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NORKLIMA-Klimaendringer og konsekvenser for Norge

Magnitude and impact of Arctic climate change inferred from aquatic ecosystems

Tildelt: kr 2,6 mill.

Global warming is expected to be more extreme in the Arctic than in temperate regions. However, the amplitude, the rate of warming, and the impact of the warming can only be predicted with a quantity of uncertainty. We will investigate the climate history of Svalbard, Arctic Norway and Bylot Island, Arctic Canada by use of fossil chironomids. Paleoclimate records from these sites, where one is situated at the northern limit of the Norwegian Current, can potentially provide valuable information on the infl uence of the Norwegian current on North Atlantic climates. This information will provide empirical data for general circulation modelling of past temperatures in the north Atlantic region and aid in lowering the uncertainties of future climate scenarios. Furthermore, we will study how the present and the past succession patterns, biodiversity, and distribution of chironomids and other freshwater organisms are influenced by environmental conditions. Chironomids are key organism in Arctic terrestrial and fr eshwater ecosystems since they are the most important food for other invertebrates, fish, and birds. Chironomid analysis can hence aid in identifying climate sensitive key processes that can be used to make climate impact scenarios for Arctic ecosystems.

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NORKLIMA-Klimaendringer og konsekvenser for Norge