Baseline contaminant assessment on the remote Storfjorden coasts of southeast Svalbard
Edgeøya is located in the southeast of Svalbard. The southeast corner is still relatively unspoilt with minor fishing and tourisms activities in summer time compared to the western side of the archipelago. It receives the dominant air mass from south-westerly winds, which can transport different types of contamination such as chemicals and microplastics. It therefore serves as relevant background area for contaminants coming from other regions.
During the SEES2020 expedition terrestrial samples will be collected along the Storfjord coast (Kapp Lee in particular) to assess background levels of microplastics and chemical contaminants (Hg, PAHs). This will act as baseline for future changes.
.
Mercury levels in soil and vegetation of arctic terrestrial ecosystems.
I would like to collect soil and vegetation samples to analyse mercury levels to create a spatial overview of mercury levels in Arctic terrestrial ecosystems. Earlier experiments with goslings showed adverse effects at low levels of exposure. This project would enable us to put the results of those studies in a wider context. In addition to the soil and vegetation I would also like to collect goose faeces, indicative for exposure to contaminants in the food. Most research on mercury in the Arctic has been performed in the marine ecosystem. This project will focus on the terrestrial project with potential implications for herbivores like geese and reindeer. Together with Nico van den Brink, Maarten Loonen.
Movement patterns of people on arctic tundra
Tourism can create soil erosion on heavy visited routes. How close do they stick together and use the same path?
Does this pattern change after they have been warned for polar bear activity?
With a GPS-logger-app on their telephones, we want to study the patterns of movement of the various participants of the SEES.nl expedition while they have landed on a tundra site. Do scientists, tourists or journalists move in
different patterns or speeds? Do social units stick together all the time? Are people taking exactly the same track?
How far are people away from their guards?
At the end of each day, the tracks are collected and stored. Participants on this project need to give their consent for the use of their data, the data will be pseudonymised and the results shared with them before publishing. Together with Renno Hokwerda, Maarten Loonen.
