Fram Forum Conference Edition 2019 - Arctic Frontiers by FramCentre

FRAM CENTRE

CONFERENCE EDITION 2019

FRAM FORUM CONFERENCE 2019

Welcome to Arctic Frontiers The massive Arctic geography is impressive and immovable - while Arctic policies deepen and develop new facets. New actors engage in the Arctic stage and new interests topics emerge with these developments. Arctic Frontiers is a conference in the Arctic on the Arctic, designed to reflect these trends and set the evolving agenda. Our mission is to encourage sustainable development of Arctic business and societies. In doing so, we strive to present a balanced, accurate and updated picture of the region.

The Arctic is both diverse and complex, yet many possibilities and challenges are the same. "Smart Arctic" refers to smart societies, smart ocean technology, smart communication, smart management and smart business. Succeeding with a sustainable Arctic development requires smart collaboration and an aware and bold mentality.

abroad. The Arctic Frontiers partner network consists of universities, research institutes, business organisations, NGOs, businesses and government on different levels. I would like to thank our partners for their inputs and contributions to the development of Arctic Frontiers. Our partners represent our most valued stakeholders and provide us with the legitimacy we have gained.

Arctic Frontiers is as a full year agenda-setting body, operating in and outside the Arctic, in Norway and

At the 13th Arctic Frontiers a number of distinguished representatives from government, science,

About the Fram Centre The Fram Centre is the short name for FRAM – High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment. We are based in our building in Tromsø and consists of scientists from 21 institutions involved in interdisciplinary research and outreach in the fields of natural science, technology and social sciences. We contribute to Norway’s sound management of the environment and natural resources in the north – and we aim at excellence in said management. With scientific research as our foundation, we communicate knowledge to management authorities, the business communities and the general public. The centre contributes to strengthening the connection between research and education. The Fram Centre is an important arena nationally as well as internationally and contributes with inputs on climate-related issues.

FRAM CENTRE MEMBERS: Akvaplan-niva CICERO Centre for International Climate Research Institute of Marine Research National Coastal Administration National Veterinary Institute NGU – The Geological Survey of Norway NILU – Norwegian Institute for Air Research NINA – Norwegian Institute for Nature Research NIKU – Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research Nofima – The Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research NORUT – Northern Research Institute Norwegian Meteorological Institute Norwegian Polar Institute Norwegian Institute for Bieconomy Research Norwegian Institute for Water Research Norwegian Mapping Authority Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority SINTEF Group UNIS – The University Centre in Svalbard UiT – The Arctic University of Norway Associated member: Polaria

FRAM FORUM CONFERENCE 2019

Ola Elvestuen, Minister of Climate and Environment, Norway

Our key to understanding indigenous people, business and NGOs will participate in panels on smart arctic development. Arctic Frontiers connects across borders regions and sectors. Welcome to Arctic Frontiers 2019, Smart Arctic. Yours sincerely, Ole Øvretveit Director, Arctic Frontiers

Fram Forum – Conference edition 2019 is published by FRAM – High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment in collaboration with Arctic Frontiers. Executive: Helge M. Markusson helge.markusson@framsenteret.no Cover design/page 19: Reibo Layout: Tank Tromsø Printer: Lundblad Media THE FRAM CENTRE Visiting address: Hjalmar Johansens gate 14 Postal address: POB 6606 Langnes N-9296 Tromsø +47 77 75 02 00 post@framsenteret.no www.framsenteret.no

The Arctic climate is changing rapidly, driven by global greenhouse gas emissions. The Arctic as we know it is being replaced by a warmer, wetter and more unpredictable environment. This transformation has profound implications for ecosystems, resources and people both in the Arctic and worldwide. Facing these changes, we have two main tasks. First, we must limit climate change through rapid and severe reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. Second, we have to understand and adapt to the changes ahead. The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shows that the difference between 1, 5 and 2.0 degrees of global warming will make a major difference with regard to impacts. This is of profound importance for the Arctic, which warms 2–3 times faster than the global average. In the Arctic, as elsewhere, adaptation is much more likely to be successful if we also succeed with limiting global warming. Scientific knowledge is our key to understanding the likely implications of our actions – or inaction. Knowledge about the risks and consequences in a warmer and wetter Arctic is also the key to navigate and adapt to future change.

Arctic Frontiers links policymakers and people doing business in the Arctic with the science community to discuss what the latest findings of Arctic science mean for policy and business. This makes Arctic Frontiers an important arena not only for fruitful discussions, but also to initiate action to mitigate and adapt to the changes ahead. The findings from the many projects of the Fram Centre here in Tromsø are indispensable as input to this dialogue, and as a basis for policies to meet the challenges of Arctic change. The Fram Centre consists of scientists from 21 institutions involved in interdisciplinary research and outreach in the fields of natural science, technology and social sciences, making valuable contributions to the know-ledge base we need to adapt and build resilient Arctic communities. The theme “Smart Arctic” underlines that to succeed in this rapidly changing region we have to be smart. We have to base our decisions, policies and business strategies on the best available knowledge, and on a firm will to find sustainable solutions. I wish all participants fruitful and smart discussions during Arctic Frontiers in Tromsø.

The big issue Recent years have seen a massive increase in public awareness of the problem of plastic in the sea. This has prompted people to organise excursions to clear away some of the plastic waste that washes ashore along the Norwegian coast. This picture was taken on Vengsøya west of Tromsø in May 2017. The photographer, Bo Eide, works as a climate and environmental advisor for the Municipality of Tromsø. In this capacity, he coordinates the clean-up efforts of Ren Kyst (Clean Coast). When he came across this beatup globe on the beach, he felt obliged to take a picture. It speaks more eloquently than any words. Photo: Bo Eide

FRAM FORUM CONFERENCE 2019

Helge M. Markusson // Fram Centre

Warmer sea and less ice north of Svalbard The Arctic ocean is warmest when the air in the Arctic gets colder. This is when the sea ice north of Svalbard decreases. Researchers found changes in the physical marine environment that was so great that the ecosystems north of Svalbard had changed.

NEW STUDY shows that the largest influx toward the Arctic Ocean takes place in autumn and early winter and that the water is also warmest at this time of year. Powerful pulses of water warmer than five degrees enter the area at the time of the year when the sea ice should freeze. But even if the air temperature is far below freezing, even during the months without the sun to warm the ground, new sea ice fails to appear. “Only if the wind helps by blowing ice and fresh surface water from the interior of the Arctic Ocean or from the east will we see an ice cover on the Atlantic influx. We have been watching the ice cover on the Arctic Ocean become significantly thinner in recent years, along with reductions in distribution in time and space. This also reduces the supply of fresh water from the north,” quotes Angelika Renner, an oceanographer at the Marine Research Institute and one of the researchers behind the study. The mechanism that causes the warm and salty waters from the south to remain below the insulating cold and fresh layer of water in the north appears to have been weakened in recent years.

MORE OPEN WATERS IN THE NORTH AND EAST A research paper was published this summer that shows how the northern Barents Sea is about to shift from an Arctic to an Atlantic climate. “We see a similar atlantification of the sea to the north and east of Svalbard; less sea ice in the Arctic Ocean leads to less melt-water and thus the warm Atlantic water remains atop the water column for most of the year, staying entirely on the surface. It provides a larger ice-free area north of the Svalbard Archipelago and thinner ice further to the east,” quotes Arild Sundfjord, an oceanographer at the Norwegian Polar Institute Sundfjord and Renner point out that the Atlantic influx brings nutrients with it which are necessary for the growth of phytoplankton and larger organisms such as copepods. “This allows the fish which feed on such zooplankton to survive farther north. So it is not just the physical environment that is changing; the ecosystem is changing as well. Research shows that global warming has sent a number of fish species in the Barents Sea

FRAM FORUM CONFERENCE 2019

The research is part of the Fram Centre’s Sea Ice in the Arctic Ocean research program, technology and influencing systems (Havisen i Polhavet, teknologi og styringssystemer), as part of the A-Twain Project.

Climate change leads to dramatic upheavals in the Arctic Ocean. The physical environment is changing quickly with increased temperatures and reduced ice cover. This can have serious consequences for arctic species such as seals and other marine mammals. Photo: Elvar H. Hallfredsson, Marine Research Institute

The research vessel “Helmer Hanssen” on a scientific expedition in the Arctic Ocean. Warm seas produce less sea ice north of Svalbard, which may bring about changes to the marine environment. That means Norway’s responsibility to carry out such research in this area continues to be of great significance. Photo: Elvar H. Hallfredsson, Marine Research Institute

FRAM FORUM CONFERENCE 2019

MAK YER EAU T PLA

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FRAM STRAIT

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farther northeast, at relatively great speed. We really need to keep our eyes open and monitor what is happening north of Svalbard,” quotes Sundfjord.

WARMER STORMS In an article in the Norwegian newspaper, Aftenposten, Renner and Sundfjord wrote that the wind also plays an important role in how the ice sheet forms. Southwest winds can reinforce the influx of Atlantic water from the south. The wind blows ice and the cold, fresh surface water towards the northeast, which allows for saltier and warmer waters on the surface. At the same time, strong winds help the heat mix more effectively up to the surface and thus can prevent the freezing of ice even at very low air temperatures.

NORWAY RUSSIA ICELAND Warm water flowing north from the Atlantic Ocean splits into several branches. Illustration: Reibo / Arild Sundfjord, Norwegian Polar Institute and Angelika Renner, Institute of Marine Research

A large part follows the seafloor topography north of Svalbard to the east and continues into the Arctic Ocean.

Autumn / Early winter

Wind-driven mixing

Cold freshwater from melt

SEA ICE

ATLANTIC WATER

“Northern winds cause the cold freshwater and ice to be carried south. In some years, this might lead to icecovered waters quite far south. We saw this in 2014 when the wind brought ice so far south that several of the expeditions to the Marine Research Institute and the Norwegian Polar Institute entered areas that had been ice-free in autumn in past years,” quotes Sundfjord. “And we did not need to send temperature gauges very far into the water column before they registered warmer water. There could be ice on the surface and a temperature of seven degrees at a depth of 30 feet in the water column at the same place. The ice cover in 2014 was thus a result of the weather, not the climate. The wind thus threw the local ice cover over the more extensive climate problems,” quotes Renner.

Heat transport

Tid e CONTINENTAL SHELF

-dr ive nm ixin g

Spring / Early summer Solar Radiation

Illustration: Reibo / Arild Sundfjord, Norwegian Polar Institute and Angelika Renner, Institute of Marine Research

Wind-driven mixing SEA ICE

Cold freshwater from melt ATLANTIC WATER

Heat transport

Tid e CONTINENTAL SHELF

-dr ive nm ixin g

In the autumn and early winter, an extraordinarily large amount of warm water Illustration: Reibo / Arild Sundfjord, Norwegian Polar Institute and Angelika Renner, Institute of Marine Research

enters the Arctic Ocean north of Svalbard. It stays on the surface, which means no sea ice is formed, even when the air temperature is very low. In late winter, this influx decreases and the surface water becomes colder. A dense ice cover usually forms that can encompass the whole north coast of Svalbard.

FRAM FORUM CONFERENCE 2019

Jan Ove Bustnes and Bård-Jørgen Bårdsen // Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Kjetil Sagerup // Akvaplan-niva Geir Wing Gabrielsen // Norwegian Polar Institute

Multiple stressors: why even low pollution threatens top predator birds After the discovery that pesticides and industrial chemicals can spread to every corner of the world and harm wildlife, many were banned. For some, environmental levels fell quickly. But effects depend not just on levels, but also on interactions with other stressors. We need to understand these links.

VER SINCE HUMANS discovered fire, pollution of the environment has been an inevitable consequence of human activity. But it was only in the last century that the widespread damage caused by pollution became a serious concern. The unrestrained emissions of persistent pesticides and industrial chemicals after the Second World War led to a ban on compounds such as DDT and PCB in the 1970s and 1980s. The environmental concentrations fell drastically in the following decades, and are currently only a fraction of those observed during the peak years. When levels of environmental contaminants were at their highest, top predator birds suffered a great deal, commonly dying from poisoning. Fortunately, the bans mitigated such impacts, and most raptor species have recovered. Our question is: To what extent are persistent environmental contaminants still

detrimental to wildlife, particularly in the Arctic? Pollution has effects at every organisational stratum, from cells to populations to ecosystems. Effects on individuals and populations, such as increased death rate and suppressed reproduction − ecological effects − have been our main research focus in recent years. The Hazardous Substances Flagship in the Fram Centre has been central in funding research on top predator birds such as arctic seabirds and birds of prey, notably the white-tailed eagle in northern Norway. In addition to legacy compounds such as DDT, PCB and mercury, emerging contaminants such as fluoride-based compounds are now being studied. Untangling how environmental contaminants affect wildlife species is complicated, and a variety of

FRAM FORUM CONFERENCE 2019

Glaucous gulls. Photo: Jan Ove Bustnes

The white-tailed eagle is a majestic bird

The glaucous gull is confined to the High Arctic but is

and a symbol of the pristine environment on

nonetheless the north Atlantic seabird in which the most

the Norwegian Coast. Photo: Trond Johnsen

serious effects of environmental contaminants have been shown, especially at BjĂ¸rnĂ¸ya. Although the environmental levels of compounds such as PCB have declined in recent years, levels still vary greatly from year to year, as shown in this figure for PCB and the fluoride-based PFOS.

approaches are necessary. Experimental manipulation of contaminant levels is rarely a feasible option for wildlife scientists. Such experiments often call for impractical/impossible study designs. Intentionally exposing wildlife to lethal substances is unethical or even illegal. Instead, we have adopted different strategies for unravelling interactions between contaminants and natural stressors. The well-known relationships between concentrations and the effects of pollutants prompted studies of factors causing variation in concentrations, as well as the direct effects. Using statistical models, we have shown that much of the variation in concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in northern seabirds and raptors can be explained by factors such as temperature, precipitation

and snow cover. This indicates that a changing climate may modulate the downward trends of environmental contaminants and that naturally occurring processes may increase contaminant concentrations and thus effects. Our studies of seabirds and raptors have provided evidence that both concentrations and effects of persistent pollutants in wildlife are influenced by other physical and biological factors, such as climate, diseases and food availability. The multi-stress approach to studying wildlife revealed that even if the legacy persistent pollutants are declining, they interact with ongoing negative impacts from natural and manmade stressors and the ever-increasing number of new pollutants, and may still be a potent factor in the health of wildlife in northern ecosystems.

FRAM FORUM CONFERENCE 2019

Jane Uhd Jepsen // Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Ole Petter L. Vindstad and Rolf A. Ims // UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Small engineers with a large impact: ecosystem consequences of moth outbreaks in sub-arctic forest Pest insect outbreaks in the subarctic birch forest of northern Norway are among the most abrupt and large-scale ecosystem disturbances attributed to recent climate change in Europe. But such outbreaks have occurred regularly as far back as historical records go. What is new and why are moth outbreaks a cause of concern?

OTH LARVAE HAVE “always” inflicted sporadic damage on forests, but the outbreak ranges of the moth species are changing in response to a milder climate. Historically, moth outbreaks in northern Fennoscandia were mainly caused by the autumnal moth – a relatively cold-adapted species. The less cold-adapted winter moth was not recorded north of Tromsø until early in the 20th century. Since then both species have spread into more northern and continental areas. During massive outbreaks after 2000, the winter moth reached outbreak densities over most of the region, far inland and all the way to the low arctic tree line in eastern Finnmark. A third species, the scarce umber moth, has expanded its range northwards in Troms during the last decades, and is now an important pest in coastal forests. Because the different moth species tend to reach their population peaks with a time lag of a few years, more species

means longer outbreaks. This is bad news for the birch forest. CRITICAL THRESHOLDS Forests are dynamic systems able to withstand a certain amount of disturbance such as drought, storms, insect outbreaks or wild fires. After a disturbance, forests recover to their previous state. This ability of an ecosystem to maintain its structure and function despite disturbances is referred to as resilience. However, if disturbances become more severe or more frequent, the ecosystem may no longer be able to recover; the system has reached a critical threshold. In such cases even small, gradual changes in disturbance level may result in disproportionally large and sudden impacts on the forest ecosystem. In the northern birch forest, we have found several indications that such

FRAM FORUM CONFERENCE 2019

Larvae of three species of moth are doing all the damage. From left to right: the winter moth, the autumnal moth, and the scarce umber moth. The scarce umber moth has so far not been found in Finnmark, but is expanding its range in Troms. This year a citizen science campaign (Målerjakt, www.malerjakt.no) was launched by the Fram Centre to map the northern distribution range of this species. Photo: Jon Aars / Norwegian Polar Institute

thresholds exist. First, the forest can tolerate defoliation up to a certain level, but exceeding this threshold results in rapid mass-mortality of birch. Second, there is threshold also in the potential for forest regrowth, as recruitment of both saplings and basal sprouts is poor if the mature tree layer is too severely damaged.

dead stems in forests further south. In the northern birch forest, we found that their response to the vast amounts of dead wood resulting from the moth outbreaks was limited and dominated by a few species. This suggests that these beetles play a minor role as decomposers of the dead wood left by the outbreaks.

CASCADING EFFECTS ON THE FOREST ECOSYSTEM

GLOOMY FUTURE FOR NORTHERN BIRCH FORESTS?

The moth outbreaks during the 2000s resulted in high forest mortality in Finnmark and northern Finland. Ten years after the outbreak, tree mortality is locally above 90 %. Despite this, a new outbreak is currently in progress, which is likely to further increase forest mortality. Such large-scale diebacks are expected to have implications for many forest-dwelling species. In recent years, we have studied the short-term cascading impacts of moth outbreaks on vegetation, wildlife, and biodiversity of birds and insects. In severely affected areas, the ground vegetation underwent a complete transformation from a dominance by dwarf shrubs to grass. This was beneficial for grazing rodents, but large browsers such as reindeer avoided the more severely affected areas. The transformation was also confirmed by snow tracking in spring, when fewer tracks of the herbivores ptarmigan, hare and moose were observed in damaged forest areas. In contrast, forest-dwelling birds appeared resistant towards forest mortality, at least in the short term. This could be related to the structure of the forest remaining largely intact, and may change over time as the dead stems decompose, break and fall down. Deadwoodassociated beetles play a key role as decomposers of

The intensified outbreaks and the presence of critical thresholds in the response of the forest raise concern for the future of the affected areas. Relatively small changes in defoliation pressure caused by continued moth range expansions under climate warming, can cause very large increases in forest mortality and subsequent recruitment failure. This will drive a transition from forest towards more open or treeless states. However, the behaviour of ecosystems that exhibit non-linear responses, as observed here, is notoriously difficult to predict. Therefore, focused long-term monitoring of both moth outbreaks and forest responses are needed to understand the implications of insect pest disturbances on the northern birch forest ecosystem. Such monitoring is currently being developed as part of COAT – Climate-ecological Observatory for Arctic Tundra (www.coat.no). THE PROJECT: What comes after the new pest: Ecosystem transitions following insect pest outbreaks induced by climate change in the European high North. Funded by the Research Council of Norway (project 244454), the Fram Centre Terrestrial Flagship, and participating institutions.

FRAM FORUM CONFERENCE 2019

Amanda Poste // Norwegian Institute for Water Research

Northern coastal ecosystems are in transition The land-ocean interface, where land meets the sea, is a dynamic environment that supports productive coastal ecosystems. These, in turn, are a key source of marine resources for northern communities. But northern coastal ecosystems are in transition.

ULTIPLE STRESSORS, often interrelated, are exerting pressure and driving long-term environmental change in coastal environments. Stressors such as climate change (e.g. alterations in precipitation and runoff patterns, shifts in catchment vegetation) and land-use changes can lead to changes in the movement of water, sediments, nutrients, organic matter and contaminants from land to sea. These changes may have strong effects on coastal water chemistry, ecology and cycling of contaminants such as mercury. However, very little is known about the downstream effects of terrestrial inputs on coastal ecosystems, and without comprehensive baseline knowledge on the nature and magnitude of these inputs, and their biogeochemical and ecological consequences, it is difficult to assess how future increases in these inputs might affect northern coastal ecosystems.

RIVER INPUT EFFECTS ON SUB-ARCTIC FJORDS Our recent work has focused on exploring how riverine inputs affect the biogeochemistry, ecology, and mercury contamination of northern fjord ecosystems. Through detailed fieldwork, sampling on six occasions from August 2015 to November 2016, we have characterized physicochemical conditions, pelagic lower food web ecology and mercury dynamics along a freshwater to the marine gradient in a subArctic Norwegian river-fjord system (Målselv– Målselvfjord, in Troms). EFFECTS ON PHYSICOCHEMICAL CONDITIONS Physical and chemical conditions in the river– fjord system was primarily driven by mixing of the fresh and marine water masses and were strongly influenced by recent rainfall and river

FRAM FORUM CONFERENCE 2019

A conceptual framework for how terrestrial inputs can affect coastal biogeochemistry, ecology and contaminant dynamics. DOM = dissolved organic matter

discharge. The influence of freshwater inputs from the river extended well beyond the outer fjord during periods of high river flow, while during periods of low river flow, only a thin layer of fresh or brackish water was present in the inner fjord. In all seasons, the river was a source of terrestrial organic matter, silicate and mercury to the fjord ecosystem. FJORD ZOOPLANKTON RELY ON FOOD FROM THE LAND Stable isotopes of carbon are often used to determine where organisms get their nourishment, as different primary carbon sources often have different isotopic composition. The strong contrast between the stable carbon isotopic values of riverine and marine-derived organic matter allowed us to use a two-source mixing model to assess the relative importance of terrestrial (riverine) versus marine energy sources for fjord zooplankton. Nearshore zooplankton appeared to rely heavily on terrestrial inputs as a food source, especially when river flow had been high in the weeks and months prior to sampling. The importance of terrestrial energy sources tended to decrease with increasing distance from the river outflow. This suggests that riverine inputs can represent an important source of external energy to coastal plankton communities. RIVERINE INPUT INCREASES MERCURY LEVELS The river was an important source of total mercury to the fjord, with some evidence of mercury methylation in the fjord. Both total and methylmercury concentrations in zooplankton decreased from the inner to the outer fjord. Bioaccumulation factors (the ratio between concentrations in zooplankton and concentrations in water) were higher in the inner fjord,

suggesting more efficient food web accumulation of mercury at sites with higher freshwater influence. These results highlight the potentially strong impact of riverine input on coastal biogeochemistry, ecology and mercury contamination. A paired study in a southern Norwegian river-fjord system (Storelva– Sandnesfjord) gave similar results. We are now doing follow-up studies in both rivers–fjord systems focusing on how terrestrial inputs affect sediment geochemistry, benthic ecology, and contamination of benthic organisms. NEXT STEPS: MOVING NORTHWARD We are now expanding this work to Svalbard, where in addition to changes in precipitation and runoff patterns, thawing permafrost and melting glaciers can be expected to alter the mobilisation and transport of water, sediments and associated compounds from land to sea. The highly interdisciplinary TerrACE project will provide detailed information on the nature and magnitude of terrestrial inputs to Svalbard’s coastal waters; physicochemical conditions across gradients in the influence of terrestrial inputs; and effects of terrestrial inputs on the flow of energy and contaminants, including mercury and PCBs, into and through Svalbard’s coastal food webs. Through a combination of field-based and modelling approaches our work in the TerrACE project, as well as in our previous work in mainland Norwegian river–fjord systems, aims to characterise the complex interplay between terrestrial inputs to coastal waters and coastal biogeochemistry, ecology and pollution, and to provide critical baseline information for understanding how future changes in these inputs may affect northern fjord ecosystems.

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THE PROJECTS The work in Målselv–Målselvfjord was funded by the Fram Centre’s Hazardous Substances flagship programme and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research’s strategic institute programme for landocean interactions. The TerrACE project (“Where land meets sea: Effects of terrestrial inputs on Arctic coastal ecosystems”) is funded by the Research Council of Norway. These projects involve a large interdisciplinary team of researchers from Norwegian and international institutes.

Adventelva flowing into Adventfjorden, Svalbard. Photo: Uta Brandt Collecting a zooplankton sample in Målselvfjord. Photo: Guttorm Christensen

Working with students from Bardufoss ungdomskole to filter river water samples from Målselv. Photo: Siri Beate Arntzen

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Flagship research programmes in the Fram Centre The Fram Centre is the short name for FRAM – High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment. We are based in Tromsø and consists of scientists from 21 institutions involved in interdisciplinary research and outreach in the fields of natural science, technology and social sciences. In 2019 we are involved in seven research programmes, also called our flagships.

Environmental impact of industrial development in the north (MIKON) MIKON’s objective is to do research that will strengthen the knowledge base used by the authorities in efforts to limit the “footprint” of industrial activity in the High North, and ensure that new industrial activity takes place within a responsible environmental framework. The research within the MIKON programme will take into consideration both existing business activities and visions/ expectations of future developments. Leader Per Fauchald Sr. Scientist Norwegian Institute for Nature Research per.fauchald@nina.no / +47 77 75 04 09 / +47 452 76 808

Effects of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems, landscapes, society and indigenous peoples Changes in Northern terrestrial ecosystems are highly relevant to society, in particular for agriculture, forestry, reindeer herding and nature-based industries, species and area conservation, tourism and recreation. Issues related to climate adaptation in the North, as well the significance of climate change for Sámi culture and settlement are included this flagship. Leader: Dorothee Ehrich Scientist The Arctic University of Norway dorothee.ehrich@uit.no / +47 77 64 62 72

FRAM FORUM CONFERENCE 2019

Hazardous substances – effects on ecosystems and human health Climate change reinforces the importance of filling the gaps in our understanding of the distribution of pollutants in the Arctic and their effects on ecosystems and human health. This flagship programme also addresses the need for this knowledge to be incorporated in international agreements and processes. Leader Eldbjørg Sofie Heimstad Research Director NILU – Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre esh@nilu.no / +47 77 75 03 84 / +47 977 50 564

Effects of climate change on sea and coastal ecology in the north Research in this programme addresses the multiple ways climate change impacts the physical conditions of fjords and coasts and how, in turn, habitats and food supply are affected. Leader Lis Lindal Jørgensen Research scientist Institute of Marine Research, Tromsø lis.lindal.jørgensen@imr.no / +47 971 85 556

Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean, technology and agreements

Ocean acidification and ecosystems effects in Northern waters

Melting of sea ice in the Arctic greatly impacts the global climate. We focuses on social and management challenges to fisheries, shipping and petroleumrelated activities. New challenges and technological solutions pertaining to rescue and oil spill response are addressed.

This flagship programme contributes to the complete understanding of ocean acidification. This process will affect the productivity of ecosystems influencing ecosystem-based management and the exploitation of commercial resources, especially in the cold waters of the North, where the uptake of CO2 is substantial and expected to increase over time.

Leader Arild Sundfjord Research scientist / oceanography Norwegian Polar Institute arild.sundfjord@npolar.no / +47 77 75 05 35 / +47 473 04 197

Leader Melissa Chierici Sr. Scientist Institute of Marine Research melissa.chierici@imr.no / +47 900 54 479

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Plastic in the Arctic Through an interdisciplinary research program dedicated to the plastics problem, “Plastic in the Arctic” will map plastic and microplastic distribution in the Arctic and generate new knowledge about environmental impacts of plastic. The results will contribute to research-based measures to reduce negative effects of plastics on ecosystem services, human health and business development. Leader Claudia Halsband Sr. Scientist Akvaplan-niva claudia.halsband@akvaplan.niva.no Skype for business: +47 77 02 56 70

The Fram Centre building has expanded

the Ocean and the Arctic and International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry. In addition, several tenants already in the building will be moving or expanding into new floor space: the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, NILU, Fram Centre AS, the Norwegian Polar Institute, and the secretariat of the Arctic Council.

In 2018, institutes and organisations moved into the new

That also means more space for the tenants who will

expanded Fram Centre building in Tromsø. With this new

stay in the original part of the Fram Centre building:

wing, the Fram Centre expands to almost 25 000 m², and

Akvaplan-niva AS, the Norwegian Coastal Admin-

530 people will work within its walls.

istration, the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, the Geological Survey of Norway, and the Norwegian

This phase of construction created new offices, lab-

Institute for Cultural Heritage Research.

oratories and meeting places. The Institute of Marine Research is making use of its new marine laboratory.

The old and new buildings create a 900 m² atrium,

Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority is

“Lysgården”, where research dissemination will take

establishing its own lab specially designed for testing

centre stage.

samples from northern regions, while NILU – Norwegian Institute for Air Research just got a brand-new labora-

The total cost of the new building is 550 million NOK.

tory where they can test for hazardous environmental

Statsbygg, the Norwegian Directorate of Public

pollutants.

Construction and Property, was in charge of the project, and will retain its offices in the old part of the building.

Among the new tenants in the building are the Insti-

The project development firm Hent AS was awarded the

tute of Marine Research, BarentsWatch, Center for

turnkey construction contract.

The main idea behind Arctic Frontiers is

With the goal of working for a sustainable

to couple academia with decision makers

growth, Arctic Frontiers has developed

from government and business.

from being a conference to becoming a year round international agenda setter.

The Arctic Frontiers partnership network consists of some of the world’s leading actors

The annual conference in Tromsø is the

in the Arctic. The competence and inter-

heart of the organisation and the thematic

disciplinary of the partner network is unique

core of all Arctic Frontiers activities

in both national and international contexts.

throughout each year. Between the annual conferences, Arctic Frontiers arranges

Arctic Frontiers started out in 2006,

a number of seminars, open debates,

assembling the first global scientific

workshops, projects and networking

conference on economic, societal, and

meetings both in Norway and abroad.

sustainable growth in the Arctic.

SENIOR PARTNERS

PARTNERS

UiO University of Oslo UiO University of Oslo

REIBO

Photo: Helen Smith

ASSOCIATED PARTNERS

FRIENDS OF THE CONFERENCE

NORWEGIAN INSTITUTE FOR AIR AND RESEARCH

NORWEGIAN MINISTRY OF CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT

INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR REINDEER HUSBANDRY

THE NORWEGIAN BARENTS SECRETARIAT

STATENS STRÅLEVERN

NOFIMA

KOREA MARITIME INSTITUTE

OULO | BUSINESSOULO

KSAT - KONGSBERG SATELLITE SERVICES

NORTHERN RESEARCH INSTITUTE

NORSK OLJE & GASS

APECS

NORGES RÅFISKLAG

UNIVERSITY OF STAVANGER

AMAP

ARCTICNET

NIVA

UNIS - THE UNIVERSITY CENTRE IN SVALBARD

NORTH STAR GROUP

ROSCONGRESS

UARCTIC

RUSSIAN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY

FRAM CENTRE