Three postdoctoral researchers are joining iC3’s team to investigate the release of iron and nitrogen from melting ice sheets, and their impact on polar ecosystems and the global carbon cycle.

Laura Helene Rasmussen, Aurélie Labarre and Jan Viljanen each won a prestigious MSCA postdoctoral fellowship, which will allow them to fully focus on their scientific research for two years.

Their efforts will support iC3’s mission of producing ground-breaking insights into how the links between ice sheets, carbon cycles and ocean ecosystems are impacting life on earth.

Below a quick summary of the three new projects.

Nitrogen in the Arctic

Escalating glacier retreat in the Arctic is exposing large areas of new glacier forefield. These physical changes dramatically alter biogeochemical cycling in previously glaciated sediments. Arctic streams are well-known suppliers of the key nutrient nitrogen to fjords and coasts, which host lucrative fisheries. However, the influence of glacial retreat and associated soil development on nitrogen release into streams is a complete unknown. 

Laura Helene Rasmussen (ORCID) will quantify the impact of Arctic glacier forefield exposure on soil nitrogen cycling and export to coastal marine environments. She will measure current nitrogen release and simulate future releases. 

Her research will inform future ecosystem management policies across the Arctic region.

Iron, metals and nutrients

Freshwater from melting ice is carrying iron and nutrients into the Southern Ocean. This is likely to modify biogeochemical processes in the ocean and effect its impact on the global climate. However, our knowledge of cryosphere-ocean interactions, the response of microbial communities, and consequences for lower trophic-level growth is currently very limited. 

Aurélie Labarre (ORCID) will characterise and quantify the fate of bioavailable nutrients, trace metals and carbon on phytoplankton productivity and their impact on the biological carbon pump in the Southern Ocean. Her research will combine intensive sampling, biogeochemical analyses and metagenomics to systematically understand the structure and function of microbiomes in marine ecosystems.

Monitoring iron in glacial meltwaters

Iron is the main nutrient in polar waters and a key driver in the growth of phytoplankton populations, which in turn can have a strong impact on carbon sequestration. However, there is currently no easy way to measure iron levels in the water running off melting ice sheets. 

Jan Viljanen (ORCID) will develop an optical measurement technique to monitor and quantify dissolved iron in glacial meltwaters. His objectives are to develop a portable but sensitive measurement device, and to create an identification and calibration model that can quantify dissolved iron in glacial waters. This will establish an optical method that enables fast reagent free online monitoring of dissolved iron in glacial meltwaters.

In future, his sensors will help scientists to collect extensive data on iron in polar meltwaters, help to quantify its impact on the polar carbon cycle, and constrain climate models.

This year, 100% of iC3-supported applications to the highly competitive MSCA scheme were successful. iC3 now welcomes enquiries from researchers who want to apply during the next MSCA funding round and join our friendly team here in Arctic Norway. We actively support candidates in writing strong grant proposals.