2000 samples collected

Around 15 researchers onboard the research vessel Lance have taken samples from all levels of the marine food chain in Svalbard this summer.

The cruise was part of the IPY-project COPOL (Contaminants in Polar Regions), which aims to study and compare the uptake and transport of POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) in foodchains in different water masses (Atlantic and Arctic). The project also examines how climate affects exposure, uptake and effects of human-made contaminants.

A total of 2000 marine samples were collected for analyses of new and old POPs by the end of the the cruise. The scientists made a number of interesting discoveries.

Surprised
-- We were very surprised to find both capelin, herring, haddock, long rough dab, Atlantic cod and wolf-fish in a "cold" fjord, Liefdefjorden, which is located on the north side of Svalbard, says Geir Wing Gabrielsen.

Marine samples from the seabed, and from the pelagic section (plankton and fish) and seabirds from this "cold" fjord (Liefdefjorden) are now being analyzed and compared with similar samples from a "warm" fjord (Kongsfjorden).

Foto: Karine Nigar Aarskog


Cooperation
More than 20 people in addition to the crew, joined Lance from Longyearbyen to Liefdefjorden. There were representatives from various institutions at Norwegian Polar Institute, Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Akvaplan-niva and Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Institute of Marine Research, NTNU / SINTEF and the University of Tromsø, as well as observers and journalists.

The Norwegian branch of COPOL is a cooperation between the institutes at the Polar Environmental Centre (POMI), Oslo Centre for Interdisciplinary Environmental and Social Research (CIENS) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The project is headed by Professor Geir Wing Gabrielsen at the Norwegian Polar Institute. 

Read more: The Norwegian Polar Institute