TRACE-WGC

Tracing heat, nutrient and freshwater transfers and primary production along the West Greenland Current

What is the motivation?

Melting Greenland glaciers release freshwater and nutrients that reshape ocean life and influence climate. TRACE-WGC investigates how these changes move through the ocean, affect primary production, and alter marine ecosystems. Understanding these processes reveals how Arctic freshwater and materials impact both regional and global ocean systems.

Why does it matter?

Glacial melt from Greenland affects more than local waters—it influences ocean circulation, marine ecosystems, and global climate. TRACE-WGC provides data for international programs studying how Arctic freshwater and matter transfer to the northwestern Atlantic. Insights from this research improve climate predictions and guide strategies to protect ocean health, marine biodiversity, and communities that depend on ocean resources.

© Mathieu Ardyna

Project Focus

TRACE-WGC examines how Greenland’s melting glaciers influence coastal and offshore ocean systems. The project studies nutrient distribution, water circulation, and light conditions that control primary production. Phytoplankton communities are assessed for their role in producing and exporting organic matter. Sampling in fjords and adjacent waters connects local changes to broader ocean processes, revealing how glacier melt affects marine productivity and the movement of carbon through the ocean.

© Mathieu Ardyna

How will it be done?

Seawater and environmental data will be collected along fjords and coastal waters. Macronutrients and trace metals will be measured to identify factors limiting primary production. Ship-based instruments will record light, particle properties, and water movement, enabling comparisons between areas influenced by different glaciers and ocean conditions. These observations will reveal how heat, nutrients, and freshwater flow through the region and how these flows shape marine productivity and carbon transport.

What will be collected?

Seawater samples will measure temperature, salinity, nutrient levels, and trace metals. Light intensity and particle properties will be recorded at multiple depths. Observations along fjords and ocean transects will track how glacial meltwater and ocean currents influence marine productivity, organic matter export, and the movement of carbon through the coastal and offshore ocean.

Members and partners

• Principal Investigator:
  • Mathieu Ardyna, Laboratoire de recherche international Takuvik, Université Laval, Québec, Canada & Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Paris, France
• Expedition participants – Leg A:
  • Jean-Éric Tremblay, Transforming Climate Action (TCA) Initiative, Canada
  • Juliette Provencher, Transforming Climate Action (TCA) Initiative, Canada
  • Jonathan Gagnon, Transforming Climate Action (TCA) Initiative, Canada
  • Tia Anderlini, Transforming Climate Action (TCA) Initiative, Canada
  • Megan Roberts, Transforming Climate Action (TCA) Initiative, Canada
  • Paola Echeverría Garcés, Transforming Climate Action (TCA) Initiative, Canada
  • Victoria Strépenne, Transforming Climate Action (TCA) Initiative, Canada
  • Simon Bélanger, Transforming Climate Action (TCA) Initiative, Canada
• Expedition participants – Leg B:
  • Sébastien Guérin, Transforming Climate Action (TCA) Initiative, Canada
  • Gaël Ndoutoune-Paquet, Transforming Climate Action (TCA) Initiative, Canada
  • Gabrièle Deslongchamps, Transforming Climate Action (TCA) Initiative, Canada
  • Christophe Perron, Transforming Climate Action (TCA) Initiative, Canada
  • Matthieu Huot, Transforming Climate Action (TCA) Initiative, Canada
• Other partners:
  • Transforming Climate Action (TCA) Initiative :
    • Erin Bertrand, Université Dalhousie
    • Frédéric Cyr, Université Memoria
    • El Mahdi Bendif, UQAR/ISMER
    • Zoe Finkel, Université Dalhousi
    • Carolyn Buchwald, Université Dalhousie
    • Heather Reader, Université Memoria
    • Hugh MacIntyre, Université Dalhousie
    • Sue Budge, Université Dalhousie
    • Natalya Evans, Université Dalhousie
    • Chris Latimer, Université Dalhousie
    • Gordon Lax, Université Dalhousie
    • Kim Rouanet, UQAR
    • Stéphanie Kienast, Université Dalhousie ;
    • Maxime Geoffroy, Université Memorial ;
    • Frederic Maps, Université Laval ;
  • Partners in France and Switzerland:
    • Hélène Planquette, LEMAR ;
    • Claire Waelbroeck, LOCEAN ;
    • Bruno Lansard, LSCE ;
    • Samuel Jaccard, UNIL ;
    • Nuria Casacuberta, ETH Zurich ;
    • Lisa Bröder, ETH Zurich ;
    • Pieter van-Beek, LEGOS
  • Other partner:
    • Jay Cullen, Université de Victoria