Interview: "The harsh conditions in the sea off Antarctica require good planning and even better adaptability"

In this interview, iC3 PhD researcher Megan Lenss explains her passion for researching Southern Ocean primary production, her challenges and her love for the outdoors.

First of all, can you maybe describe yourself briefly, what you're doing here in Tromsø and why it's important?

I'm doing a PhD in Tromsø at the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) focusing on ocean-ice interactions and their implications for primary production. My work is funded by the I-CRYME and WOBEC projects and affiliated with iC3. My specific study area is the Kong Håkon VII Hav off Antarctica, a notoriously understudied region. Because of its links to Antarctic Bottom Water formation, this area is relevant for global carbon cycling and oceanic carbon storage. Additionally, through efforts in the WOBEC project, this work supports ongoing proposals for a marine protected area across the Weddell Gyre.

Photo credit: Fowzia Ahmed (UNIS)

Why is that area not well studied at the moment?

I would think a main reason why the Kong Håkon VII Hav has gone understudied is purely logistical. It’s a region that is hard to get to, ten days crossing from Cape Town, and it’s often plagued by harsh weather. Because Troll Station, the Norwegian research station in Antarctica, is far inland, there has just been less infrastructure in the coastal regions historically.

What are the challenges when you conduct research in the Antarctic?

A major challenge is dealing with extreme weather and ensuring safety. In the Southern Ocean, storms with massive waves and a rapidly changing cryosphere result in large calving events and iceberg discharge that hinder operations. The harsh conditions require good planning and even better adaptability, ensuring both team safety and research data integrity.

Photo credit: Malin Daase (UNIS)

How do you see the future of science in your field?

I foresee increased research presence in the Southern Ocean, particularly the Eastern Weddell Gyre. Remote sensing technologies will likely become more prevalent due to the logistical and financial challenges of conducting cruises. Innovations in autonomous platforms could revolutionize our understanding of this area. These advancements will enable us to gather more comprehensive data, leading to stronger models and better climate change predictions.

How do you adapt to the cultural and linguistic differences in Tromsø and Norway in general?

Adapting has been a gradual process. I've taken Norwegian courses and committed to speaking Norwegian with friends. But I love Tromsø. There is so much access to the mountains, fantastic climbing and skiing, and a really engaged community.  I also work on a small farm cooperative growing vegetables and keeping chickens, which is super community building. 

What do you like to do outside of work?

Outside of work, I like rock climbing, skiing, tenting, running, biking, and fishing. I also love music and sing in an eco-feminist choir called EKKO, which performs at events and rallies focused on environmental and women’s issues.

Photo credit: Malin Daase (UNIS)

What's one thing you are looking forward to in the next year, personally or professionally?

Professionally, I'm excited to attend my first major conference in Italy, the Gordon Research Conference for Polar Marine Science. Personally, I'm looking forward to the snow. I take a week-long ski trip every Easter that I’m eager to start planning.

Do you have a motto or a last word you want to say?

I guess if there is something I say to myself everyday it’s “Megan, go get on your bike.” I have a 20 km bike commute into the city that is so important to me. It gives me time outside no matter the weather and lots of space to think. Also, it’s carbon free.

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Megan Lenss is an iC3 PhD student at the Norwegian Polar Institute and the Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø, the capital of the Arctic. To find out more about her work, please check out her list of publications, or contact her by email.

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