Interview:"I use sediments to date glaciation history and to understand the dynamics of modern glaciers"

In this interview, iC3 researcher Anders Schomacker explains his work on glacier dynamics, Arctic glaciation history, and paleoclimate research.

Could you briefly introduce yourself and what is the focus of your research at iC3?

My name is Anders Schomacker, I'm a professor at the UiT’s Department of Geosciences and also part of iC3. I do research in two main areas. One is the dynamics of modern glaciers—how they create landforms and what sediments they form. I’m particularly interested in surge-type glaciers, which are glaciers that advance very fast over short intervals, maybe a couple of months, and then enter quiescent phases. I study the sediments and landforms produced during these rapid movements, as they can serve as analogues for past ice streams that shaped landscapes, such as those in Scandinavia.

I also focus on the glaciation history of the Arctic, particularly in Svalbard and Iceland. I study glacial and interglacial sediments to determine when glaciers advanced and covered areas like Svalbard during the last ice age. For this, I use sedimentology in the field, examining coastal sections and taking samples for absolute dating methods like Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) or radiocarbon dating. I also use lake sediment cores for glaciation history and paleoclimate research.

Credit: Sofia Kjellman

Why is it important to study what you're studying?

It’s important because we live in the Arctic, and climate changes very rapidly here due to Arctic amplification. I aim to understand these patterns of climate change in the context of long-term natural climate variability and how glaciers respond to these changes over time.

How far back in time do you go when studying glaciation history?

I mainly work with the late Quaternary, which spans the last 125,000 years. However, I also focus on the broader Quaternary period, covering the last 2.6 million years, depending on the research question.

Could you give an example of a concrete application of what you are doing?

Sure. For example, I work on reconstructing when certain areas of Svalbard were glaciated during the last ice age. Recently, my team and I studied raised beaches in Svenskøya, part of eastern Svalbard. These beaches provide information about relative sea level changes. By dating specific beach ridges at certain altitudes, we can reconstruct the ice load during the last glaciation and better understand changes in glaciation and relative sea level history.

You’ve done a lot of fieldwork in places like North Norway, Svalbard, Iceland, and Greenland. What do you like about fieldwork? Has it changed your perception of doing science?

I love fieldwork because it allows me to collect data and focus on one topic at a time. Visiting remote Arctic locations is unique, and the lack of vegetation in these areas makes it easier to study glacier landscapes and deposits. In the high Arctic, you can see the landscape clearly, unlike the forested areas in southern parts of the Arctic, like Tromsø.

How has your research focus evolved since the beginning of your career?

I started with glacial geology and geomorphology, focusing on surge-type glaciers. This has remained a core interest, especially as recent surges in Svalbard and Iceland provide opportunities to monitor glacier movement, meltwater production, sediment transport, and landform creation. Later, I expanded into glaciation history and paleoclimate research across different parts of the Arctic.

What technologies or methodologies are you most excited about in your field?

I use a mix of low-tech and high-tech methods. In the field, simple tools like a spade and field notebook are invaluable for guaranteed data collection. I also work with advanced paleoclimate proxies, such as biomarkers from lake sediment cores and sedimentary ancient DNA. The combination of simple and cutting-edge techniques makes Quaternary science exciting.

Credit: Sofia Kjellman

What qualities and skills are you looking for in a postdoc or collaborator?

Curiosity is key, along with the ability to conduct meaningful fieldwork to address outstanding research questions. For a specific postdoc project, I’m looking for someone interested in studying glacier surges, glacier dynamics, sediment genesis, and methane cycling from ice caps with surging outlet glaciers.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your research, and how do you overcome them?

One major challenge is studying inaccessible environments, like beneath glaciers or ice sheets. You can’t just lift a glacier to see what’s happening underneath. Instead, I study deposits left behind by deglaciated areas or use geophysical and geochemical methods to infer subglacial conditions. It’s challenging but rewarding.

What’s a particularly memorable moment or breakthrough in your research?

One memorable moment was discovering a drumlin field under formation in Iceland. Drumlins are streamlined landforms created by moving glaciers. This was the first time a whole field of drumlins was observed forming, not just individual ones. It was exciting to see this process in action, and the discovery even made the cover of the journal Geology.

What big question would you like to answer in the future?

I want to understand how glaciers work, particularly what happens beneath them. This includes studying the landforms and sediments they produce, how they move, and how they cycle elements like methane. The hidden subglacial environment is fascinating and crucial to explore.

Could you share a book or movie that has significantly influenced you?

I recently finished reading the diary of Christiane Ritter, who overwintered in a small trapper’s cabin in Svalbard in the 1930s. I visited that cabin during fieldwork a few years ago. The book offers a moving description of life in the Arctic and fieldwork in those times.

If you are interested in applying for an MSCA postdoctoral fellowship with Anders, please read this first and then send him an email briefly outlining your proposed research project and enclose your CV.

Anders Schomacker is a Professor at the at the Department of Geosciences at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and adjunct professor at The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS). His research focuses on reconstructing Arctic environments, paleoclimate and Quaternary ice ages. He is also studying the formation of glacial landscapes and sediment at modern glaciers to be able to better interpret ancient deposits.