norway and Russia, that helps to analyse the results both countries receive in different regions of the Arctic. The field studies in Svalbard were held in June 11-17, 2017. Samples were collected in the Templefjord located in a distance from Longyearbyen to avoid anthropogenic influence. A list of parameters included nutrients in inorganic and organic forms, metals and pollutants. The analytical studies were performed in the Norwegian laboratories (at University Centre in Svalbard and Norwegian Institute for Water Research) and Russian laboratories (at Shirshov Institute of Oceanology RAS and Zubov Oceanographical Institute ROSGYDROMET). During the expedition we organized an experiment on influence of thawing of permafrost from an abrasive cliff to sea water chemical composition. Comparison of methods showed satisfactory results for nutrients and carbonate system and revealed different approaches for trace metals: dissolved bioavailable forms are measured in Norway and total forms - in Russia. The data collected in the project was uploaded to the databases. The general schemes of visualization of chemical parameters concentrations in different media were elaborated. It was shown that the coastal waters could be affected by nutrients and some metals originated from the thawing permafrost. The results of the project were presented at 3 conferences and were described in 2 articles.

POMPA will develop basic knowledge through studies related to process understanding of Arctic Ocean pollution and carbon system. We plan to work on a database, perform field studies in Svalbard, and make an intercallibration work. POMPA promotes international research cooperation and exchange of new knowledge as it involves scientist from Russia and Norway, and reinforces Norway position as a leading nation in marine ecosystem related research. The applied project will increase the understanding of the processes of the Arctic Ocean pollution and carbon system and will have an impact on the natural environment and society.