POLARIN Funded Projects
List of Projects Funded by POLARIN
| Call | Acronym | Project Summary | Group Leader Name | Group Leader Surname | Group Leader Organization | Group Leader Organization Country | List of Ris | Implementation phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First TA call | BlueCFjords | The global ocean is a major sink for atmospheric CO2, and fjords, despite covering only 0.1% of the ocean surface, account for 11% of global marine carbon burial. Rapid Arctic warming and glacier retreat threaten to diminish the CO2 sequestration efficiency of these fjords. Here, we aim to study carbon burial rates in Arctic fjords, focusing on how glacial meltwater affects carbon sequestration. We address two key questions: (1) reconstructing carbon burial rates over the past millennia in response to glacial meltwater fluctuations using sediment cores from four different glacier-fjord configurations, and (2) quantifying current CO2 storage through geophysical surveys of fjord sediments. By integrating sedimentological and geophysical data, this research will improve existing carbon budgets and offer new insights into the long-term role of Arctic fjords in the global carbon cycle. The outcomes will enhance understanding of blue carbon dynamics in a rapidly changing climate, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals on climate action and marine conservation. This highly collaborative project will boost the exchange of expertise with leading institutions such as the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (CU Boulder, USA), the Arctic University of Norway, NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (Boulder, USA), Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ, Belgium), the University of South Florida (USA), and GEOPS of Paris-Saclay University (France). We anticipate submitting our manuscripts to high quality journals, including Climate of the Past, Geophysical Research Letters, Earth and Planetary Science Letters and Geology. | Matthias | Troch | Department of Geology, Renard Centre of Marine Geology, Ghent University | BE | RV Celtic Explorer | Scheduled |
| First TA call | BIPOLAR | Earth’s polar regions are warming at unprecedented rates. However, little is known about the trends of cryptogam species (lichens and bryophytes), which are essential for ecosystem function, despite expectations that these can be seriously affected by climate change. BIPOLAR aims to quantify the potential for adaptation to climate change of bipolar cryptogams found both in the Arctic and Antarctica. We will employ a holistic and multidisciplinary approach comprising three different work packages, each with a distinct taxonomic and geographic focus (from the specific-specific to the regional and biome scales) and scientific approach (ecological and physiological). Here, we will quantify bipolar cryptogams’ climatic niches (WP1), provide a better understanding of physiological acclimation of cryptogams (WP2), and untangle the effects of climate change on cryptogams’ relationship with ecosystem functioning (WP3). Overall, BIPOLAR will establish a baseline for bipolar cryptogam climatic niches in order to better predict their future changes and effects on ecosystems, provide a foundation for Antarctic conservation and management plans, and strengthen currently fragmented Arctic and Antarctic research links. | Mariana | García Criado | Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF) | ES | Kilpisjärvi Biological Station, Pallas-Sodankylä Atmosphere-Ecosystem Supersite, Professor Julio Escudero Station | Completed |
| First TA call | Pro-Carbon | Rapid warming over the last decades had led to the reduction of Arctic Ocean sea ice area and thickness, which led to increased primary production and changes in phytoplankton community structure toward smaller organisms. The main goal of the project is to determine set of empirical relationships between selected essential biogeochemical variables such as the concentrations of chlorophyll-a, nitrates, particulate and dissolved organic carbon and inherent/apparent optical properties in the Fram Strait which is divided by Polar Front separating Atlantic Water (east side) from the Polar Water (west side). Collected data will be used for the estimation biogeochemical variables from apparent optical properties (AOPs) and measured IOPs and for the development of regionally optimized ocean color remote sensing algorithms. Algorithms could be used to extend spatial distribution of biogeochemical variables based on AOPs measured in situ and from satellites, as well as asses their dynamic on temporal and vertical scales using autonomous measurements platforms e.g. ARGO floats. Field work will be undertaken in summer months of 2025 and 2026 onboard of Norwegian research ships r/v Kronprins Haakon. We will conduct instrumental in situ measurements of physical and chemical characteristics of water column and IOPs. Simultaneously, spectral and hyperspectral radiometric measurements will be conducted with use of profiling and floating radiometer. Radiometric data will be analyzed together with in situ measured and water samples and IOPs to develop regionally validated algorithms for retrieval of concentrations of chlorophyll-a, IOPs and concentrations of optically significant seawater constituents and the phytoplankton community structure. Developed algorithms will be applied to satellite products from various satellite missions. | Piotr | Kowalczuk | Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences | PL | RV Kronprins Haakon | Completed |
| First TA call | DENIIS | Iceland is situated at the interface of major components of the North Atlantic oceanic and atmospheric climate system and is highly sensitive to changes in these. Records of past changes in Icelandic ice masses are ideal for better understanding climate variability in the North Atlantic. However, empirical data constraining the ice sheet’s retreat, and high-resolution paleoclimate records coincident with this retreat, are missing. The DENIIS field campaign will gather all data and samples to produce the first robustly dated off to onshore reconstruction of the retreat of the Icelandic Ice Sheet in East and Northeast Iceland. These data will also be used to produce paleoclimatic reconstructions which will help to understand the exact controls on this retreat, and the impact of ice sheet melt on water column structure, marine primary production, and carbon storage. | Timothy | Lane | Aarhus University | DK | Rif Field Station, RV Árni Friðriksson | Scheduled |
| First TA call | ArCoFun | Parasitism, particularly among fungi, plays a critical but often overlooked role in ecosystem dynamics. Chytrids, a group of zoosporic true fungi, are ubiquitous and have often been found infecting diatoms. This is particularly important in the Arctic, where microphytobenthic communities, dominated by diatoms, represent key primary producers that support Arctic food webs. Chytrids can suppress algal blooms, influence species competition, alter food web dynamics, and enhance nutrient cycling. These interactions are essential in the Arctic, where changes in temperature due to climate change could increase chytrid activity, potentially reshaping food web structures and affecting carbon cycling. The specific aim of this research project is to fill in the gap in knowledge regarding parasitic chytrids in the Arctic, where data is scarce and very little is known about their diversity, distribution, and ecological roles. Main objectives include: O1) determining occurrence and diversity of parasitic chytrids on benthic microalgae in shallow coastal waters of Alaska, O2) determining host-parasite dynamics during algal summer blooms and how presence of chytrid infections influence bloom progression and alter food web dynamics, specifically carbon turnover, and O3) establishing the first Arctic host-chytrid model system, providing a foundation for future studies on the biology, adaptations, and resilience of these organisms under controlled laboratory conditions. | Doris | Ilicic | Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) | DE | Barrow Arctic Research Center | Scheduled |
| First TA call | ENCHANT II | Over the last century, the Arctic has experienced warming, and since 1979 at a rate four times faster than the global average. This has resulted in major impacts to Arctic ecosystems directly through changes in both their phenology and community structure, and indirectly through changes in hydrology as glaciers and permafrost dynamics alter. Lakes and their ecosystems are especially sensitive sentinels of such environmental changes, as they respond directly to climate change through changing heat budgets (affecting lake processes and nutrient dynamics) and indirectly to changing catchment stability, hydrology, vegetation and atmospheric deposition and hence, nutrient (e.g. nitrogen), sediment and pollutant flux (such as mercury and lead, which may impact biota and human health). The Arctic remains sparsely monitored but well-dated, high-resolution lake sediments in the ice-free margins of north-east Greenland (~81.5 °N) targeted by ENCHANT II provide an excellent archive of environmental and climate change, and offer a long-term perspective on lake-catchment dynamics that integrate changes over the lake-landscape system. ENCHANT II will collect long (~Holocene) records from a suit of lakes that will provide insight into key ecosystem functions and services, such as lake productivity and biodiversity, nutrient cycling, pollutant dynamics and carbon sequestration, critical for understanding environmental and climate change across the wider Arctic region. | David | Ryves | Loughborough University | GB | Villum Research Station | Completed |
| First TA call | FOCUS | Fjords of the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) are highly biodiverse and productive environments, sensitive to climate change and glacier retreat. Carbon dioxide (CO2) fixed from the atmosphere by phytoplankton, stored by marine animals during their life cycles, and eventually, buried in seabed of Antarctic fjords, act as negative mitigation feedback on climate change. On average, 90% of AP glaciers are retreating. Glacial meltwater discharge has multiple and contrasting effects altering seawater and sediment properties. Freshwater runoff and suspended terrestrial materials, increase water column stratification while reducing salinity and light penetration. This modifies marine phytoplankton composition and dynamics, which impacts on productivity, nutritional quality of food resources and the fluxes of organic and inorganic particles to the seafloor. Ultimately, these cascade effects may alter the performance of Antarctic fjords as climate regulators through long-term carbon burial and sequestration. Lithogenic inputs versus in situ marine production, degradation against preservation of particles during sinking, and their final fate in marine waters and sediments remain unconstrained, even being essential to understand the factors that can sustain and/or stress life in Antarctic fjords, under current warming conditions. This study aims to compare the sediment trophic status and degradation state of particulate organic carbon (POC), suspended at different depths in the water column and deposited on bottom sediments across three Antarctic fjords in the northern AP, under different regimes of glacial melting and retreat. Using biochemical proxies such as phytopigments, total lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and amino acids, bulk organic geochemistry, stable isotopes, major and trace elements, this study will provide insights into POC sources, pre- and post-depositional features and alterations, the organic load of bottom sediments and climate sensitivity of Antarctic fjords. | Natalia | Venturini | Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República | UY | MV Le Commandant Charcot | Completed |
| First TA call | DROP | The Arctic is warming three times faster than the global average, causing large-scale ecological changes, such as altered plant communities, increased productivity, and permafrost thaw. These shifts impact ecosystem carbon dynamics and, as most plant biomass and production in arctic tundra is belowground, roots play a crucial role. However, roots are challenging to observe and thus understudied, despite their distinct and significant responses to climate change. More research on root dynamics is essential to understand carbon-climate feedbacks from thawing permafrost. | Gesche | Blume-Werry | Umeå University | SE | Toolik Field Station | Completed |
| First TA call | SCOOP | Glaciers are experiencing unprecedented, accelerating melting and retreat due to climate warming. This has led to an increase in glacier discharge, which supplies freshwater and bioavailable dissolved organic matter (DOM) and nitrogen (N) to vulnerable fjord ecosystems. However, the sources of bioavailable DOM in glacial runoff, and how these will be impacted by the up-glacier migration of snow lines, remain unknown. In addition, potential inputs of bioavailable DOM and N leached from proglacial soils that develop when new terrain is exposed as a result of glacier retreat have not been quantified, limiting our understanding of controls on the flux of bioavailable DOM and N from glacierized catchments. To address these knowledge gaps, we aim to constrain sources of bioavailable OM and N along glacial-proglacial-fjord flow paths and estimate changes in OM and N delivery to fjords as a result of glacier retreat. Specifically, we will determine the concentration and composition of DOM and N sourced from atmospheric deposition, supraglacial particulates, subglacial discharge and proglacial soils of two glaciers near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. We will employ bulk and molecular level analyses to quantify the concentration of dissolved and particulate total and organic carbon and N, the concentrations of nitrate and ammonium, and the composition of DOM. Furthermore, we will determine the bioavailability of DOM and N to the recipient downstream ecosystem by incubating water samples from supraglacial and proglacial ecosystems, and leachates sourced from aeolian or supraglacial particulates and proglacial soils with a fjord microbial inoculum. Our data will reveal the sources of bioavailable DOM and N in glacier runoff of land-terminating High Arctic glaciers. This will advance our understanding of how the supply of bioavailable DOM and N in glacier runoff will change in response to the up-glacier migration of snowlines and continued glacier retreat in a warming climate. | Eva | Doting | Niva | NW | UK Arctic Research Station | Completed |
| First TA call | DORMANT | Microbes have coped with and even thrived during major global environmental changes throughout Earth’s history. Microbes can use dormancy – a temporary state of reduced metabolic activity, as a strategy to survive unfavourable conditions and stresses. However, we lack fundamental knowledge on dormancy, its prevalence, regulation and effects on the Earth system. We hypothesize that dormancy is critical in polar environments. Antarctica is the most important place to study dormancy because here microbes must survive extreme conditions that are unmatched anywhere else on Earth. The goal of this research is to understand how dormancy is used by microbes to tolerate and excel across Antarctica’s extreme frozen cryosphere. We will measure the prevalence of microbial dormancy and reveal its role for survival and regulating ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. This work will foster interdisciplinary collaborations across biological and geological sciences, advance public knowledge, and be used as a vehicle for education and outreach. | James | Bradley | Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography | FR | Mario Zucchelli Station | Completed |
| First TA call | IceVar | In recent decades, Arctic sea ice has significantly thinned, shrunk, and become younger. Additionally, the structural properties of the sea ice have changed, including leads, melt ponds, and pressure ridges - often overlooked features but vital biological hotspots. As climate change continues, these sea-ice types, providing a unique habitat, especially for ice algae, are expected to undergo further transformations. The IceVar project will examine impact of the structural properties of sea ice on its biodiversity and primary productivity. Our first objective is collect data on sea ice properties and evolution during late summer season to better quantify change of Arctic sea ice. An other objective is to examine impact of sea ice physical variability on sea ice biological productivity. In order to achieve that ambitious goal, we propose systematic and concurrent measurements on sea ice and snow thickness, lead fraction, melt ponds and primary production during the expeditions from Marginal Ice Edge to high Arctic Ocean. | Jari | Haapala | Finnish Meteorological Institute | FI | MV Le Commandant Charcot | Scheduled |
| First TA call | BeNTHEC | The project investigates sediments as parts of nutrient cycling within fjords, specifically how the degree of glaciation of the fjord influences this cycling. While the dynamics within elemental cycling are increasingly studied within the marine water column, the interaction with and dynamics within sediments remain largely unknown. To increase the understanding of the ongoing dynamics, terrestrial endmembers of different degree of glaciation will be sampled, as well as the downstream terrestrial meltwater system. During transit to the station marine sampling will be carried out in addition to this. The aim of this sampling is to investigate the degree of glaciation as an environmental control factor on marine benthic nutrient cycling and with that see how climate change might impact benthic C, N and P dynamics. In order to gain insight into such spatial variations, water samples, glacial abrasion sediments, sediment cores and extracted pore waters will be analyzed for parameters providing information on nutrient sources, ability to transport from ice-to ocean, ability to transfer between sediments and waters, and availability to be taken up by organism. | Ricarda | Runte | UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Department of Geosciences | NO | Polish Polar Station Hornsund | Completed |
| First TA call | PODS | The Southern Ocean is a key player in the global climate system. At the same time, changes in the physical and biogeochemical environment due to ongoing climate change affect the entire Southern Ocean ecosystem. Quantification and prediction of these effects are hindered by a lack of process understanding. In PODS, we will collect observations of the physical and biogeochemical environment and top predator-driven impact on the marine system to develop mechanistic understanding of processes coupling upper ocean physics, biogeochemistry and ecosystems. We will combine state-of-the-art methodological approaches with new developments across disciplines to support new estimate of the impact of climatic drivers on upper ocean dynamics, whale feeding behaviour and implications for nutrient and carbon cycling. The study region will be located on the western South Orkney Plateau, characterised by complex bathymetry, seasonal sea ice cover and a highly dynamic ocean between the northern edge of the Weddell Gyre and the southern boundary of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Environmental conditions create a hotspot for biological productivity and large aggregations of Antarctic krill and marine predators, including recovering and growing baleen whale populations. Additionally, the northwestern South Orkney Plateau attracts increasing fisheries for Antarctic krill. Data and results obtained during PODS are therefore highly relevant for improved process understanding of climate and ecosystem dynamics, assessment of potential impacts of climate change, and implementation of a sustainable, ecosystem-based management of human activities in the region. | Angelika | Renner | Institute of Marine Research | NO | RV Hesperides | Scheduled |
| First TA call | PathoPast | Antarctic wildlife is under threat from emerging disease. However, we know very little about the current and past occurrence of microbial pathogens in Antarctic fauna at a population scale. The lack of data makes it difficult to predict the impact of emerging diseases in Antarctica today. We propose that ancient penguin guano deposits represent a novel and untapped genetic archive of ancient microbes which can facilitate the study of historic Antarctic pathogens. Such deposits can be found in Antarctic lake sediments. We will use metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing to comprehensively characterise associated microbiomes from lake sediment cores collected on Ardley Island. We will use ancient nucleic acid techniques to ensure the recovery and authentication of ancient sequences from these samples. The identification of guano-rich phases will be achieved using geochemical analyses. Synthesis of these data will help build the first long-term record of historical Antarctic avian pathogens. | Alexander | Williams | The University of Hong Kong | HK | Professor Julio Escudero Station | Completed |
| First TA call | HoBoPolar | HoBoPolar is testing recently introduced hypothesis that light-sensitive microbes assist hybridization, and thus, plant adaptions in the extreme polar light environments. Our research builds on extensive collections of plants and their microbes from both Antarctica and the Arctic. The model plant (Deschampsia alpina) and plant associated microbe samples from Ny-Ålesund Research Station - Sverdrup (Svalbard/Norway) area will expand the geographic coverage of the microbiota and plant collections across the latitudes in the Arctic. The Station is ideally located, because compared to other parts of the Arctic, corresponding climatic zones are present at higher latitudes in Western Europe owing to Gulf Stream effects. Furthermore, D. alpina populations in vicinity of Ny-Ålesund have been extensively mapped, which quarantine the success of the field collections. Our research aims to 1) advance understanding of plant-microbe interactions and the role of microbes and hybridization in plant invasions, 2) uncover new microbial functions related to plants while expanding the focus from temperature to light, and 3) generate new testable hypotheses and tools to improve research strategies aiming to understand global biodiversity and its responses to environmental changes. | Kari | Saikkonen | University of Turku | FI | Ny-Ålesund Research Station - Sverdrup | Completed |
| First TA call | FLAIR | FLAIR investigates interactions between fluid dynamics, seafloor morphology, and benthic habitats off the Western Antarctic Peninsula in the context of climate-driven change. This hydrogeologically complex and warming-sensitive region, which includes the Bransfield Basin and South Shetland Islands, contains underexplored fluid flow systems. The project aims to characterise fluid sources, migration pathways, and their influence on seafloor morphology and chemosynthetic communities. Geophysical surveying with single- and multibeam echosounders, sub-bottom profiler, and controlled-source electromagnetic equipment will map the seafloor, pinpoint seepage zones, and identify fluid reservoirs. A remotely operated vehicle with cameras, CTD sensors, and water samplers will document chemosynthetic communities and collect water samples for fluid composition and seepage rate analysis. Sediment coring will allow porewater extraction and geochemical analyses, while isotope dating will help establish sediment deposition and seepage timelines linked to glacial cycles and ice dynamics. This project will provide critical data on climate-driven seafloor changes, advancing understanding of climate feedback mechanisms and supporting long-term impact assessments. This will offer insights into greenhouse gas fluxes from polar regions, feedback mechanisms tied to groundwater flow, ecosystem responses to environmental changes, and long-term climate variability. | Aaron | Micallef | MBARI | US | RV Hesperides | Completed |
| First TA call | USNA-PL | Vegetation growth in tundra regions is limited by soil nutrient availability, and nutrient availability is affected by the soil physical environment. The soil physical environment is sensitive to climatic conditions and will be affected by a warming climate. To accurately model how vegetation cover in tundra regions will change it will be necessary to predict changes in nutrient availability. Currently, the main limitation to doing this is limited understanding of how nutrient availability in tundra regions varies spatially. Vegetation cover and microtopography affect the soil physical environment and are likely to be particularly important in determining nutrient availability. This project will address this challenge by quantifying soil nutrient availability across local and landscape scales using an innovative combination of plot-based measurements and landscape scale drone remote sensing. The aims of this project are to 1) understand how small-scale variations in soil and vegetation cover affect the availability of nutrients to plants and; 2) to scale-up small-scale observations so we can map nutrient availability in detail at a landscape (hectare-) scale. To achieve these aims the project has two objectives. First, to make detailed measurements of soil temperature, soil moisture and available nutrients in different topographic/vegetation settings over the majority of a growing season. These measurements would take place in Kilpisjärvi in Finland. Second, we will use drones to map these same areas at high resolution and build digital models of the land surface. These models will be used to map vegetation cover and nutrient availability at a landscape scale. This project is an essential step to improve our estimates of the response of tundra ecosystems to future climate change by increasing our understanding of how nutrient availability varies in tundra soils at landscape scales. This will develop the basis for future land surface modelling exercises. | Richard | Streeter | University of St Andrews | GB | Kilpisjärvi Biological Station | Completed |
| First TA call | ARC-LINK | Arctic carbon (C) cycling is undergoing rapid transformation as the region warms four times faster than the global average. Glacial retreat and permafrost thaw expose landscapes to new vegetation, hydrology, and erosion processes, altering C fluxes across terrestrial and aquatic systems. However, the proportions of different C species transported to streams is poorly quantified and they are rarely linked to vertical CO2 and CH4 fluxes across the landscape. We propose to couple terrestrial and aquatic C fluxes at high spatial resolution in the Zackenberg Catchment, Greenland. This information will be crucial to informing climate models and understanding how these fragile ecosystems may change in the future. | Cheristy | Jones | University of New Hampshire | US | Zackenberg Research Station | Completed |
| First TA call | ROBIN | Biodiversity, a critical determinant of ecosystem stability and function, is shaped by the interactions among species. How these biological interactions affect species’ distributions, genetic structure, and functions is poorly known. Here, we propose to dissect the diversity and biotic interactions of insect pollinators in different areas of Greenland. Specifically, we aim to reconstruct pollinator taxonomic and genetic diversity and distribution, as well as the diversity and distribution of their microbial symbionts, parasites, and pathogens, across three areas of Greenland. Further, we aim to evaluate the roles of microbial symbionts in insect local adaptation and their interactions with other organisms. We will do this by systematically sampling insect pollinator communities, emphasizing hoverflies, from flowering plants in three areas of Greenland. Insects will subsequently be used for laboratory analyses through host and microbial marker gene and metagenomic sequencing-based techniques. This work will substantially contribute to the understanding of pollinator and their microbiota diversity and distribution in Greenland, at different spatial scales. It will also improve knowledge of the drivers of these distributions and their significance for ecosystems facing climate change. | Diana Laura | Rojas Guerrero | Jagiellonian University | PL | Arctic Station, The DMI Geophysical Observatory Qaanaaq, Zackenberg Research Station | Completed |
| First TA call | NICE | Arctic lakes are some of the most extreme and pristine freshwater environments on Earth, with their seasonal ice cover hosting unexpectedly abundant microbial communities that may play key roles in nitrogen cycling and other biogeochemical processes. As climate change accelerates the reduction of ice cover duration and thickness, understanding how these microbial communities adapt to changing conditions is crucial for predicting the broader ecological impacts of global warming. This project aims to characterize the distinct environment created by the ice cover in Arctic lakes, focusing on its role on the development of a specific microbiome and uncovering the adaptive strategies of ice-associated bacteria. Our research will involve environmental monitoring, physiological assays, and metagenomic sequencing to track fine-scale patterns of microbial growth and metabolic activity within the ice-water interface. We will sample different sections of the ice cover, water column, and bioaerosols to capture spatial and temporal dynamics in microbial community composition and function. Additionally, we will focus on nitrogen cycling processes, investigating how microbial activity drives key transformations such as nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification. By comparing results from two lakes in West Greenland and resolving lake-specific differences, we will gain valuable insights into how local environmental conditions influence microbial-driven biogeochemical processes. The project will be conducted over a three-week field campaign in the month of June at the Arctic Station (Qeqertarsuaq, Greenland), with its proximity to the study lakes enabling efficient sample collection and monitoring. Ultimately, this research will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the interactions between ice cover, microbial communities, and ecosystem functioning, helping to refine predictions of Arctic lake responses to climate change. | Anna | Carratala Ripolles | EPFL | CH | Arctic Station | Completed |
| First TA call | MOSQUITO | Global change is rapidly transforming the interplay between wild animals, pathogens and humans. This causes new transmission routes, altered epidemiology and the risk of new disease. The Arctic epitomises such changes. To understand these changes, studying viruses alone is not enough. The interplay between mosquito hosts, their viromes, and the hosts and predators of mosquitoes constitutes an intricate ecological network. It is only by studying this network that we can predict how global change will affect the transmission routes of diseases in the future. Given generally low human population densities in this region, the main source of blood meals for bloodsucking insect vectors are mammals other than humans and birds. Insect vector dynamics are then dependent on a system extending way beyond human-vector interactions, effectively illustrating the topical OneHealth concept. Despite the importance of understanding this network, the links between insect vectors and other parts of the ecosystem are poorly known. In this project, we will use Greenland as a model system to i) examine the full virome of mosquitoes, ii) resolve the spatial and temporal dynamics of mosquito populations and their viromes, iii) relate such dynamics to their biotic and abiotic drivers, and iv) apply the resulting knowledge to assess and predict changes in virus transmission pathways in a changing Arctic. | Essi | Korhonen | University of Helsinki | FI | Greenland Institute of Natural Resources | Completed |
| First TA call | NYRSTERT | The NYRSTERT project focuses on assessing the effects of climate change on permafrost by conducting repeated geophysical investigations on various permafrost landforms near Ny-Ålesund, Northwestern Svalbard, initially studied in the 1990s. By replicating measurements from 1992 and 1993 using both original and modern geophysical equipment, this research will produce 1D and 2D geoelectrical profiles of ground resistivity and seismic profiles to analyze ground seismic velocities. These investigations, performed on rock glaciers, an ice-cored moraine, and sorted circles near Brøggerbreen, Stuphallet, and Mørebreen, will take place in August 2025. The resulting geophysical profiles will provide valuable insights into changes in permafrost conditions, including shifts in ground ice content and active layer thickness over the past 33 years. This collaborative effort between the University of Oslo and the University of Fribourg aims to monitor Arctic permafrost evolution and draw comparisons with permafrost dynamics in European mountain regions. | Martin | Hoelzle | University of Fribourg | CH | Ny-Ålesund Research Station - Sverdrup | Completed |
| First TA call | ARCTICOLLAB | At Arctic science conferences, there are few terms Arctic researchers use more than ‘collaboration’. The challenges of conducting research in the Arctic, an unforgiving, strategic, and rapidly warming region that is home to many and also far from large centres, require diverse collaborations. Despite the centrality of collaboration in Arctic research, meanings and practices of collaboration lack critical engagement. In this project, I will follow the collaborations fostered to carry out scientific research at the Abisko Scientific Research Station, whether that be between multi-disciplinary researchers, reindeer herders, local communities, politicians, tourists, artists, and national institutions. Following these collaborations will make it possible to look at how collaborations condition scientific practices, what influences the nature of collaborations, the hegemony of some perspectives on the environment over others, how collaborations are perceived by those involved, and how collaborations and all the complexities they come with transform into research outputs. Moreover, this project examines how the changing Arctic environment influences collaborations. | Hanna | Oosterveen | University of Manchester | GB | Abisko Scientific Research Station | Completed |
| First TA call | PIONER | Understanding the response of the East Antarctic ice sheet to ocean-climate warming is one of the top research priorities in polar research and climate science. Despite its potential to raise global sea levels by 3-4 m and its impact on the global ocean circulation, the ice sheet dynamics in the Wilkes Subglacial Basin remain poorly explored. Large knowledge gaps about the bathymetry and ocean circulation in the George V Land margin hamper a broader understanding of ice sheet vulnerability to on-going and projected climatic change. PIONER will fill these gaps by collecting new hydrographic, geophysical and geological data to provide present and past ocean-ice-bathymetry interactions, ice sheet dynamics and stability over the last climate cycles. Our findings will also be essential for supporting a new IODP-ICDP Land-to-Sea proposal in the Cook-Ninnis sector but will provide standalone results that can be used to validate ocean-ice sheet model simulations and reduce uncertainties in future sea level projections. PIONER involves a highly qualified team of early and senior career scientists, with complementary skills to study both the local geological and oceanographic conditions and their connections to global climate dynamics. | Dimitrios | Evangelinos | Imperial College London, Department of Earth Science and Engineering | GB | RVIB Laura Bassi | Scheduled |
| First TA call | AEAD | Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible and progressive neurodegenerative disorder that remains incurable, with current treatments merely ameliorating symptoms. The project aims to contribute to the field of neurodegenerative drug discovery by exploring the neuroprotective chemical space of fungi isolated from sub-Arctic environments. These fungi are a largely untapped source of chemical diversity, especially considering their adaptation to extreme environments, which suggests a potential to produce unique secondary metabolites. In addition to investigating neuroprotective properties, the project aims to discover new Arctic fungal species, expanding our understanding of fungal biodiversity in these extreme regions. The project proposes to investigate the neuroprotective properties of these fungi, focusing particularly on strains from the order Russulales, genus Pseudeutorium, and other unknown or novel fungal species, all of which have demonstrated promising neuroprotective activity. Unlike traditional single-target strategies, the project aims to identify compounds that can modulate multiple pathways, thereby advancing the concept of multi-target-directed ligands as a promising approach for AD treatment. The Abisko Research Station is ideal for fungal discovery due to its unique aub-Arctic environment, hosting diverse fungi adapted to extreme conditions. These ecosystems foster fungi with novel metabolic pathways, offering potential for groundbreaking applications in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. Its robust infrastructure and collaborative research opportunities further enhance its appeal. | Jaime Roberto | Cabrera-Pardo | Roseman University of Health Sciences | US | Abisko Scientific Research Station | Scheduled |
| First TA call | TWILIGHT | The TWILIGHT project explores the diversity and ecology of fungi and protists in oxygen-depleted and anoxic freshwater environments in the Arctic. Complex eukaryotic life depends on oxygen. However, some protists and fungi have evolved metabolisms that allow them to grow under oxygen-depleted andto anoxic conditions in sediments and water. These microbial eukaryotes use fermentation metabolism and some have parasitic life-styles or grow in close symbiosis with bacteria and aarcheaea. These microbial eukaryotes, play likely also critical roles in polar ecosystems by driving nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and interactions with prokaryotic communities. Thermokarst ponds and lakes, formed by permafrost thaw, are hotspots of methane emissions. This project addresses critical gaps in understanding microbial eukaryotes’ contributions to Arctic and global biogeochemical cycles. TWILIGHT will go beyond taxonomic assessments to investigate metabolic capacity and evolutionary relationships from uncultured protists and fungi directly from environmental samples. Innovative techniques such as deep short and long read sequencing and metagenome-assembled genomes will enable detailed analyses of metabolic pathways and genes linked to adaptation. Fieldwork at the Barrow Arctic Research Center will involve collecting and preserving water, sediment, and DNA/RNA samples to ensure robust molecular data. Environmental parameters such as oxygen, pH, temperature, and nutrient and ion concentrations will also be measured. By generating the first comprehensive genomic insights into microbial eukaryotes in oxygen-depleted and anoxic Arctic freshwater, this research will advance knowledge of their roles in carbon and nitrogen cycling linked to green house gas production and adaptation to anoxic conditions. The findings will inform climate models, biodiversity conservation, and public awareness of Arctic ecosystems under climate change. | Anne D. | Jungblut | Natural History Museum | GB | Barrow Arctic Research Center | Completed |
| First TA call | PROMETHEUS | Atmospheric methane (CH4) is a strong absorber of thermal infrared radiation. Up to about half of total emissions (572-896 Tg yr−1) can be attributed to natural sources, yet estimates of natural methane emissions remain bounded by large uncertainties (194-489 Tg yr−1), with growing concerns about projected increased emissions from high latitudes. Recent studies have also identified glaciers and ice-sheets across the Arctic as significant methane sources, with the methane being either biogenic or thermogenic in origin. However, these glacial systems are not included in global methane budgets due to limitation of the data. Currently, most methane is attributed to wetlands and freshwater systems, whereof newly deglaciated environments and proglacial lakes are seen as low contributors of methane emissions. Small lakes (< 10 km2) cover half of the total area of surface water in pan-Arctic environments with a higher methane signature compared to larger lakes. However, recent findings from Southwest Greenland indicate that glacier-fed lakes there have high methane ebullition fluxes. This could possibly be induced by influence of subglacial environments. The PROMETHEUS project aims to explore these dynamic proglacial environments and their impact on the carbon cycle, focusing on how glacial meltwater and sediments affect methane signatures in lakes. This research could address significant gaps in current methane databases and extend our understanding of methane contributions from glacial-fed lakes and possibly subglacial systems globally. Current data is predominantly from Southwestern Greenland, creating a geographical bias. The project plans to expand research to Northeastern and Eastern Greenland, utilizing the Zackenberg and Sermilik research stations. These areas will help provide insights into the effects of various factors that control proglacial development and lake biogeochemistry with the aim to investigate how these emerging environments evolve over time. | Joost Martijn | van Genuchten | The Arctic University of Norway (UiT) | NO | Zackenberg Research Station, Sermilik Station | Scheduled |
| First TA call | REEF | Benthic primary producers along Arctic rocky shores, such as brown macroalgae, provide the basis for higher trophic levels, are a major sink of carbon and in some cases are also crucial for local livelihoods and food provision. Currently, the Arctic environment is changing at an unprecedented rate, threatening high-Arctic coastal ecosystems and consequently cryophilic species. With our study we aim to characterise the high-Arctic macroalgal species community that has been less influenced by atlantification and warming yet. Villum Research Station offers an ideal and unique location for the first characterisation and potential following assessments. To achieve this goal, our study consists of three main tasks: 1. Biodiversity assessment of the intertidal macroalgal community 2. Biodiversity assessment of the subtidal macroalgal community 3. Collection of habitat-forming macroalgae for physiological and biochemical characterisation The findings of our study will facilitate understanding of present-day spatial variability as well as near future temporal changes. Given the rate of change, it is crucial to the success of this study to be realised before the high-Arctic species community has changed. Increasing our knowledge on drivers for Arctic macroalgal dynamics will help to detect critical thresholds in Arctic coastal ecosystem succession. This contributes to improving and establishing sustainable livelihood possibilities and future local management plans, as well as climate change mitigation measures. | Kai | Bischof | University of Bremen - Marine Botany | DE | Villum Research Station | Completed |
| First TA call | TEMPNET | Natural communities can be conceptualized as webs of interactions, with species as nodes and interactions as links. Little attention has been given to the fact that most elements within such networks are temperature-dependent, and that with ongoing climate warming, they are subject to change. Our team is dedicated to developing the conceptual framework required to address such change. In brief, we are formalizing the temperature-dependence of ecological interaction networks into mathematical models. With the POLARIN application, we aim to apply and parameterize the theoretical framework to an empirical model system: arctic networks subject to severe temperature limitations. In other words, we characterize the occurrence of node and links in arctic networks by their temperature response functions. This is implemented as i) observations of species interaction frequencies under ambient conditions, ii) ecophysiological experiments aimed at quantifying species performance under controlled temperature conditions, and iii) mesocosm experiments targeting species interactions under experimentally elevated vs. ambient conditions. Ultimately, the project will yield a conceptual framework for the benefit of both society and a large scientific community, essential for producing informed estimates of future changes in the arctic realm. | Patricia Kaye | Dumandan | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences | SE | Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Zackenberg Research Station | Completed |
| First TA call | AMP'D | The Arctic is experiencing amplified climate change, leading to increased thawing of permafrost's active layer. While it is known that thawed organic matter has the potential to be converted into greenhouse gases, the underlying mechanisms driving this transformation either after it thaws on land, or after it is later transported into nearby marine fjords, remain poorly understood. Here we propose to study expression by in situ microbes of the enzymes used to break down organic matter into greenhouse gases, and generate predictions about the efficacy of this process as permafrost thaws and remains on land, vs. after it is transported to nearby marine fjords. These powerful tools will allow us to directly describe the complicated mechanisms of organic carbon degradation affect thawing permafrost as it is transported around the Arctic. | Chukwufumnanya | Abuah | University of Southern California | US | Arctic Station Dirigibile Italia | Completed |
| First TA call | GLASS | The GLacier Algal Sampling Strategies (GLASS) project is a pioneering initiative designed to address fundamental gaps in understanding glacier algal bloom dynamics and their implications for Earth system processes. Conducted at Storglaciären, Sweden, during the 2025 ablation season, GLASS will produce the first spatially resolved datasets on glacier algal abundance across bloom states, using fine-scale sampling grids and advanced geostatistical approaches to quantify spatial heterogeneity. These efforts will inform best-practice methodologies for glacier algal bloom monitoring and enable the production of critical ground-truth datasets needed to calibrate and validate remote sensing products. By tackling a key barrier to upscaling cryospheric algal studies, GLASS will facilitate a global understanding of the role of glacier algae in carbon cycling, nutrient fluxes, and albedo-driven melt feedbacks, while contributing to the European Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the European Green Deal through the advancement of cryo-biodiversity knowledge and monitoring practices | Christopher | Williamson | University of Bristol | GB | Tarfala Research Station | Completed |
| First TA call | ODISIMP | The objective of the proposed effort is to collect in situ measurements of physical, morphometric, optical, and radiometric properties of melt ponds and sea ice. In order to carry out this objective, we request four berths on the Norwegian icebreaker R/V Kronprins Haakon during the 35-day Arctic Ocean cruise in July-August 2026. The optical and radiometric data will be acquired using in situ-deployed field spectrometers and an imaging sensor aboard an unmanned aerial vehicle. The optical and radiometric data collected through this effort, in combination with the measurements of physical and thermodynamic properties of sea ice and melt ponds already scheduled to be collected by the research infrastructure (RI) operators, will produce a unique, comprehensive dataset of sea ice melt ponds that will be immensely valuable for modeling and remote sensing of sea ice and melt ponds. | Wesley | Moses | U.S. Naval Research Laboratory | US | RV Kronprins Haakon | Completed |
| First TA call | HoPPD | Responding to rapid warming, Adélie penguins and chinstrap penguins in the West Antarctica have declined significantly, while gentoo penguins have increased, leading to the turnover of dominate species and redistribution of colonies. Remarkable fluctuations in penguin abundance associated with climatic and environmental changes during the Holocene. However, nearly all of the current long-term reconstructions of penguin populations of WAP were conducted on Ardley Island, with a serious lack of spatial and especially latitudinal coverage. In this project we plan to collect ornithogenic sediment cores/profiles from lakes/ponds or abandoned penguin nests in the area of (1) Baily Head and (2) Vapour Col, two of the largest penguin colonies on Deception Island. By radiocarbon dating, inorganic geochemistry (element contents) and eDNA (environmental DNA) analysis, we will reconstruct the past changes in penguin abundance and species composition, hopefully in the last thousand years. By analysing the trends of penguin population at different sites (e.g. Ardley Island vs. Deception Island), we will identify potential migrations or shifts in colony distribution. By comparing the changes in penguin abundance, dominant species, and colony distribution with regional climate and volcanic records, we will throw light on how these factors have affected penguin paleoecology in this hotspot area of WAP during the Holocene. | Yuesong | Gao | Yunnan Normal University | CN | Spanish Antarctic Station “Gabriel de Castilla” | Completed |
| First TA call | WhiteIce | The main goal of WhiteIce is to study the evolution of the “white ice” that forms at the surface of bare ice during the melting process. It forms during summer over the Arctic sea ice, where it is commonly called the “surface scattering layer” (SSL), and over bare, blue ice areas of glaciers, ice sheets, and ice shelves undergoing melting, where it is typically referred to as the “weathering crust”. As the name suggests, SSL looks white, due to its remarkably higher albedo compared to the bare blue ice from which it forms. The development of this layer has strong implications for the ice surface energy and mass budget and, in case of continental ice masses, for the meltwater runoff. However, the evolution of the SSL is so far not included in ice models because of lack of concurrent observations on ice microstructure and weather forcing. In WhiteIce, we will collect detailed, comprehensive measurements of the SSL that forms over the Antarctic Nansen Ice Shelf around the summer solstice, and we will combine them with observations from the marine (Arctic) SSL that we recently took during the MOSAiC experiment (2019-2020), to derive a prognostic scheme for the SSL valid for both marine and continental ice. We expect that the impact of this model development will be a significant improvement of the simulation of surface energy and mass budgets of marine and continental ice during melting. | Roberta | Pirazzini | Finnish Meteorological Institute | FI | Mario Zucchelli Station | Completed |
| First TA call | SuRViVAL | Human-driven climate change is warming high latitudes like nowhere else on Earth, thawing soils, exposing the ancient C reserve to today’s environment, and releasing ancient C to the atmosphere. Carbon release from aquatic bodies transfers the Arctic landscape from being a net-sink carbon to being a net-source of carbon. However, currently the controls on whether carbon is vulnerable to breakdown and release to the atmosphere from aquatic bodies are uncertain and not included in models provided to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report (Candell et al., 2021). The aim of SuRViVAL is to determine how, where and when environmental conditions control SOC vulnerability to degradation in an Arctic streams. To deliver this aim, i) soil and stream waters will be collected along a source to sink transect in Stordalen catchment; ii) in-field parameters, inorganic parameters and organic parameters (organic carbon concentrations and composition) will be determined on soil and stream waters; iii) in-field data and samples will be collected along the source to sink transect during summer, autumn and winter months. This approach leverages the large body of research available on organic carbon vulnerability in Stordalen mire and goes beyond the state of the art in three dimensions: 1. The project builds on research output from Stordalen mire to inform on drivers of carbon vulnerability in streams; 2. The project assesses organic carbon vulnerability during different seasons corresponding to contrasting cryogenic and hydrological soil conditions; 3. The project combines inorganic and organic (+ isotope) geochemistry to assess organic carbon vulnerability. | Catherine | Hirst | Durham University, UK | GB | Abisko Scientific Research Station | Completed |
| Second TA call | CARPOL | This proposal addresses a knowledge gap that has been identified by the European Commission, i.e. the threat of legacy and emerging pollutants in aquatic freshwater and terrestrial environments, under the influence of anthropogenic perturbations such as global warming leading to permafrost disturbances. In addition to the direct influence that increasing temperatures will have on the Arctic ecosystems, perturbations of the carbon cycle driven by a warming, will probably affect the biogeochemical cycles of legacy and emerging pollutants and bacterial communities, since lake sediments/soils are thought to be the main reservoirs of these chemicals in Arctic. The outcome of this research will greatly enhance our scientific knowledge of the coupling of two global environmental issues, permafrost disturbances due to climate change and contamination by legacy and emerging pollutants in the Arctic, thus contributing to addressing key research priorities within the topics “Terrestrial Carbon Cycle and Permafrost” and “Polar Ecosystems and Biodiversity”. One of the expected impacts is to better understand how climatic change is modifying C cycle, microbial dynamics and physiology in Arctic lakes or enhancing environmental processes on reservoirs and how these processes may affect bioaccumulation of pollutants in other compartments, including the aquatic food chains. Polar Regions were viewed for many years as storage compartments of pollutants, but these chemicals may be now remobilizing, especially through permafrost degradation. The research will involve extensive field sampling around Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik and Sasapimakwananisikw River Valley, incorporating analysis of water, sediments, soils, biota, and atmospheric samples, using advanced chemical, microbiological, and sequencing techniques. | Ana | Cabrerizo Pastor | University of Valladolid | ES | Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik Research Complex | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | SWITCH-ICELAND | Climate warming is triggering northward range expansions of hosts, vectors, and parasites, yet parasitological baseline data remain critically scarce across Arctic transition zones. This research addresses whether avian haemosporidian parasites (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon) in Iceland represent endemic lineages adapted to extreme northern latitudes or recent introductions from colonizing temperate European birds. Iceland's unique position just south of the Arctic Circle and distinctive vector assemblage, lacking mosquitoes but hosting abundant biting midges, hippoboscid flies, and black flies, provides an exceptional natural laboratory for testing parasite invasion hypotheses under climate change. We will conduct standardized sampling of Icelandic redwings (Turdus iliacus coburni), a local sentinel species, at Rif Field Station during summer 2026. Blood samples will be analyzed using integrated morphological and molecular approaches (microscopy, nested PCR, DNA sequencing, phylogenetic analysis) to characterize parasite diversity, prevalence, and origins through comparison with the MalAvi global database. This research will establish the first baseline for haemosporidian diversity in Iceland, determine whether sub-Arctic systems function as barriers for parasite spread, identify potential endemic species requiring taxonomic description, and inform disease monitoring for wildlife in warming polar regions. | Claudio | Navarrete | State Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre | LT | Rif Field Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | TRICUSO-FLOATS | The Ocean plays a pivotal role in the global carbon cycle, absorbing about 25% of the CO₂ emitted into the atmosphere. Yet recent Global Carbon Budget syntheses based on surface observations differ markedly from model estimates. Ocean Sampling Simulation Experiments show that increasing the density of measurements in the Southern Ocean is key to resolving this mismatch. Because the region is remote, autonomous floats and surface vehicles must deliver this data. However, as floats lack direct CO₂ sensors, pCO₂ is derived from proxy variables whose sensors often drift or bias results. Improving their accuracy requires targeted calibration and deployment opportunities in the Southern Ocean. The Horizon Europe TRICUSO – Carbon Uptake Southern Ocean (101188028) project addresses this challenge by linking three major European research infrastructures and more than twenty partners to develop and validate new Lab-on-Chip sensors for total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon, together with high-accuracy pH, O₂, and acoustic wind sensors. These enable full carbonate-system determination on autonomous floats, forming the technical backbone for quantifying the Southern Ocean carbon sink and Europe’s contribution to the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch. We request vessel access near South Georgia (≈ 54° S, 38° W) in October 2026 and 2027 to deploy six biogeochemical Argo floats equipped with these sensors and to collect full-depth calibration samples. The work aligns with COCO₂ – Constraining Ocean Carbon with Optimised Observing, which will deploy Saildrones with pCO₂ sensors. Together, these efforts will deliver a three-dimensional view of carbon fluxes linking the atmosphere, surface ocean, and interior. All datasets will be published via the ICOS Carbon Portal, SOCAT, and CMEMS, following POLARIN’s FAIR data policy, and will contribute to the ESA Polar Science Cluster and WMO G3W with high-quality reference data from a key, poorly sampled region. | Pablo | Trucco-Pignata | National Oceanography Centre | GB | Icebreaker “Noosphere”, PRV Polarstern | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | IceVar-II | Arctic sea ice is rapidly thinning, fragmenting, and transforming into a mosaic of ridges, leads, melt ponds, and refrozen patches. These structural changes profoundly affect the light environment and the living communities within the ice, particularly microalgae that form the base of polar marine food webs. Despite growing concern about the decline of Arctic sea ice, there remains a limited understanding of how fine-scale physical variability drives biological diversity and productivity across space and time. IceVar-II addresses this gap by combining two complementary European research infrastructures: the icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot (LCC, summer 2027) and the drifting Tara Polar Station (TPS, 2026–2027). Together, they will deliver the first coordinated dataset linking basin-scale spatial variability with high-frequency seasonal observations of surface sea-ice habitats and microbial communities. Using drones, radar, and targeted sampling of sea ice and melt ponds, the project will couple physical and optical properties of the ice with measurements of algal DNA, flow cytometry, and microscopy. The resulting multi-scale observations will reveal how changing sea-ice conditions shape Arctic biodiversity and will serve as calibration material for future satellite and modelling applications. Led by the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), in collaboration with the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) and the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), IceVar-II contributes to European and international polar observing programmes, providing essential data to understand and predict the resilience of polar oceans and ecosystems in a warming climate. | Letizia | Tedesco | Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) | FI | Tara polar station, MV Le Commandant Charcot | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | PhytoIce | The Weddell Sea is among the least-sampled regions of the Southern Ocean, leaving a major gap in understanding ice-associated phytoplankton and their bio-optical properties. These phytoplankton underpin polar ecosystems and global biogeochemical cycles, yet their dynamics under changing sea ice remain poorly constrained. PhytoIce will examine how retreating ice during early summer influences phytoplankton structure, biogeochemistry, and optics. Using MV Le Commandant Charcot during Nov–Dec 2027 cruises, PhytoIce will collect underway and vertical profile data across sea-ice, marginal-ice, and open-water regimes. Measurements include pigments, particulate organic carbon, nutrients, DNA, and optical properties. Sampling will use the ship’s underway system, Niskin rosette with CTD, an AC-S instrument, and low-cost tools (e.g., Mini Secchi Disk) to expand observing capacity and support outreach. Objective are briefly to: (1) quantify spatial and vertical variability in pigments and optical properties (absorption, backscattering) across sea-ice, marginal-ice, and open-water; (2) assess links between ice melt, mixed-layer structure, and subsurface chlorophyll maxima; (3) evaluate consistency between in-situ and satellite optical data to reduce ocean-colour biases; (4) explore low-cost sensors and outreach to broaden observations; (5) contribute open-access datasets and data papers for model validation and carbon budget assessments. PhytoIce supports ESA’s TIME project and priorities under POLARIN and Antarctica InSync. Outcomes include datasets, publications, and outreach. | Johan | Viljoen | University of Exeter | GB | MV Le Commandant Charcot | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | GLAM-ICE | Rapid climatic warming of the Arctic over recent decades has caused an increase in the formation of proglacial, ice-contact lakes at the terminus of Arctic glaciers. These lakes act as an important environmental regulator, influencing both upstream glacier dynamics and recession, and downstream hydrological networks and ecosystems. However, empirical data constraining how ice-contact lakes evolve over time, and the varying impacts at different stages of lake evolution, are limited. The GLAM-ICE project will employ a space-for-time approach to investigate glaciological and ecological impacts of glacial lake transitions in the Kebnekaise Massif, northern Sweden. We will collect data from three glaciers at different stages of their lake evolutionary cycle, enabling us to quantify how proglacial lakes regulate environmental change over time. Glacier photogrammetric and ice-penetrating radar surveys will enable us to quantify current and possible future rates of glacier retreat and thinning, whilst invertebrate sampling and physico-chemical water analysis in downstream rivers will reveal how lacustrine changes propagate through hydrological networks to influence downstream ecosystems. Our results will provide one of the first assessments of the glaciological and ecological impacts of proglacial lake evolution in the Arctic. | Peter | Tuckett | University of York | GB | Tarfala Research Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | SoilDrivers | The project: “Exploring soil biodiversity and drivers of ecosystem functioning on the island of Koltur (SoilDrivers)” aims to assess the main abiotic and biotic drivers of soil diversity and functioning in an under-explored subarctic ecosystem. Soils host a myriad organisms, including multispecific microbial consortia and micrometazoans that sustain ecosystem services such as organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and climate regulation. Local climatic conditions are known to shape community structure of multiple organisms, but biotic interactions play also a role in shaping soil organisms’ assemblages. This project will study microclimatic, soil physical-chemical drivers of soil microbial and microfaunal diversity in the Faroe Islands, will explore ecological interactions (nematode-microbiota, top-down; and microbiota-nematode, bottom-up) as determinants of soil food web structure, and will assess the role of soil diversity in soil functioning and ecosystem services. Sampling will occur in long-term permanent plots that cover a variety of habitats in the island. Microclimate, soil properties, microbial and microfaunal communities will be characterized by metabarcoding and morphological methods respectively, and N and P mineralization, carbon accrual and GHG emissions will be assessed as main soil ecosystem services. Statistical models will be developed to identify the main drivers of soil diversity, to explore biotic interaction between microfauna and microbial assemblages, and to determine the role of the biota on ecosystem functions. Our results will provide with novel data on soil diversity and functioning in the Faroe Islands, which will result in novel and relevant information of microfaunal and microbial diversity in the North Atlantic Subarctic. | Sara | Sánchez Moreno | CSIC | ES | Koltur Research Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | POLAR-MOSS | The Arctic environment is highly sensitive to pollution due to its remote location and fragile ecosystems. Mosses, particularly Hylocomium splendens, have been used as biomonitors of atmospheric deposition since the 1960s because they lack roots and cuticles and acquire nutrients and pollutants directly from the atmosphere. This project advances knowledge by applying optimized and validated analytical methods for simultaneous determination of trace metals, metalloids, and PAHs in Arctic mosses. By integrating chemical analysis with multivariate statistics and HYSPLIT back-trajectory modelling, it will provide insights into pollutant sources, deposition patterns, and long-range transport pathways in the western part of Svalbard. The contamination mosses and topsoil will be also assessed by a wide spectrum of pollution soil indices: Enrichment Factor (EF), Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Potential Ecological Risk (RI), Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Probability of Toxicity (MERMQ). The expected results include (1) a validated extraction procedure for PAH analysis in Arctic mosses, (2) a new dataset on the distribution of metals and organic pollutants in the Spitsbergen area, (3) and an improved understanding of the LRAT processes that control pollutant deposition in southern Svalbard. otential Ecological Risk (RI), Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Probability of Toxicity (MERMQ). The expected results include (1) a validated extraction procedure for PAH analysis in Arctic mosses, (2) a new dataset on the distribution of metals and organic pollutants in the Spitsbergen area, (3) and an improved understanding of the LRAT processes that control pollutant deposition in southern Svalbard. | Lorenzo | Massi | Ca' Foscari University of Venice | IT | Nicolaus Copernicus University Polar Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | BryoMon | Bryophytes are important components of Arctic ecosystems. They contribute the majority of biomass and plant diversity in many habitats and play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning. Consequently, changes in bryophyte abundance can have wide-scale impacts on Arctic ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. Climate change is expected to affect bryophytes, with warmer conditions likely favoring more competitive vascular plants at the expense of bryophytes. Despite their significance, bryophytes are often overlooked in Arctic vegetation studies, and monitoring of bryophytes has not been conducted on the same magnitude as that of vascular plants. In this project, we will resample the permanent vegetation plots established and studied in 2009–2010 in two sites in Greenland: low arctic Kobbefjord and high arctic Zackenberg. We will investigate the temporal changes in bryophyte diversity, community composition, and functional traits in relation to those of vascular plants, across different habitat types in both low and high arctic tundra over the past 16–17 years. The resulting data can be used to assess threatened bryophyte species and habitats, as well as to estimate the impacts of climate change on ecosystem functioning. | Inka | Kuusisto | University of Turku | FI | Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Zackenberg Research Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | PolarCap | The project investigates the variability of the upper polar atmosphere and its response to geomagnetic activity and energetic particle precipitation. It focuses on the D-layer of the ionosphere, which is between approximately 60 and 100 km altitude, and the polar cap, which is a region close to the geomagnetic pole. As a part of the project, we will deploy and operate the state-of-the-art tunable riometer at Concordia Station to measure ionospheric opacity related to electron density variations during space weather events. We will also use data from other stations in Antarctica and satellites to interpret the riometer data, and to understand variability, plasma irregularities, and dynamic processes in the upper polar atmosphere. The goal are also to understand the coupling mechanisms between the upper polar atmosphere and geospace in the polar cap over Concordia Station, and why the upper atmosphere in the Antarctic polar cap is so different from its northern counterpart. | Wojciech Jacek | Miloch | University of Oslo | NO | Concordia Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | FRESH Antarctica | The main objective of FRESH Antarctica is to analyze salinity and freshwater fluxes near the ice edge using the measurement capabilities aboard Le Commandant Charcot. In situ observations along vertical profiles and the vessel’s trajectory will assess how well satellite Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) maps capture surface salinity variability in the ice-edge region. We will examine upper-ocean salinity from CTD casts and characterize currents from ADCP data. Salinity and freshwater fluxes are key to understanding ocean–ice–atmosphere interactions in the Southern Ocean: positive SSS anomalies are often associated with sea-ice production and evaporation, whereas negative anomalies reflect melting and precipitation. Consequently, SSS analyses enable monitoring of changes in sea-ice distribution and concentration. Leveraging the PONANT expedition, we will collect near-surface salinity and current data with RBR-Concerto CTDs and the shipboard ADCP, conducting transects along Le Commandant Charcot’s route and regularly profiling from ~400 m to the surface (as operations allow). Since 2009, L-band radiometers (ESA’s SMOS; NASA’s Aquarius and SMAP) have enabled SSS retrievals from space. Our group (BEC-ICM) has produced SMOS-based SSS maps for over a decade. In the Southern Ocean, however, several factors complicate L-band SSS retrievals: reduced temperature sensitivity in cold waters, land/ice contamination, and strong wind–current–wave interactions. Thus, despite the scarcity of in situ data, ground-truth observations remain essential for validating and improving satellite products. ESA-funded projects led by our group have partly addressed these challenges, and by mid-2026 we expect to release a Southern-Ocean-tailored SSS product. The in situ measurements acquired here will be critical for understanding salinity structure near the ice edge and for improving and validating next-generation satellite SSS products in this climate-change hotspot. | Marta | Umbert | Institute of Marine Sciences CSIC | ES | MV Le Commandant Charcot | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | MAHAHA | MAHAHA is centred on the biological and geological characterization (light-aborsbing particles - LAPs) causing the darkening of the Mittivakkat Glacier’s surface and its relation with the weathering (WC) crust through modelling approach.The project also intends to enhance the understanding of the spectral response of LPSs and WC by integrating ground-based measurements with remote sensing data, including contemporary multispectral UAV acquisitions. The project is structured around three key objectives, that are: spectral characterisation of LAPs using field measurements and satellite-UAV images in order to identify the most relevant wavelengths for LAP determination; the characterisation of the WC by means of spectroscopy measurements, the model of the current WC properties and comparison of this model outputs with field observations, in order to evaluate its relation with LAP presence. | Giacomo | Traversa | Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council of Italy | IT | Sermilik Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | ARCTICMICROBES | We propose that the great adaptive capacity of microbes plays a significant role in ecological succession in the polar regions. As the polar regions warm, new ice-free terrestrial areas will first become available to pioneering microorganisms from sub- and supraglacial sediments, as well as organisms shifting their ranges poleward. Microbes readily occupying the open terrestrial niche of uninhabitable land promote primary succession by improving soil organic matter and fertility. Furthermore, microbes are essential associates of virtually all higher organisms, including plants, and are known to play a fundamental role in determining the fitness of their hosts. ARCTICMICROBES complements our other projects investigating the impacts of climate warming on the diversity of polar microbiotas, with a particular focus on how melting glaciers release long-trapped microbial reservoirs in both marine and terrestrial environments. | Marjo | Helander | University of Turku | FI | MV Le Commandant Charcot | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | HIGHPLANTS | This study aims to examine how plants survive and function in the high Arctic and the high Himalaya, which are two of the coldest and most extreme terrestrial environments on Earth. Despite their geographical isolation, these regions share similar ecological constraints, including low temperatures, intense radiation, strong winds, nutrient and moisture limitation, and short growing seasons. By comparing species from the same genera in both regions, this research will identify shared and biome-specific mechanisms of plant functional adaptation. The work integrates measurements of key plant functional traits (e.g., photochemical performance, leaf dry matter content, leaf nutrient content, and leaf isotopic composition) with soil microbial community analyses. It seeks to determine how plants coordinate structural, physiological, and biochemical traits to balance resource use and stress tolerance along the global plant economic spectrum. Moreover, the study explores how plant–microbe associations influence nutrient acquisition and performance under extreme abiotic stress, and how these relationships may shift under ongoing climate warming. By linking plant traits, microbial diversity, and environmental variables, this comparative framework will reveal trade-offs underpinning plant adaptation in cold deserts. The study will provide one of the first integrative datasets across the Arctic and Himalaya, advancing understanding of how plants persist at the limits of global vegetation and how their functional and symbiotic strategies may respond to rapid climate change. | Thinles | Chondol | Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences | CZ | Villum Research Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | ANTARCTICMICROBES | Our ongoing research seeks to advance understanding of ecological interactions across time, from the earliest microbial communities to present-day ecosystems shaped by non-native species, herbivores, and pathogens under a changing climate. The ANTARCTICMICROBES project extends this research by examining how climate warming affects the diversity of Antarctic microbiotas, with a focus on how melting glaciers release long-isolated microbial reservoirs into both marine and terrestrial environments. Currently, less than 2% of Antarctica is ice-free, but this area is projected to expand to nearly 25% by the end of the century. At the same time, the Arctic Ocean is expected to become seasonally ice-free. The release of ancient microbial “archives” from melting glaciers will introduce new biological and ecological dynamics to these environments. In aquatic systems, this could reshape nutrient cycles and may trigger large-scale plankton blooms; on land, it could expose ecosystems to both ancient beneficial microbes and pathogens. By revealing how microbial life influences the establishment and stability of ecosystems at the edges of habitability, this research will provide essential insights for biodiversity conservation, environmental monitoring, and biosecurity in the polar regions. | Kari | Saikkonen | University of Turku | FI | MV Le Commandant Charcot | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | ARCBIO | Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are increasingly accumulating in the Arctic despite its remoteness from major emission sources. These compounds threaten ecosystem health, yet their biological effects on Arctic primary producers remain poorly understood. ARCBIO aims to assess the accumulation and impacts of CECs in Arctic marine and terrestrial primary producers, focusing on phytoplankton and lichens as early-warning bioindicators. We address two key questions: (1) Which contaminants of emerging concern accumulate in marine and terrestrial primary producers, and at what levels?, and (2) how such exposure affects photosynthetic performance and microbial community structure and function? By integrating chemical quantification, photochemical measurements, and metagenomic analyses across coordinated oceanic and terrestrial sampling transects, this project will establish the first dual-realm, multi-endpoint framework linking contaminant loads to biological responses at the base of food webs in Arctic ecosystems. The results will generate new biomarkers of contaminant stress, identify model species for ecotoxicology, and develop an open-access database combining chemical, photochemical, and genomic indicators. Outcomes will enhance understanding of ecosystem vulnerability to CEC pollution, and contribute to sustainable Arctic governance, aligned with the European Green Deal, the Zero Pollution Action Plan, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This highly collaborative project brings together expertise from the University of Lisbon (Portugal), and GAIKER Technological Centre (Spain) fostering scientific and expertise exchange towards a shared project goal. Findings are expected to lead to high-impact publications in journals such as Chemosphere and Science of the Total Environment. | Maria Teresa | Cabrita | Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território, Universidade de Lisboa | PT | MV Le Commandant Charcot | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | GLACIAL-EXPORT | The Southern Ocean greatly impacts the climate of the Earth, with marginal ice zones, continental shelves and coastal zone being of particular interest since they are among the most biologically productive areas of the Souther Ocean. Glacial-EXPORT aims to investigate the role of microorganisms in the biological carbon pump in the Southern Ocean, particularly in glacially influenced regions. The project focuses on how particle-attached microbial communities influence the degradation and remineralisation of sinking organic matter, aiming to contribute to determine potential for carbon export via the biological carbon pump to change with climate change and quantify strength of potential feedback. This project will join and complement two projects taking place in the King Håkon VII Sea that aim to improve the understanding on the impact that the melting cryosphere has on ocean dynamics, biogeochemistry and ecosystem function. The methodology proposed combines innovative approaches, including radionuclide techniques, sediment traps, and genomic analyses, to better estimate carbon fluxes and microbial dynamics. The project will generate key data to improve biogeochemical modelling, enhancing our understanding of carbon cycling in a climate-sensitive region. | Viena | Puigcorbé | Institut de Ciències del Mar - CSIC | ES | RV Kronprins Haakon | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | FIRMit | Knowledge about snow cover, firn properties and winter surface mass balance is fundamental for estimating winter climate change impacts on glaciers. While firn distribution and the existence and development of perennial firn aquifers has been extensively studied on outlet glaciers of the southeast Greenland Ice Sheet, no such observations from peripheral glaciers in southeast Greenland currently exist. The FIRMit project will address this research gap, with a field study at Mittivakkat Gletsjer, located in close vicinity to the Sermilik Research Station. With an annual mass balance monitoring program ongoing since 1995, Mittivakkat Gletsjer is the most studied peripheral glacier in Greenland. In this project, we will (1) recover winter mass balance measurements which were discontinued in 2012 (Mernild et al., 2013), (2) map snow thickness and firn distribution using ground penetrating radar (GPR) and remote sensing, and (3) model snowpack and ice surface energy mass balance to assess contributions of different processes using observational data for calibration. Results from the FIRMit project will represent a foundation to build a better understanding of the impacts of temperature and precipitation variability on snow and firn conditions on southeast Greenland peripheral glaciers. | Jogscha | Abderhalden | Western Norway University of Applied Sciences | NO | Sermilik Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | ECOMOS | Most pathogen transmission routes are sensitive to environmental change in general and to climate change in particular. Recent studies of mosquito-borne viruses have uncovered the interplay between climate change, mosquito ecology, and the spread of disease. In ecological networks, climatic impacts differ among species: as each species is adapted to certain conditions, climate change will favor the reproduction of some species but hamper the performance of others. A first step in understanding these dynamics is by mapping the niche of the species in question. Across much of the Arctic realm, two mosquito species dominate - Ochlerotatus (Aedes) nigripes and Ochlerotatus (Aedes) impiger. While being morphologically and genetically similar, they occur in different densities across the Arctic and carry different viral communities. However, despite recent studies attempting to address the basic ecology of these species, we are yet to characterize their ecological niches. To predict how their numbers will fluctuate with climate change, we are in dire need of studies investigating the ecological requirements of these species. To achieve this, we will use Kobbefjord Research station in Greenland as a model system, as both species are present there at large population sizes. By combining observational studies of habitat choice with larval rearing across temperature ranges, we will be able to pinpoint oviposition preferences and optimal thermal ranges for each species. Furthermore, it will allow us to model the distribution of each species in Greenland and anticipate the effects of temperature changes across the Arctic on these species. | Jordan | Twombly Ellis | Umeå Univeristy | SE | Greenland Institute of Natural Resources | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | GLACIER-WEB | Polar regions are experiencing unprecedented climate warming, driving accelerated glacier retreat and increased freshwater, sediment, and nutrient discharge into coastal fjords. These changes are reshaping marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, yet their effects on the structure and stability of polar coastal food webs remain poorly understood. The GLACIER-WEB project aims to bridge this gap by integrating environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding and food web reconstruction to quantify biodiversity and trophic interactions along glacier influence gradients in two key polar fjords: Potter Cove (Antarctica) and Kongsfjorden (Arctic). This will provide the first bipolar, spatially explicit, multi-trophic, and multi-habitat assessment of ecosystem responses to glacier retreat. Using eDNA-derived biodiversity data combined with literature-based trophic information, GLACIER-WEB will build and analyse food webs to evaluate network structure, stability, and species’ functional roles across gradients of glacial influence. Comparative analyses between the Arctic and Antarctic sites will reveal common and contrasting patterns in ecosystem response to glacier retreat. The project will deliver an unprecedented, high-resolution dataset on polar biodiversity and food web organization, offering an empirical foundation for long-term ecological monitoring, predictive modelling, and conservation strategies in rapidly changing polar environments. | Iara Diamela | Rodriguez | University of Helsinki | FI | Ny-Ålesund Research Station - Sverdrup, Professor Julio Escudero Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | MICROAIRPOLAR | The MICROAIRPOLAR proposal is aimed at the obtention of airborne microorganisms samples from both high Arctic and Antarctica. The main objective is to understand the dispersion of the microorganisms in the atmosphere in the polar regions, not being affected directly by human activity. The samples will be sequenced and therefore the community described in detail, and with the help of high performance computing we will track the movement of the air cells and therefore understand the movement of bacteria and small eukaryotes within each polar region but also between both polar regions (north to south and vice versa). POLARIN opportunity of obtaining these samples with exactly the same methodology in an extraordinarily wide geographic range will allow answering questions posed by scientists about bacterial dispersion almost a century ago. We will understand the how biological entities can be dispersed and this basic research will allow explaining bacterial biogeography but also potential dispersion of pathogens both to animals and plants. | Antonio | Quesada | universidad autonoma de madrid | ES | Toolik Field Station, Villum Research Station, Akademik Vernadsky Station, Wasa Station, AWIPEV Base, Concordia Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | POLSIMS | The POLSIMS project aims to enhance the understanding and measurement of sea ice thickness in the Arctic region, a critical component in climate change monitoring. The project involves continuous in situ measurements using the SIMS instrument aboard the MV Le Commandant Charcot ship, complemented by field stops where in situ data such as ice and snow thickness, temperature, salinity of the ice, and dielectric constant will be collected. These measurements will support the validation and improvement of satellite-derived sea ice thickness products from missions like SMOS, SMAP, CryoSat-2. An additional focus is on characterizing the electromagnetic properties of sea ice and refining emission models through L-band radiometry, which is fundamental for the future ESA CIMR mission. The project also emphasizes societal impact via media outreach, raising awareness of Arctic sea ice conditions and their implications for global climate, and fostering public engagement through talks and social media updates. | Carolina | Gabarró | Institute of Marine Science, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, ICM-CSIC | ES | MV Le Commandant Charcot | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | VALIBRY | Long-term records of Arctic-alpine vegetation trajectories under contemporary climate change are rare, especially when including vascular plants, lichens and bryophytes in tandem. On top of that, studies focusing on the effects of warming on Arctic-alpine vegetation mostly use macroclimate data derived from weather stations, while the majority of species grows very close to the ground and therefore responds to in-situ, microclimatic variation rather than macroclimate change. In this project, we will resurvey vascular plant, lichen and bryophyte communities in 64 permanent plots of 1 m² spread across an elevational gradient of four mountain summits near Abisko, northern Sweden. Together, these plots form the northernmost GLORIA (Global Observational Research Initiative in Alpine Environments) site in Europe and have already been surveyed in 2001, 2008 and 2019. In addition, we will collect soil temperature data from microclimate loggers located near each plot since 2001. Our resurvey will extent this already unique time-series of vegetation and microclimate data up to a period of 25 years. Using this novel, long-term dataset, we will analyse how plant diversity and community characteristics of the three organism groups have changed interconnectedly over time, and how their temporal trajectories relate to concurrent changes in the soil microclimate. Our study will provide deeper insights into the dynamics of Arctic-alpine flora under in-situ, multidecadal environmental changes, which is necessary to truly understand and accurately predict the impacts of climate warming on these fragile ecosystems. | Thomas | Vanneste | Ghent University | BE | Abisko Scientific Research Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | AMIGA | AMIGA aims to accurately quantify greenhouse gas (CH₄ and CO₂) exchange in two key Antarctic ecosystem compartments – penguin colonies and ice shelves – to improve regional carbon budgets. Although GHG are essential in climate regulation, their production and release from Antarctic biological hotspots and cryospheric systems are still not well quantified, leading to significant gaps in global assessments. AMIGA tackles this issue by conducting detailed field campaigns from Neumayer Station III in Queen Maud Land, focusing on the Emperor penguin colony at Atka Bay and the nearby Atka and Ekström ice shelves during the 2028 austral summer. The project integrates ground-based high-precision gas analyzers (LI-COR instruments) and smart chamber systems for direct flux measurements with drone-mounted Sniffer 4D sensors for spatially resolved atmospheric sampling. Drone-based multispectral, thermal, and LiDAR imaging will assess surface properties, supplemented by Sentinel-2 satellite data for regional scaling. Laboratory analyses of guano, ice cores, and meltwater will identify biogeochemical drivers of gas exchange. Artificial intelligence tools — including convolutional neural networks for automated penguin counts and machine learning algorithms integrating multiple data sources — will upscale local observations into reliable regional estimates. AMIGA will deliver: i) simultaneous CH₄ and CO₂ flux measurements from penguin colonies and ice shelves; ii) insights into how ecosystem structure and ice shelf dynamics affect GHG emissions; and iii) validated AI-driven methods for extrapolating site measurements to landscape scales. These results will refine understanding of Antarctic contributions to global GHG budgets, support IPCC reporting, establish standardized drone-based monitoring procedures, and provide open-access datasets and algorithms for future polar research. | Alejandro | Roman Vazquez | ICMAN-CSIC | ES | Neumayer Station III | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | CALIPO | The Cross-Arctic Latitudinal Prokaryotic Omics survey (CALIPO) project is a targeted expedition to the Geographic North Pole designed to establish a comprehensive genomic and functional baseline for the microbial ecosystems inhabiting the rapidly changing Arctic sea ice. Sea ice forms a critical, yet poorly understood, biome that drives regional biogeochemical cycling as well as trophic webs. Current climate trajectories, particularly the increasing 'Atlantification' of the Arctic Ocean, necessitate an urgent microbial assessment. This project aims to establish a comprehensive genomic and functional baseline of microbial communities inhabiting Arctic sea ice, a rapidly changing and understudied biome critical to global climate regulation. Through a latitudinal expedition to the Geographic North Pole aboard the Le Commandant Charcot, the study will ultimately apply shotgun metagenomics with long-read sequencing (ONT) to analyze sea ice cores, brines, and underlying seawater. The project will reconstruct metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), quantify microbial abundances, and assess vertical and latitudinal gradients in microbial diversity and function. It also aims to isolate and cultivate novel Arctic microbes, potentially uncovering genes of biotechnological interest such as CRISPR-Cas systems and ice-binding proteins. The expedition’s repeated route offers the opportunity to initiate a temporal series for long-term monitoring of microbial responses to climate change. The project complements a concurrent Antarctic study from the same group, providing a bipolar perspective on polar microbial ecology. Results will be made publicly available following FAIR principles and are expected to lead to high-impact publications. The project addresses the foundational role of the Arctic microbiome in biodiversity and ecosystem resilience, contributing essential knowledge for predicting future states under ongoing environmental change. | Pablo | Sánchez | Institut de Ciències del Mar. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. ICM-CSIC | ES | MV Le Commandant Charcot | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | RETRO-SEEP | The RETRO-SEEP project investigates how glacier retreat drives the formation of subsea methane seeps, a mechanism that has been largely overlooked but may be widespread across glaciated regions globally. Methane seeps have been mapped in Svalbard fjords and the Barents Sea, but data from other polar regions remain scarce. Modern seeps discovered through pilot studies in subsea glacier forefields on Svalbard, which have been revealed by modern retreat, suggest that such methane emissions may be pervasive in shallow fjord systems underlain by organic-rich geology. These rock types are found across the Arctic and Antarctic, yet the prevalence and mechanisms of such seeps are poorly understood. The RETRO-SEEP project is highly motivated by gaps in our knowledge base due to a scarcity of studies, geographically limited data, and fragmentation by disciplinary boundaries. RETRO-SEEP is the first full glacier-fjord-system study to connect methane release with deglaciation, spanning from paleo to modern times. On board the CCGS Amundsen, we will map methane seeps in glaciated fjords of Axel Heiberg Island, Canada through multibeam, single beam and sub-bottom profiling. We will connect the occurrence of seepage with glacial and paleoclimate reconstruction of the area, which we will achieve with transects of marine sediment cores and and sediment cores from lakes in the region. In addition, we will examine terrestrial methane seeps in the land-terminating glacial forefields within the fjord catchments. These datasets are extremely novel for this region, where data in every discipline is severely lacking. | Gabrielle | Kleber | Univeristy of Tromsø (UiT) | NO | CCGS Amundsen | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | ARES | The polar regions, long regarded as among the last pristine environments on Earth, are now under growing scrutiny to understand how climate change and human activities affect their native microbial communities and antibiotic resistance dynamics. Deciphering the evolution of the polar resistome and pathobiome is crucial to anticipate potential global impacts on human health and environmental security. Polar environments may also preserve ancient pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from the pre-antibiotic era, offering insights into their origin and mobilisation. Microbial antibiotic resistance in these ecosystems is influenced by both natural and anthropogenic factors, including global warming, contaminant persistence, and the introduction of non-native microorganisms. Rising temperatures, humidity, and changing precipitation patterns alter microbial community structures, potentially accelerating adaptation, pathogenicity, and resistance mechanisms. Moreover, ocean–atmosphere and ice–ocean interactions play a central role in the spread and resilience of microbial populations. While most existing studies have focused on Arctic and Antarctic soils, aquatic systems remain largely unexplored. ARES aims to address this gap by investigating the occurrence and distribution of dormant spore-forming microbes and ARGs in Antarctic ice, snow, and marine samples through culture-dependent and molecular approaches. The project will integrate microbiological and oceanographic data to assess how water mass stratification and glacial melt influence microbial dispersal and adaptation. Building on the Arctic pilot project HIBERNATE, which revealed antibiotic-resistant bacteria in glacier and fjord environments in the Ny-Ålesund area, ARES will apply a similar framework to an Antarctic glacial–marine system, conducting comparative analyses between the two poles. The physical access to the Research Infrastructure Juan Carlos I (Antarctic Peninsula) is requested. | Manuel | Bensi | OGS -National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics | IT | Juan Carlos I Antarctic Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | New_PANDORA | The New_PANDORA proposal is an updated and simplified version of the already submitted PANDORA proposal, which was not approved in the first Polarin Call. The idea is to create a small network of research groups operating simultaneously on the same matrices and by using the same approach to investigate bacterial resistome and pathobiome in polar areas. The proposal has been revised according to the received evaluation and in its new format, it intends to achieve the following objectives: - Coordinate sampling activities between Arctic and Antarctic research bases for the collection of different samples by using the same methodologies; - Examine the occurrence and distribution of dormant spore-forming microbial species and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in Arctic and Antarctic matrices by culture-dependent and independent approaches; - Unravel and compare the Pathobiome and Resistome of the two polar regions, trying to decipher the different contributions of each potential source of these specific bacterial fractions; - Testing an approach of cooperation and harmonisation of methods through the use of remote access as a resource and possible future development of citizen science. | Carmen | Rizzo | Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn | IT | Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik Research Complex, Nicolaus Copernicus University Polar Station, Toolik Field Station, Neumayer Station III, Wasa Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | PECOACT | This proposal investigates Arctic greenhouse gas fluxes by quantifying the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) in relation to vegetation and permafrost thaw in Svalbard. It compares areas with active and inactive periglacial processes to understand how vegetation phenology and active layer thickness drive CO₂ fluxes for carbon balance. The study combines field surveys, ERT monitoring, and portable IRGA measurements to assess NEE variability, supported by UAV and topographic analyses. Outcomes will clarify the role of vegetation and permafrost in carbon emissions or uptake, contributing to global carbon models and EU climate goals. The project will produce high-resolution datasets, 3 peer-reviewed papers, and open-access data aligned with EU Arctic initiatives. Fieldwork at Ny-Ålesund ensures logistical feasibility and international collaboration. | Stefano | Ponti | University of Insubria | IT | AWIPEV Base | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | APPISET | Understanding how climate-induced changes to polar diversity is impacting ecological interactions, food webs, ecosystem function and resilience, represents a crucial yet undeveloped research area. We require the development of better mechanistic frameworks to improve forecasting of how climate warming can negatively or positively impact cold-adapted species and their biotic interactions. This project posits that development has been stifled by a lack of high-resolution trait data mapped to local climatic conditions. Specifically, we require data that can reveal how frequencies of thermally sensitive traits (e.g., body size, individual thermoregulation, locomotion, nutritional status) within and between species are being redistributed under environmental temperature change (response traits). For plant-pollinator communities, such a resource will be invaluable as it can allow us to determine which thermally sensitive areas of trait space can predict roles across interaction networks (effect traits). In this proposal we request funds to support a team of field ecologists to map the frequency distributions of a suite of temperature-dependent traits for plants and their insect pollinators (here bumblebees) across a microclimate gradient. This will be done by assigning trait values to each individual-level interaction with surveys conducted along an historical transect traversing up Mount Njuola (close to Abisko Research Station). Data will include bumblebee external morphology, tongue length, thermal profiles and responsiveness, plant species external morphology, floral temperature, nectar and pollen nutritional value, soil chemistry, microclimate data. Armed with such data, downstream analyses of the project will look to model trait-based thermal and interaction niches, energy budget models to inform pollinator activity profiles and plant nutritional rewards, thermal performance models to predict competitive dominances over resources and specific distribution models. | Richard | Gill | Imperial College London | GB | Abisko Scientific Research Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | PlasticEaters | Plastic pollution has reached even the most remote polar environments, yet the potential of cold-adapted microorganisms to biodegrade plastics under low-temperature conditions remains largely unexplored. This project aims to isolate and characterize psychrophilic and psychrotolerant microbial strains from Antarctic plastic waste, focusing on their ability to degrade common plastic polymers at moderate temperatures (~14 °C), which aligns with ambient conditions in temperate regions such as the Iberian Peninsula. The research will combine field sampling, microbial isolation, biodegradation assays, and genomic analysis to identify strains with biotechnological potential for low-energy plastic waste treatment. Expected outcomes include a curated collection of Antarctic microbial isolates with confirmed plastic-degrading activity, insights into their metabolic pathways, and candidate enzymes for future applications. The project contributes to polar biodiversity research, carbon cycle studies, and global environmental change mitigation, aligning with POLARIN’s thematic priorities and broader EU sustainability goals. | Miguel | Gonzalez-Pleiter | Universidad Autónoma de Madrid | ES | Professor Julio Escudero Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | ADIMMS | The project ADIMMS (ASPA Danger Islands Management and Monitoring Set-up) aims to undertake various scientific investigations in the ASPA No. 180 Danger Islands,situated at the top of the Antarctic Peninsula. The background to this is Germany's obligation to manage and monitor the Danger Island archipelago following its succesful designation as an ASPA in 2024. The primary reason for designation of the Danger Islands as an ASPA is its outstanding number and diversity of seabirds, which are representative of the region. The Danger Islands host large colonies of seabirds, which are of exceptional ecological and scientific interest. This relates above all to Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae). The Danger Islands host the largest Adélie penguin aggregation in the world. Along the quantification of the seabird colonies in the area, the search for the penguins' main marine feeding grounds is the most important task to be completed. In the medium term, these feeding grounds should be included into the ASPA by extending it accordingly. Furthermore, population monitoring of the breeding penguins is planned in order to be able to derive long-term trends. Finally, regular surveys in the area will provide initial insights into possible background contamination of various environmental media. Targeted biotic and non-biotic sampling is not only used for pollutant analysis (e.g. non-target screening), but also for the long-term provision of samples for analyses by third parties from the scientific community. | Osama | Mustafa | ThINK - Thüringer Institut für Nachhaltigkeit und Klimaschutz | DE | MV Le Commandant Charcot | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | ICEROOT | The Arctic is warming three to four times faster than the global average, leading to widespread permafrost thaw. Due to these changes in permafrost, the active layer (AL), the uppermost layer that thaws and freezes annually, expands in depth. Because permafrost soils in the Arctic tundra contain relatively large amounts of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) these may be released upon thaw and increase not only greenhouse gas emissions but also plant productivity, both above and below ground. As permafrost thaws, restrictions on the rooting depth of deep rooting species are lifted, enabling direct interactions of roots with newly thawed permafrost soils. Whether or not this leads to increased carbon storage due to higher plant inputs, or a loss of carbon due to higher decomposition rates is unclear. Here, the presence of deep-rooting plants may be crucial, because the presence of living plant roots can stimulate decomposition rates, even at depth. This project will assess, if the presence of living roots at the thaw front in the Alaskan moist acidic tussock tundra either inhibit or stimulate decomposition of C. Therefore, a long-term permafrost thaw experiment in northern Alaska will be used in which we manipulate the presence of deep- and shallow-rooting plant species. Potential changes in gas fluxes will be measured with an infrared gas analyzer. Root decomposition rates will be studied at different soil depth via litter bag installations, both in control and permafrost thaw plots. A significant component of the 2026 field work will thus involve collecting leaf and root litter material for the litter bag installations in-situ, ensuring that decomposition processes are studied without bias from potential “home-field” advantage effects. Overall, this project will contribute to advancing our (belowground) knowledge of arctic responses to climate change, which is crucial for our understanding of changing carbon emissions in a warmer world. | Vanessa | Götz | Umeå University | SE | Toolik Field Station | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | BIOPOLAR | Plastic residues are increasingly detected in Arctic environments, including remote tundra soils. In Nunavik, local waste disposal and open burning release micro- and nanoplastics (MPs, NPs) and metal additives, which accumulate in snowpacks and surface soils. However, their redistribution after snowmelt and transfer into terrestrial food webs are still poorly understood. This project focuses on the Kuujjuaraapik region, where we will sample soils, vegetation and wolf spiders, a dominant Arctic predator integrating multiple exposure pathways. Polymer types and particle sizes will be determined using Pyro-GC/MS, while associated metals will be quantified by ICP-QQQ. Synchrotron-based micro-spectroscopy (µXRF/XAS) will further characterise metal distribution and bonding environments. The project will provide the first integrated assessment of soil reservoirs, seasonal mobilisation and trophic exposure to plastic-derived contaminants in Arctic tundra ecosystems. | Mélanie | Davranche | Rennes University | FR | Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik Research Complex | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | SIREN | The SIREN project aims to close critical observational gaps in our understanding of snow and sea-ice thickness in the Southern Ocean, a region where both remain poorly constrained. Current satellite-based estimates are subject to large uncertainties due to the complex and variable properties of Antarctic snow and ice, particularly the effects of saline snow and flooding on radar altimetry signals. To address these limitations, SIREN will deploy the Ultra-Wideband Snow Sensor (UWiBaSS), developed by NORCE, in a shipborne configuration on board the research icebreaker RV Polarstern during the Antarctic InSync campaign (Leg 3, June–August 2028). In combination with the Sea Ice Monitoring System (SIMS) and a scanning laser, the project will provide continuous, co-registered measurements of snow depth, sea-ice thickness, and surface topography along extended transects through the East Weddell Sea and Indian Ocean sectors. The resulting dataset will enable improved understanding of snow–ice interactions, snow-ice formation, and flooding processes, which are key for quantifying sea-ice mass balance and freshwater fluxes. It will also provide a critical reference for the validation and development of satellite altimetry products from missions such as CRISTAL, Sentinel-3, ICESat-2, and SWOT. SIREN contributes directly to POLARIN’s key research priority Sea Ice and Polar Oceans in the Climate System, while being fully embedded in international programmes such as the ESA Polar Cluster project SO-SIMBA and the Antarctica InSync initiative. The project will follow FAIR data principles, ensuring that all datasets and processing tools are openly available for scientific and operational use, supporting improved climate models, algorithm development, and forecasting capabilities. | Robert | Ricker | NORCE Norwegian Research Centre | NO | PRV Polarstern | Scheduled |
| Second TA call | CHASO | Through close collaboration with international projects, the CISSESMBEL and HCLIM Atmosphere and Surface Observations (CHASO) project will collect in-situ measurements of snowpack properties, surface mass balance and snow distribution near the Troll station in Dronning Maud Land and along a transect from the station to the coastline. These observations will be combined and compared to remote sensing data provided by the Troll Observing Network, and similar in-situ data from other campaigns in Greenland and Antarctica. Given the interannual variability in snowfall and recent changes in the mass budget, it is crucial to evaluate whether current models and reanalyses accurately represent Antarctic conditions. Snow albedo in Antarctica differs substantially from that in Greenland, representing a major source of error in existing models. Improving our understanding of snowfall amount, snow grain size, density and reflectivity is therefore critical, particularly in a warming future where increasing melt may alter snow retention and contribute to melt pond formation and runoff. Thus, by incorporating our findings into climate models, such as HCLIM, and the SMB model CISSEMBEL, we aim to improve the accuracy of climate simulations and projections. | Jose Abraham | Torres Alavez | Danish Meteorological Institute | DK | Troll Research Station | Scheduled |