Linnaeus University on new expedition to the Arctic
On 9 August, Hanna Farnelid, senior lecturer and associate professor in marine ecology, will set off on a six-week expedition to the central part of the Arctic. She will lead an international graduate school and collect samples from a largely unexplored marine ecosystem.
The research expedition Canada-Sweden Arctic Ocean 2025 aims to generate new knowledge about the climate, the ocean, sea ice, and marine life in one of the planet’s most vulnerable regions. Hanna Farnelid is one of 38 researchers who will spend six weeks aboard the Swedish icebreaker Oden.
“The Arctic is a region where climate change is happening very rapidly. The sea ice that once remained year-round now melts away during the summer, dramatically altering the conditions for life. That’s why it’s important to understand how the ecosystem works, what organisms are found there, and what the processes in the ocean look like. The changes taking place in the Arctic will have a decisive impact on our future climate,” she explains.
Plankton sustaining life
Hanna Farnelid’s research focuses on phytoplankton in the ocean. These microscopic algae produce almost half of all the oxygen in the atmosphere, making them vitally important for humans and all other life on Earth.
More polar research
In September, Linnaeus University’s polar researchers will take part in another expedition to the Arctic – Lisa Winberg von Friesen and Rebecca Duncan from the Department of Biology and Environmental Science will travel to northern Greenland to study how marine life is affected as the Arctic warms and Arctic sea ice melts.
“During this expedition, we’ll be investigating how much biomass – that is, the total mass of organisms – exists in the ocean in the central part of the Arctic. We’ll be collecting samples of phytoplankton and measuring how much photosynthesis they carry out under different conditions.”
Training tomorrow’s polar researchers
On board, Hanna Farnelid will also be leading an international graduate school organised by the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, involving 20 doctoral students.
“We’ll be training the polar researchers of the future. We’ll hold lectures and go through sampling methods. Hopefully, this will be an experience of a lifetime for all the students taking part.”
A memorable experience
The last time Hanna Farnelid visited the Arctic was in autumn 2021, when Linnaeus University took part in a three-month expedition to study the marine ecosystem.
“From my previous expeditions, I remember the incredible environment which makes you realise how important it is to take care of the Earth. Standing on sea ice with 3,000 metres of ocean water beneath you gives you goosebumps, but at the same time you know it’s disappearing – and disappearing so incredibly fast. It gives me a strong sense of responsibility to look after our planet,” says Hanna Farnelid.
More information:
Read more on the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat’s website.
Watch the film from Linnaeus University’s Arctic expedition in autumn 2021.
Find out more about the research at the cutting-edge environment Linnaeus University Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial model Systems (EEMiS).
Read more about the conference: Polar Day at Linnaeus University, which takes place on 26 November and is organised by the Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences.