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SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Climatic shifts derived from lacustrine sediment cores, Richardvatnet, nw Spitsbergen. RIS ID 11652

Awarded: NOK 79,999

The overarching aim is to contextualise glacier activity across a transect of the Svalbard Archipelago to reconstruct and infer the past climatic and atmosphere-ocean interaction during the Late Quaternary, thus enabling the determination of temperature and precipitation gradients across the archipelago as well as identifying shifts in the positioning and coalescing of the polar air and ocean masses. Palaeoclimates will be reconstructed along a highly sensitive transect across the Svalbard Archipelago ranging from the east at northern Nordaustlandet, western Spitsbergen and Erdmannflya in the Isfjorden region. This will be elucidated by the investigation of Quaternary geomorphology, sea-level histories, proxies, and geochrononologies from lacustrine sediment records and terrestrial surface exposure dating. Three lakes, Nordre- and Søre Disetvatnet and an unnamed lake, on the Mitrahalvøya peninsula will contribute to the overarching research aim. There are multiple avenues for exploration including glacial reconstructions, post glacial emergence and sea level history as well as lake hydroclimate. This investigation will further our understanding of palaeoclimate variations during the Late Glacial and Holocene for the Svalbard Archipelago. This will enhance our knowledge and understanding of the key drivers and forcings, namely precipitation and its contribution to glacier mass balance, upon glacier response to the ongoing climatic shifts experienced.

Funding scheme:

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum