Role of MIgrating birds in TRansport of environmental pollutants to the Arctic (MITRA) RiS-ID: 11387

This Arctic Field Grant will cover essential fieldwork for my master project within the international master program in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry at Department of Chemistry NTNU. Main goal is to study transport mechanisms of pollutants to the Arctic, and especially to bring new knowledge on the role of migrating birds to this topic. This is also the reason why to apply for Arctic Field Grant to Ny-Ålesund. Quantitative data on selected pollutants (PCBs and heavy metals) will be achieved from soil samples collected through this planned fieldwork. Samples are planned to be collected from bird nesting and bird rich areas around Ny-Ålesund during August 2020. Areas for sampling includes Krykkjefjellet (located approximately 3 km south east of Gluudneset near Ny-Ålesund), Kiærstranda (located at the opposite side of Ny-Ålesund at the Brøggerhalvøya) and Ossian Sarsfjellet (located across Kongsfjorden approximately 10 km from Ny-Ålesund). Additionally, soil samples will also be collected from three islets in Kongsfjorden and Blomstrandhalvøya. In each area the plan is to collect samples form 10 unique locations, resulting in totally 60 individual soil samples. Samples will be collected in increasing distance to the bird rich areas and include locations having both more and less exposure to direct sunlight.