Greenland and Iceland fieldwork

​The summer months of 2019 took us to Greenland and Iceland where we are focussed on elucidating various aspects of the microbial processes and carbon cycling in snow and ice settings.

Our science team comprised of microbiologists, molecular ecologists, geochemists, and modelers. We all study cryospheric environments and the processes linked to how snow and ice microbes in general and pigmented algae in particular affect nutrient and carbon cycling, as well as albedo in Polar settings.

Joining me from GFZ were Liane Benning, Chris Trivedi, Matthias Winkel, and Rey Mourot. From Aarhus University: Alex Anesio, Laura Halbach and Eva Doting. 

First, we were based at the remote Sermilik Station in SE Greenland, working on the Greenland Ice Sheet and on Mittivakkat glacier. This field work is part of the project AirMiMic, which is in part funded by InterAct, the Helmholtz Recruiting Initiative and a Humboldt Foundation Fellowship grant. Then, continuing on to Iceland’s Snæfellsjökull National Park and Langjökull.

Not only was our time in the field highly productive, but the ‘dream team’ couldn’t have been happier to be there - working in such a remote and visually stunning environment, hiking many miles through mountainous and glaciated terrain, cooking highly improvised meals, moving several tons of fright to a remote ice camp, and learning that helicopter and boat schedules can never be relied on!

Check out the Gallery for some images from the field, and hold tight on the exciting science that is underway. Thanks to the entire team for such a beautiful and memorable time.