Case study sites

ICEBERG’s fieldwork will take place at three locations: western Svalbard (Ny-Ålesund and Sørkapp Land), northern Iceland (Akureyri and Húsavik) and southern Greenland (Narsaq and Qaqortoq). All three locations have been selected because they are experiencing adverse effects of climate change and pollution.

All three case study sites share similarities in terms of the smallness of their communities and the importance of livelihoods such as fisheries and tourism. These sites have experienced a boom in Arctic tourism in recent years and are highly popular cruise ship destinations, which has had a notable impact on the environment.

The ICEBERG project develops pollution monitoring and builds resilience strategies in collaboration with communities in Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) and Iceland.

Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland)

The southern part of Greenland, particularly around Qarqortoq, Narsaq and Nanortalik, is a highly interesting area of study. Here, research can monitor pollution and biogeochemical processes within the currents from the North Atlantic into the Labrador Sea. The diverse array of livelihoods and economic activities, including agriculture, fishing, hunting, gathering and tourism, alongside its cultural diversity that includes Kalaallit Inuit communities and local stakeholders enhance the multifaceted nature of the region as a focal point for knowledge co-production concerning the impacts of climate change and pollution on communities and ecosystems, as well as strategies for adaptation and mitigation.

Iceland

Iceland's glaciers are melting rapidly, leading to changes in the landscape and major glacial rivers flowing into the fjord systems of both Akureyri and Húsavik. Additionally, the effects of climate change in the North Icelandic sea and coastal area contribute to ocean acidification, the spread of invasive species and increased pollution from marine traffic, including cruise ships, trawlers and whale watching vessels, which affects fisheries, tourism, and agricultural processing centres in Akureyri and Húsavik.

Svalbard

The rapid melting of the cryosphere (terrestrial snow cover, permafrost and sea ice) in the Svalbard archipelago has increased the inflow of Atlantic-derived waters into the Arctic region. Southern Spitsbergen (Sørkapp Land) is one of our research sites in Svalbard, as it forms the first potential accumulation zone for marine litter brought by ocean currents. Research in this area will facilitate the collection of comparable data on pollution. At our second Svalbard research site in Northern Spitsbergen, our studies will complement available long-term measurements on the rapid retreat of glaciers and snow cover.

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Contact us

Project Scientific Coordinator

Prof. Thora Herrmann
University of Oulu
thora.herrmann@oulu.fi

Co-coordinator, Project Manager

Dr Élise Lépy
University of Oulu
elise.lepy@oulu.fi

Communications

Marika Ahonen
Kaskas
marika.ahonen@kaskas.fi

Innovative Community Engagement for Building Effective Resilience and Arctic Ocean Pollution-control Governance in the Context of Climate Change

ICEBERG has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe Research and innovation funding programme under grant agreement No 101135130

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