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Project information
Tracking Nitrate Dynamics in a Changing Arctic Fjord: Improving Observations from Inner Kongsfjorden under climate change pressure (TND)
Call year: 2026
Status: active
IADC_id: 831
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The Svalbard archipelago, located in the European Arctic, is highly sensitive to Arctic amplification, which manifests as atmospheric and ocean warming, glacier retreat, increased precipitation, Atlantification and enhanced water-column stratification. Kongsfjorden, on the west coast of Spitsbergen, is among the most extensively studied Arctic fjord systems and serves a well-established research site. The fjord receives inputs from Atlantic (AW), Arctic water (ArW) masses (Tverberg et al., 2019), and glacial runoff, making it an ideal natural laboratory for investigating the impact of ongoing climate changes on marine ecosystems. Recent observations indicate that shifts in abiotic conditions are driving rapid transformations in Svalbard’s marine communities, particularly within phyto- and zooplankton assemblages (Assmy et al., 2023). On a regional scale, AW inflow around Svalbard exhibit multiannual cycles of warmer/saltier periods alternating with colder/fresher phases, governed by complex mechanisms linked to large-scale processes in the subpolar North Atlantic Ocean and Nordic Seas (Penny Holliday, 2020). Locally, AW inflow into fjords is mainly controlled by air–ocean interactions, where synoptic wind patterns and the extent of glacial meltwater discharge play key roles (De Rovere et al., 2025). Changes in oceanographic conditions strongly influence nutrient dynamics. Warming, glacial meltwater input and the intrusion of distinct water masses modify water column stratification, thereby affecting pH and oxygen levels. These changes can affect the nitrification process and trigger cascading effects across the ecosystem. During summer, terrestrial nitrogen inputs contribute nearly 50% of the nitrate pool in fjord waters, playing a crucial role in the regenerated nitrogen pool (Santos-Garcia et al., 2022). This underscores the importance of terrestrial inputs in sustaining marine productivity and suggests that climate change may enhance nutrient inventories, primary production, and nutrient export to offshore waters. The proposed project will complement ongoing high-frequency monitoring of nitrate concentrations by providing analytical validation for sensor calibration – essential for reliable long-term assessment of this key biogeochemical variable fundamental to the balance of marine systems. The project is a collaboration between CNR-ISP and NPI, combining effort to monitor nitrate dynamics in coastal waters. A SUNA probe, installed at 27 meters depth on the ISP-operated MDI mooring provides continuous fixed-point observations, supported by periodic water sampling by CNR (MDI mooring site) and Norwegian Polar Institute, NPI (at stations KB3 & KB4) along Kongsfjorden. The mooring is also equipped with a submersible Pro Oceanus CO2 sensor, a SeapHOx CT(D)-pH-DO sensor, and CTDs SeaBird 16 plus with auxiliary sensors for oxygen, fluorescence, turbidity and Eco-PAR, as well as an automatic sediment trap and an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler. This integrated setup enables simultaneous measurement of multiple physical and biogeochemical parameters, providing a robust framework for analysing short- and long-term processes governing nitrate dynamic in the water column. During the spring period, nitrate levels typically show marked changed due to consumption by primary producers and survey (CTD casts and water sampling) will be conducted at the MDI mooring site and on the sampling station Kb4 and Kb3 which are respectively a routine pelagic sampling stations and a seasonal monitoring station. Water samples will be collected from five different depths for subsequent laboratory analysis and to support calibration of the SUNA sensor. This sampling strategy will also allow for an extended assessment of nitrate variability throughout the vertical structure of the water column.
National/International Cooperation:
The MDI mooring of CNR-ISP is one of the SIOS observation facilities for long-term monitoring of physical, chemical and biological parameters in the water column. The monitoring activity contributes to the Kongsfjorden System Flagship program (WP1), supporting the development of a continuous, interdisciplinary and accessible research infrastructure. The proposed project will also extend the activities initiated during the 2024 – 2025 International Kongsfjorden Year (IKY). Data from the MDI mooring contributes to one of IKY’s core projects, supporting the interpretation of the sampling results. The partnership between CNR-ISP and the Norwegian Polar Institute during this project has proven highly beneficial for both institute. The joint approach provides a solid basis for future expansion to additional sites across the region, enabling a more synoptic view of environmental changes in Svalbard waters.
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