ICOTA project

Goal:

The main objective of this project is to provide a better understanding of the biogeochemical and contaminant processes involved when permafrost thaws into the Arctic water column due to coastal erosion. Specifically, we will perform an experiment where permafrost from Svalbard is thawed into the sea water under controlled and regulated conditions and all of the processes are monitored and quantified. We plan to study the role of the permafrost as a potential source of carbon, nutrients (in organic and inorganic forms) and contaminants through the following scientific objectives:

1. Comparison and inter-calibration of analytical chemical techniques used in Norway and Russia

2. Introduce passive samplers’ technique for measurement of pollutants during the experiment

3. Analyse and interpret the chemical effects of permafrost melting on Arctic coastal water on the base of “microcosm” experiments.

4. Exchange the data and upload results to the databases

5. Work on a large collaborative proposal

Partners:

• Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA)

  • • Dr. Evgeniy Yakushev eya@niva.no

    • Dr. Ian Alan

    • Dr. Hans-Fredrik Veiteberg Braaten

• Federal State Institution Zubov State Oceanographic Institute of RHI (FGBU SOI)

  • • Maria Pogojeva

    • Ilya Petrov

• Federal State Budgetary Institution "Research and Production Association "Typhoon" (North-West Branch of RPA «Typhoon»)

  • • Evgeny Yaeski

• The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS)

  • • Prof Øystein Varpe