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SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Analysis of trace elements, pollutants and chlorophyll in lake sediments from Sarsvatnet, Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard RIS-ID: 11604

Tildelt: kr 28 879

This AFG project involves fieldwork required for my master thesis at Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management at NMBU. Main objectives of my master thesis is to study trace elements, selected pollutans and chlorophyll (proxy for algal biomass) in lake sediments from Lake Sarsvatnet, Spitsbergen, to assess the impact of local and long-range atmospheric transport of pollutants as well as the impact of climate change regarding primary production. Sediment samples will be obtained by a UWITEC sediment corer during August 2021, then divided into layers of 1 cm. The sediment layers need to be stored in plastic bags in a cool environment, preferably in a freezer. The sediment layers will be brought back to the laboratory NMBU/ NTNU in frozen condition. Analysis of 137Cs include measurements of 662keV emissions. Calibrated sources and sediments, in addition to corrections, using the CIC-model (constant initial concentration) and CRS-model (constant rate of 137Cs) will be necessary when assessing the results. Prior analysing of heavy metals obtained from ICP-OES and ICP-MS, the samples must be dried, grounded, and decomposed in an UltraClave. Methodology for extracting chlorophyll a. The preparation of the samples involves adding acetone containing ß-apocarotenal. Extraction of chlorophyll a takes place when stored for 24 hours in a cool and dark environment. High performance liquid spectrometry-photometric diode array (HPLC-PDA) analysis will be performed on a DionexTM UltiMate 3000 HPLC (Thermo ScientificTM) with an AcclaimTM C30 column, 3 µm (Thermo ScientificTM) to determine the pigments in each layer of sediments. Laboratory work will be performed at NTNU and NMBU. RStudio will be used for statistical analysis.

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SSF-Svalbard Science Forum