Research

The Norwegian Polar Institute runs management-oriented scientific research, mapping and monitoring in the Arctic and Antarctica. Climate, environmental pollutants, biodiversity and geological mapping are important fields of work for the institute.

Glaciology og Geology

The section works with various aspects of glaciology, atmospheric science, meteorology, palaeoclimate, marine geology and bedrock geology, both in the Arctic and Antarctic. Much of the research is directly based on field observations and gives us important information about climate change and effects in the polar system.

Tasks involve monitoring, mapping and process studies.

Monitoring

Projects

Dome Fuji

This project examines the deepest ice sheet in Antarctica (Dome Fuji), the oldest atmospheric gas archive in the world, primarily by analyzing ice radar data. This region probably has ice that is around a million years old.

Oceanography

The oceanography section works with ocean physics and marine biogeochemistry with a focus on the polar sea areas in the Fram Strait, in the Arctic Ocean and in the Southern Ocean north of Queen Maud Land in Antarctica.

Central activities are the maintenance of long measurement time series for monitoring changes in the sea, and management-oriented research for knowledge development and advice on climate and interdisciplinary collaborations with adjacent professional fields such as e.g. marine biology, sea ice and glaciology.

The section works extensively with the acquisition of data through extensive cruise and observation activities in the polar regions. The analyzes are often supplemented with data from satellite-based remote sensing and numerical modeling.

Monitoring

TONe-Multidisciplinary sea rig observatory

The physical ocean system is closely linked to the carbon cycle and the marine ecosystem. Together with international partners, the Norwegian Polar Institute (NP) will contribute to improving the understanding of processes and systems, so that we can see how the ecosystem adapts.

Through TONe, NP and UiB will further develop existing ocean rigs and oceanographic measurements over the continental shelf at 6°E by harmonizing instruments to national standards. We also set up sound sources so that we can bring autonomous gliders for additional data collection under the ice. The rigs are maintained from the established TrollTransekttokt – whose objective is to use the annual supply ship to Troll as a platform for regular marine observations.

TONe

Projects

Sea Ice

The sea ice section works with the specialist areas related to monitoring and research on sea ice and its physical properties.

The work contributes to the institute’s expertise in advising on the current status and changes in sea ice properties in the polar regions, as well as quantifying and mapping these properties and the changes in them. Jointly, the understanding of processes in the polar regions is increased in order to improve climate and process models and future forecasts.

Particular emphasis is placed on long-term monitoring of the sea ice status, changes and the processes that lead to the changes in the regions of the Fram Strait, around Svalbard, the Arctic Ocean north of Svalbard and the Southern Ocean north of Dronning Maud Land.

Projects

Marine Ecology

The Marin Ecology Section works on marine ecological research challenges in polar marine waters, included the Arctic Ocean, fjords in Svalbard the marine waters around the archipelago, and in the Southern Ocean north of Queen Maud Land.

The section focuses on the lower trophic levels in marine food chains, from plankton to fish, but also works on changes in the entire food webs related to climate with increasing temperatures and declining sea ice, including work on modeling. We participate in the research network Arctos (Arctic Marine Research Network).

Researchers in the section contribute marine ecological knowledge into management processes and take part in working groups that assemble reports on polar marine areas, coasts and fjords. This includes evaluation of particularly valuable and vulnerable marine areas, marine protection areas, and assessment of trends and pressures in the Barents Sea and the Central Arctic Ocean.

Monitoring

Pelagic seasonal monitoring in Kongsfjorden; co-chairing the Kongsfjorden Flagship
Monitoring in the Arctic Ocean (SUDARCO / Atlantic-DBO)
Zooplankton to the Environmental Specimen Bank

Projects

Deltar på arbeidspakkene RAC, RF2, RF3.

METALLICA

Pollution and Marine Mammals

The section researches how environmental pollution and plastics are part of Arctic food chains, their sources, accumulation and long-term trends. We study health effects in species high up in the food chain, as well as map how climate change affects environmental pollutions in the European Arctic.

Our focus is also on the ecology of marine mammals around Svalbard, in the Barents Sea, the Arctic Ocean and the Southern Ocean. In particular, research is being done on links to the physical surroundings in their habitats, the interaction with the rest of the ecosystem and how climate change affects the species.

Knowledge necessary for the management of huntable and threatened (red-listed) species dictates central research and monitoring themes. Studies that integrate knowledge about pollution, demography and ecology dominate the project portfolio.

Monitoring

Projects

FACE-IT

ARK marine mammals

Coming

Terrestrial Ecology and Seabirds

The section carries out monitoring and research within the fields of terrestrial ecology and seabird ecology, with a focus on how changes in climate, environmental conditions and human activity affect plant, animal and bird populations in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Our research is largely based on long time series for biomass, population development, demography and food choice. We maintain the time series through annual fieldwork on Svalbard, Jan Mayen and in Dronning Maud Land (Antarctica). We also study the animals’ spatial behavior and habitat use through the use of various tracking techniques in the terrestrial and marine environment.

Monitoring

Projects

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