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Fresh water Input in the Kongsfjorden (FIKO)
Call year: 2015
Status: active
IADC_id: 20
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This project aims to acquire measurements of the chemical and physical characteristics of water masses in Kongsfjorden, and in particular, to estimate the amount of fresh water released from glaciers, in order to study the interactions of this water with the warmer Atlantic waters.rnThe Kongsfjorden is affected by inflow of Atlantic water as well as glacier melt water runoff from 3 glacial termination flowing in the inner part of the fjord. The density and stratification of local waters and so the carbon exchange between the different waters masses, is significantly affected by the meltwater discharge systems. The Arctic water masses differ each other especially in terms of temperature, salinity and stable isotope compositions. Moreover, the increased freshwater supply from sea-ice melt and river runoff have shown to decrease calcium saturation state and provide a positive feedback on ocean acidification processes. Furthermore, enhanced freshwater runoff and coastal erosion contribute to increase the particulate supply with its organic matter content, increasing CO2 concentration and decreasing pH, due to mineralization of organic carbon in the marine environment.rnSince 2010, the ISMAR research team get oceanographic parameters in a mooring site (MDI - mooring Dirigibile Italia) and acquires temperature and salinity data in Kongsfjorden through repeated CTD probes surveys. One of the main goal of this research is the study of the interactions between the different water masses in the fjord and in particular between the cold surface freshwater from melting of the large glacial terminations present and the warmer intermediate water intruding in the fjord. These interactions are very important because contribute to cooling processes of the northernmost branch of the Gulf Stream (West Spitsbergen Current) and so of the entire global thermohaline circulation.rnIn this proposal, we suggest for 2015 season, a feasibility (preliminary) study to measure the water masses characteristics in Kongsfjorden, particularly in not accessible areas, due to the ice collapse hazard, through the use of an unmannedvehicle remote-controlled. Specifically, temperature and salinity measurements of the water will be carried out at different depths.rnThe USSV (Unmanned Semi-Submersible Vehicle) vehicle by ISSIA-CNR, named Shark is able to sail along preset routes, and at the same time is possible to be driven by remote. The USSV will be equipped with two probes CTD one on the surface and second one positioned at 3-5m depth. Transects will run along of the main glacier terminations close to the ice edge. The main target will be the Kronebreen glacier because this is the closer to MDI, but also the Kongsbreen and Conwaybreen glaciers should be take into account as second and third choices, respectively. Some other transects will be positioned perpendicular to the front of the glacier in order to reconstruct the two/three-dimensionality of the fresh water mass body. These kind of measures have never been performed in Kongsfjorden. This activity must be considered necessary and in any case, preparatory to a more structured survey to be carried out over the next year (2016).rnIn parallel to the seasonal CTD survey, will be also repeate the experiment performed two years ago, in collaboration with IAMC, with encouraging results, in order to study the dynamics of microbial biomass and respiratory activity in the seawater during late summer in a site of the Kongsfjorden. This kind of studies are very useful because of organic matter collected by sediment traps does not take into account the dissolved organic matter present in the seawater. The study of microbial respiration rates fills this gap, since respiration includes oxidation of both dissolved and particulate organic matter, providing an integrated estimate of the carbon utilization in the sea. Discrete water samples will be collected in some CTD sites along transects perpendicular to the ice fronts in order to better elucidate the processes at the fjord water-glacial ice interface.
National/International Cooperation:
Institute for coastal marine environment (CNR-IAMC-), The Institute of Intelligent Systems for Automation performs research (CNR-ISSIA).
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