Every drop of Arctic water carries tiny fragments of organic matter that originate from melting glaciers, soils, tundra vegetation and marine life. Although invisible, this material fuels food webs, shapes the chemistry of coastal waters and influences how much carbon the ocean can store.
Within the Organic Matter research cluster, scientists study what this material is made of, where it comes from and how it changes as it travels from land to sea. By analysing its chemical fingerprints and natural carbon isotopes, they trace its path from glaciers through rivers and fjords to the open ocean. These analyses reveal how glacier type – land-terminating or marine-terminating – meltwater flow and local conditions shape its composition and behaviour.
Another key focus of the group concerns the reactivity of this organic matter in a rapidly warming Arctic. Some fractions break down quickly and release carbon back to the atmosphere, while others can be preserved and buried in fjord sediments for very long periods. As Arctic glaciers continue to melt, understanding these processes becomes essential.
This research will help clarify the role of fjords in storing or releasing carbon, how ecosystems respond and how the Arctic is connected to the global climate system.
Outcomes:
- Understanding where Arctic organic matter comes from: identifying the contributions of glacial melt, soils, tundra vegetation and marine life along the land-to-sea pathway.
- Revealing how organic matter transforms in fjords: uncovering the chemical changes and reactivity that determine whether carbon is broken down, transported or buried.
- Clarifying the role of fjords in carbon storage: providing essential evidence to assess whether these ecosystems release carbon back to the atmosphere or help lock it away as the Arctic warms.
Research Projects:
- FjordOC – Tracing organic matter across Greenlandic fjords