North Of Sweden Research Articles

Affirming the arctic outdoors: reading norrland ranger memoirs of becoming through outdoor training

ABSTRACT This article contributes to literature in IR and critical military studies on embodied experiences, military geographies, and research on rangers. Despite being a common feature of military training, little research exists on how the military uses outdoor training to shape soldiers’ identities, emotions, and embodied dispositions. In contrast to existing scholarship’s emphasis on using and constructing outdoor environments in military training to transmit values and skills to make soldiers tough, I argue that outdoor training should be examined from its wealth of embodied experiences and the becoming it gives rise to. Exploring written memoirs by Swedish Norrland Rangers in annual ranger journals on their embodied experiences of extensive outdoor training in north Sweden, the article traces how these rangers represent outdoor training as an assemblage of challenging and pleasurable experiences of being entangled with the northern geographies. The findings indicate that Norrland rangers actively nurture an affirmative orientation to the outdoors and Arctic geographies through their representations of outdoor training, making the challenging ranger formation a rewarding becoming. By developing how rangers constitute and foster this affirmative orientation through their writings, the article provides a better understanding of how pleasurable feelings and experiences of the outdoors are nurtured and drawn upon to socialize rangers.

A schoolscape in the north of Sweden. Visual representations of the national minority languages Finnish, Meänkieli, and Sami

A schoolscape in the north of Sweden. Visual representations of the national minority languages Finnish, Meänkieli, and Sami

Ice-marginal ridge relief complex in northern Kola Peninsula (NW Russia): morphology, structure, and genetic interpretation

A widely spread ridge relief complex was formed by the last ice cover in the northeastern part of the Kola Peninsula. The complex belongs to the ice-marginal formations of the ice streams of the north-eastern Fennoscandian Ice Sheet. The applied morphometric research technique (including the analysis of the digital elevation model) has allowed identifying the ridge relief complex to make a sub-longitudinal belt. The belt comprises frontal and radial ridges, ridges and hills of the distal part of the belt, and complex-shaped ridges. These landforms were studied in eight outcrops and trenches. The frontal and some complex-shaped ridges consist of basal and ablation tills and glaciofluvial deposits deformed by the east- and north-eastward advancing glacier. The radial ridges composed of glaciofluvial sediments are the eskers. Glaciofluvial deposits with a thin cover of ablation and flow tills form the ridges on the distal part of the belt. They mark the limits of glacier expansion at an individual glacial stage. Some complex-shaped ridges are composed only of the ablation melt-out till and formed in crevasses of dead ice massifs. The ridge relief complex shows morphological similarities with the Veiki moraine in North Sweden, Pulju moraine in Finland, and ridges of the “ice-walled-lake plains” in North America. The location of the moraine ridge landforms is controlled by the topography of crystalline bedrock. During the last glaciation, the glacier retreated in several stages marked by belts of the ridge landforms. Each stage was followed by a series of oscillations corresponding to chains of frontal moraine ridges. The correlation of the ice-marginal forms in other parts of the Kola and Karelia regions allows the authors to refer them to the Neva Stage (other names are Keiva I, Syamozero), which took place in the Older Dryas Stadial.

Distinctive Patterns of Water Level Change in Swedish Lakes Driven by Climate and Human Regulation

AbstractDespite having approximately 100,000 lakes, Sweden has limited continuous gauged lake water level data. Although satellite radar altimetry (RA) has emerged as a popular alternative to measure water levels in inland water bodies, it has not yet been used to understand the large‐scale changes in Swedish lakes. Here, we quantify the changes in water levels in 144 lakes using RA data and in situ gauged measurements to examine the effects of flow regulation and hydroclimatic variability. We use data from several RA missions, including ERS‐2, ENVISAT, JASON‐1,2,3, SARAL, and Sentinel‐3A/B. We found that during 1995–2022, around 52% of the lakes exhibited an increasing trend and 43% a decreasing trend. Most lakes exhibiting an increasing trend were in the north of Sweden, while most lakes showing a decreasing trend were in the south. Regarding the potential effects of regulation, we found that unregulated lakes had smaller trends in water level and dynamic storage than regulated ones. While the seasonal patterns of water levels in the lakes in the north are similar in regulated and unregulated lakes, in the south, they differ substantially. This study highlights the need to continuously monitor lake water levels for adaptation strategies in the face of climate change and understand the downstream effects of water regulatory schemes.

Towards real-time condition monitoring of a transition zone in a railway structure using fibre Bragg grating sensors

Differential settlement of ballast and subgrade is a common issue in ballasted railway tracks. In transition zones between two different track forms, such as between a ballasted track and a slab track, a dip in longitudinal level often develops on the ballasted side. To ensure the safety of railway operation and reduce maintenance and life cycle costs, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the transition zone in an economical manner and to detect any operational change at an early stage. In recent years with the advancement of fibre-optic technology, fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensors have been more commonly applied in condition monitoring of railways due to their high precision and high acquisition rates. In this study, an FBG-based setup for in-situ long-term condition monitoring of track bed degradation in a transition zone has been developed and implemented to provide data for verification and calibration of a simulation model. The system is designed for measurements in an operational railway track in harsh conditions in the north of Sweden. The instrumentation along the transition includes four clusters, each with an optical strain gauge array on the rail web in one sleeper bay, and an accelerometer and a displacement transducer on the sleeper. It is shown that the implemented displacement and strain sensors are able to effectively capture the overall dynamic range of the system, indicating that the collected data can accurately represent the dynamic response of the transition zone in the short term and long term and be applied for the calibration of a simulation model.

Heat wave-induced microbial thermal trait adaptation and its reversal in the Subarctic.

Climate change predictions suggest that arctic and subarctic ecosystems will be particularly affected by rising temperatures and extreme weather events, including severe heat waves. Temperature is one of the most important environmental factors controlling and regulating microbial decomposition in soils; therefore, it is critical to understand its impact on soil microorganisms and their feedback to climate warming. We conducted a warming experiment in a subarctic birch forest in North Sweden to test the effects of summer heat waves on the thermal trait distributions that define the temperature dependences for microbial growth and respiration. We also determined the microbial temperature dependences 10 and 12 months after the heat wave simulation had ended to investigate the persistence of the thermal trait shifts. As a result of warming, the bacterial growth temperature dependence shifted to become warm-adapted, with a similar trend for fungal growth. For respiration, there was no shift in the temperature dependence. The shifts in thermal traits were not accompanied by changes in α- or β-diversity of the microbial community. Warming increased the fungal-to-bacterial growth ratio by 33% and decreased the microbial carbon use efficiency by 35%, and both these effects were caused by the reduction in moisture the warming treatments caused, while there was no evidence that substrate depletion had altered microbial processes. The warm-shifted bacterial thermal traits were partially restored within one winter but only fully recovered to match ambient conditions after 1 year. To conclude, a summer heat wave in the Subarctic resulted in (i) shifts in microbial thermal trait distributions; (ii) lower microbial process rates caused by decreased moisture, not substrate depletion; and (iii) no detectable link between the microbial thermal trait shifts and community composition changes.

School-to-work transitions in rural North Sweden: staying on in a reviving local labor market

ABSTRACT This article addresses young people’s school-to-work transitions. The analysis draws on data from a Swedish ongoing qualitative longitudinal project spanning over 10 years. In this article, we focus on eight young people who grew up and still live in a small rural inland town in North Sweden where the regional labor market is going through a process of rapid reindustrialization after decades of industrial decline and welfare state retrenchment. The aim of the study is to explore the young rural ‘stayers’ transitions in a region characterized by strong economic growth, yet with long-standing challenges in terms of social reproduction, focusing on what kind of work they end up with and their speed of establishment on the labor market. At the time of the latest interview all but one of the 8 participants in this study had employment in local or regional industries, however, how fast they had managed to establish themselves on the labor market varied between them. Further, their staying on locally depended largely on regional mobility. We discuss their transitions in relation to the ongoing re-industrialization process in North Sweden but also what implications young stayers’ school-to-work transitions might have in relation to the wider social reproduction in the region.

Public libraries in language assimilation policies: The Swedish Tornedalian example

This article reports from a project on the role of public libraries in language assimilation policies directed against the Meänkieli-speaking Tornedalian minority in the far north of Sweden during the first half of the 20th century. As libraries in the Torne Valley area, bordering on Finland, were maintained under state control, they became tools in the near eradication of Meänkieli in a complex set of policies that were in effect until 1957, promoting a uniform Swedish language and culture. Building on sociological conflict theory and the analysis of unpublished local documentation, the article brings to light conditions previously unknown about the Swedish public libraries in the northernmost part of the country. The article concludes by reflecting on the role of Swedish libraries today as important tools for the revitalization of Meänkieli, aimed at strengthening the identity and visibility of the Tornedalian minority.

Amphibians and reptiles in North Sweden: distribution, habitat affinities, and abundance (Classes: Amphibia and Reptilia).

North Sweden ('Norrland' in Swedish) covers 243000 km2 and lies mainly in the boreal biome. The herpetofauna comprises five amphibian and four reptile species: Lissotriton vulgaris, Triturus cristatus, Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria, Rana arvalis, Zootoca vivipara, Anguis fragilis, Natrix natrix, and Vipera berus. Successful conservation and management of amphibians and reptiles depend on accurate information about distribution, habitat affinities, and abundance. Such knowledge is also essential as a benchmark to assess changes in distribution and abundance that may come about as a result of climate change and human habitat alteration. This paper aims to present accurate distribution maps, describe habitat affinities, and provide abundance estimates for the herpetofauna of North Sweden for the period 1970-2022. Distribution data are presented by traditional faunistic provinces, as well as by biotic regions and alpine life zones. Separate sections address post-glacial colonization and a herpetological perspective on anthropogenic changes in relation to species´ present status. Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria, Rana arvalis, Zootoca vivipara, and Vipera berus are widely distributed throughout the boreal sub-regions. Rana temporaria, Zootoca vivipara, and Vipera berus also extend into the alpine region. Triturus cristatus, Anguis fragilis, and Natrix natrix occur mainly in the coastal parts of the Southern Boreal region. There are no signs of recent changes in distribution range, but Lissotriton vulgaris, Triturus cristatus, and Rana arvalis have been largely overlooked in the past and have a much wider occurrence than previously recognized. Most species are found in habitats usually not described in all-European field guides. Nearly all anurans hibernate in water. Abundance estimates suggest that some species are more common in the boreal than thought, supporting the notion that a large share of their total European population occurs there. Although local extinctions and declines are known, there are no signs of widespread population decline for any species during the study period.

Multi-element features of active acid sulfate soils across the Swedish coastal plains

Acid sulfate soils are sulfide-rich soils with notable associated environmental risks. The low pH of these soils mobilizes metals from the soil minerals, which will lead to both acidification and metal contamination of the surrounding environment. This paper presents the results of a geochemical study of 66 profiles of acid sulfate soils collected from a total of 22 sites (three profiles for each site) on the Swedish coastal plains, which stretch for some 2000 km along the Baltic Sea and Kattegat. The reduced zone at the bottom of the profiles was characterized by pH frequently >6.0, the transition zone (above the reduced zone) by a steep pH gradient from near-neutral to weakly acidic, and the oxidized zone located above the transition zone by highly acidic conditions with a pH minimum <4.0. Each zone in each profile was sampled for geochemical analyses. The aqua regia extractable S concentrations ranged widely in the reduced zone (0.06–7.5%) and were strongly depleted in the oxidized zone (median decrease 69%) from extensive sulfide oxidation and associated severe acidification and sulfate leaching. In addition to S, there were significant losses from the oxidized zone of eight alkali and alkaline earth metals (Ba, Be, Ca, K, Li, Mg, Na, and Sr), four first row transition metals (Co, Mn, Ni, and Zn), three second row transition metals (Cd, Y, and Zr), the rare earth elements (Ce, La, and Yb), and Al, Th, and B. These elements would therefore be expected to be enriched in nearby surface waters, which was supported by hydrogeochemistry data from elsewhere in the boreal zone. Nineteen other chemical elements were not significantly lost from the oxidized zone relative to the reduced zone (Fe, Ti, W, Se, Sc, V, Cu, Cr, P, In, Te, Ag, Sb, Bi, Sn, Mo, U, As, and Pb) and therefore, would not be expected to occur in elevated concentrations in acid sulfate soil affected surface waters, as was supported by literature data from elsewhere in the boreal zone. A hypothesis of more extensive oxidation, acidification, and leaching of the soils in south Sweden (hemiboreal zone) than north Sweden (boreal zone) due to a warmer climate in the former region was rejected based upon pH and multi-element patterns from 9 field sites from the north and 12 field sites from the south. Consequently, the losses were likely primarily controlled by local factors, such as time since drainage and soil development. However, the oxidized zone was significantly thicker in the north (median: 75 cm) than south (median: 40 cm). This suggested that although the proportional losses (i.e., difference in elemental concentrations between the oxidized and reduced zones) were overall not different between the two regions, the total amount of elements lost from the soils will have been larger in the north. Of the elements with no significant losses, several were extracted with 1 M HCl to a larger extent in the oxidized than the reduced zone (Fe, As, Cr, Cu, Mo, Sc, Ti, U, and V). This indicated retention in the acidic environment following release from weathered and/or oxidized soil minerals. These elements, of which several are particularly toxic (As, Cr, and U), may thus be mobilized and leached if the soils geochemical conditions change either naturally or via human activities.

Rail transport in Swedish wood supply – seasonal variation, system risks and mitigation costs

ABSTRACT This study examines the potential for reduced risks in roundwood transport by rail. The study quantifies seasonal variation and system risks under boreal conditions, as well as practical routines for managerial response to these. The study case is based on an integrated forest company with 11 supply terminals supplying coastal mills in mid-Sweden. The terminals were distributed from south to north Sweden, with six core terminals located in the interior- and mid-supply zones for coastal mills. The monthly flows ranged from 75 to 118% of the annual average and the monthly variability of terminal inflows was 67% higher for the interior than the mid-zone terminals. Comparing inflows between assortments, the lowest variability was for coniferous pulpwood (8%) and pine sawlogs (18%), increasing thereafter to deciduous pulpwood (28%) and spruce sawlogs (53%). Regarding rail system disturbances, the frequency of deviations from scheduled routes for the core terminals was 16–17%, resulting in canceled routes for 53–65% of deviations. Two mitigation scenarios were tested to reduce supply risks (scenario 1) and a combination of supply and system risks (scenario 2). These risk mitigation scenarios had only marginal effects on system costs (< 1%). The optimal solutions, however, involved a 4–5% reduction of truck transport output (m3km per period) and 7–8% increase in rail output. From the perspective of rail operations, interviews with service buyers and providers showed that the mitigation scenarios were fully feasible on an annual planning horizon. Further options are provided for quarterly, monthly, and weekly horizons.

The potential of combining distant and close reading in the history of ideas

In this article we discuss the benefits of applying a mixed methods approach to the history of ideas. The article is based upon two cases of different character, applying methods from the field of digital textual analysis, and from the field of digital spatio-temporal map visualization.&#x0D; One case concerns all churches and prayer chapels in the Diocese of Luleå, and comprises 1200 entry points. The project originates in the question of whether a Bible belt exists in the north of Sweden; what it (if there is one) looks like, what its characteristics are, and how it has evolved over time. The spatio-temporal visualization both clarifies general patterns of religious fervor, but also reveals “white spots” and areas of conflicting interests, creating questions for further research.&#x0D; The second case stems from a larger project investigating contemporary online use of the concept “Creativity”. Here, distributional concept analysis is performed using Sketch Engine on the corpus English Web 2020 (enTenTen20), consisting of 38 billion English words gathered in 2020 from Wikipedia, blogs, online magazines and journals. Lists are assembled over which words are most often used together (co-locates) with creativity. Then, the research process is outlined, where use of such distant reading tools encourages returns to close readings of other materials (for instance speeches by American presidents) in an iterative process.&#x0D; The two cases illustrate the possibilities inherent in the process of moving between overarching, “distant”, levels, where digital methods can show large patterns, and more specific and detailed, “close” levels, with focus on particular places or points of interest. The mixed method approach we propose is not new, but we argue that by using digital (instead of analogous) methods this can be done at a much larger scale, with less effort. Furthermore, we will show how this oscillation between on the one hand distant, large-scale, computer aided methods, and on the other close readings and interpretations, generate new, interesting historical questions in an iterative process.&#x0D; Finally, we discuss our experiences of multidisciplinary approaches to digital history, describe setbacks and unexpected wins, and argue that the benefits and potential of this approach outweigh the risks.&#x0D;

Deconstructing autonomy: The case of principals in the North of Europe

Principal autonomy has been identified as an important ingredient in effective and healthy schools. However, little is known about the various dimensions of the phenomenon and how it takes form in different contexts. This article presents an analytical device contributing to further understand the complex nature of principal autonomy. The device follows the seminal work of Richard Ingersoll on autonomy in school organisations operationalised as decision-making and control. Moreover, we put forward a multidimensional device to organise decisions and control in several schooling domains: educational, social, developmental and administrative. By exemplifying the device on principals’ perceptions of autonomy in the very North of Sweden, Norway and Finland, we can reveal important differences between the three Nordic neighbouring cases. Related to these reforms, principals’ work can be compared in terms of different grades of complexity and risk, with corresponding consequences for their autonomy.

The making and re-making of high modernist towns in the Circumpolar North

In this article we explore the fate of high modernist architecture and settlement planning in the North, through the lens of mining towns in Sweden and Quebec. After WW2, cities across the world were subject to a wave of restructuring in accordance with high modernist ideals. The circumpolar north became the subject of some of the most radical examples, often described as utopian. In the Swedish Arctic, a renowned architect Ralph Erskine played a leading role. He combined functionalist principles, with ideas of creating settlements protecting inhabitants from harsh Arctic conditions, in harmony with the environment. Erskine's ideas were implemented to a different extent in Kiruna and Svappavaara in north Sweden in the 1960's and in Fermont, Quebec, in the early 1970's. Our aim is to understand the challenges of creating industrial settlements in the Arctic, with the capacity to attract employees that are needed for resource extraction and other industries. While Erskine's architecture in Svappavaara and Kiruna will be demolished, the wall shaped town in Fermont is still intact and expanding. By comparing and highlighting differences, we call attention to the threat of demolition of legacies of an era that has yet to be defined as cultural heritage.

Evaluation of the structural response of two in-service thin flexible pavements under heavy vehicle loading during different seasons by built-in sensors

ABSTRACT Long Heavy Vehicles (LHV) are considered more efficient and environmentally friendly transportation of goods compared to conventional trucks. Thus, the maximum allowable gross vehicle weight (GVW) in Sweden was increased on part of the road network from 64 to 74 tons in 2018 by increasing the vehicles’ length and the number of axle groups per vehicle but not the axle load limits. This change in loading conditions is expected to lead to changes in the structural response and degradation rate of thin pavements on the low-volume road network. To improve our understanding of thin pavements behaviour exposed to multiple axle loadings two thin pavement structures located in the north of Sweden were instrumented with road response and climate sensors. Four measurement campaigns were carried out within one year by in-situ stress and strain measurements from the built-in sensors as LHV passes over at normal speed. The recorded response was compared with numerical calculations based on multilayer elastic theory (MLET). Values of stresses and strains showed a generally good agreement with high values of coefficient of determination R 2 during different seasons when the asphalt stiffness values were adjusted based on temperature and granular layer stiffness values based on moisture.

Swedish local and regional politicians’ views on their role in health promotion

Abstract Background The political context is an important determinant of health. Politicians in municipalities and regions in Sweden are responsible for many of the determinants of health, and their role is therefore important when considering health promotion. The aim of the study was to explore how politicians describe their role in health promotion. Methods An electronic questionnaire focused on politicians’ role, responsibility, and possibility to promote health was sent to all politicians in municipalities and regions in the north of Sweden. A total of 667 politicians answered the questionnaire, and out of them, 361 politicians answered the free text question “as a politician I consider my role in health promotion to be ...”. The answers were analyzed using thematic analysis. The four themes discovered were used to sort politicians into groups. All politicians were sorted into the group that was most similar to their answer. Group sizes were shown in percentage of how large part of the politicians belonged to the respective groups. Results Preliminary results show that the politicians could be divided into four different groups: 1) No political role, only personal aspects described (such as being a good role model) (25,3%), 2) Promote individuals to take care of their health (for example through information) (19,5%), 3) Support other parts of the organization (municipality or region) to promote health, mainly through financial support and agenda-setting (29,8%), 4) Most (if not all) political decision-making affect health (25,4%). Conclusions There is a large variety in how politicians describe their role in promoting health. Only approximately half of the politicians see that their political decision-making can directly affect the health of the population. With the political context being an important determinant of health, this could be considered a missed opportunity for structural health promotion work. Key messages

Understanding energy efficiency decisions in the building sector – A survey of barriers and drivers in Sweden

A sustainable building sector with a more energy-efficient and decarbonized building stock is important for mitigating climate change. This paper contributes to knowledge on how to increase energy efficiency investments by presenting a nationwide survey on the perception of barriers and drivers for energy efficiency among 216 professionals in the Swedish building sector. This study explores economic, behavioral, and organizational conditions and analyzes the conventional dependencies on (1) type of ownership and (2) size of the organization, but also adds analysis on (3) degree of urbanization, (4) climate zones and (5) profession. Together these dependencies enhance a custom design of policies and measures. The findings show that hidden costs and bounded rationality were prominent barriers due to problems to acquire and analyze information, which needs to be addressed. In addition to the economic driver to reduce cost, several behavioral and organizational drivers were emphasized. There were distinct economic differences depending on the type of ownership and size of the organizations. Well-developed organizational structures were important factors for energy efficiency, which policies and measures should address. Differences were seen between organizations operating in rural areas and more densely populated areas. An improved indoor climate was important in northern climate zones. • Hidden costs and bounded rationality are the main barriers. • The perception of lack of capital is dependent on the type of ownership. • Dependencies found regarding degree of urbanization, climate zones, and professions. • Challenges among organizations in less populated areas, and in the north of Sweden. • Widely diverse perceptions among different professions.

Civic communicators' view of and approach to health promotion for newly arrived migrants in Sweden.

For newly arrived migrants, integration is important in promoting health and decreasing health inequities. In a Swedish context, civic orientation is a program to promote integration and increase the chance of employment for newly arrived migrants. The aim of this project was to explore how civic communicators view and approach health promotion in their work with newly arrived migrants in the civic orientation program in Sweden. Data were collected through interviews with eight civic communicators working with newly arrived migrants in civic orientation in the north of Sweden. The interviews followed a semi-structured interview guide and were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. The analysis resulted in the main theme “To dress the participants for a (healthy) life in Sweden,” with two sub-themes “Knowledge—a key to health” and “Being a guide for participants in a new context.” In their work with civic orientation for newly arrived migrants, civic communicators are involved in health promotion by preparing their participants for a life in Sweden. They work to empower their participants to be able to make informed decisions and live healthy lives by both providing information to enhance knowledge and skills. They also work to guide them through the complexity of being in a new situation and country.

Urban outdoor thermal environment and adaptive thermal comfort during the summer.

The outdoor thermal environment is an important factor when measuring the livability of a city. Residents will avoid intense heat by reducing their outdoor activities, which decreases the vitality of a city and increases the energy consumed for air conditioning. Outdoor thermal comfort has a great impact on outdoor activities; therefore, we need to evaluate and design the urban outdoor thermal environments in cold regions to improve the outdoor thermal comfort level. In this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey to assess the outdoor thermal comfort and adaptive thermal comfort in four different urban forms in Xi'an during July 2019, and measuring meteorological parameters, such as the temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and black bulb temperature. The results are showed as follows. (1) In the cold study area, urban residents generally perceived the outdoor climate as relatively hot during the summer. (2) The participants exhibited psychological and physical adaptations in terms of their thermal comfort. In particular, when the PET was 30°C, the MTCV was about 1.25 points higher in the later summer period than the early summer period. (3) The neutral PET differs among regions, and it is affected by the climate zone and latitude. Comparisons of our results with thermal comfort studies in different regions such as Singapore and Umeå in north Sweden showed that the thermal comfort is correlated with the regional climate and latitude. The neutral PET is higher in tropical regions. Our findings support the theoretical understanding of adaptive thermal comfort in cold regions and they provide a reference for formulating policies related to adaptive thermal comfort.

Understanding sampling variation – a vital aspect of industrial research experiments

Industrial research experiments are conducted in various scales in the mining industry. Regardless of the experimental purpose, sampling and analysis is normally always a part of the experimental process to collect necessary data. However, in order to ensure that the experiment will enable valid conclusions, the understanding and minimisation of sampling variation is crucial. Two effective methods for evaluation of sampling variability in any process sampling situation are the duplicate and replication experiments. The application of sampling experiments in the early phases of a demo- or pilot-scale experiment is an effective way to both understand the total measurement system variability, as well as the possibility to improve sampling methods if the sampling variability is deemed too high to enable representative results to use for experimental evaluation. LKAB is an iron ore mining company in the north of Sweden where experiments are conducted in all parts of the process value chain with regularity. In the current state of the world, encountering more and more threats to our global climate and environment, a focus for LKAB has been to reduce the use of fossil fuel as well as to minimize waste and tailings. One of LKABs current environmental initiatives is to investigate the feasibility of recovering and processing apatite from tailings of the LKAB beneficiation process. Further processing of recovered apatite will generate critical raw materials, phosphorous, rare-earth elements, and fluorine. To increase the understanding of the process variability of various analytical parameters in a pilot-scale experiment within this project, both duplicate and replication sampling experiments were conducted during one of the pilot-scale campaigns. The sampling experiments were applied to three separate sampling locations where two different sampling methods were used. Results show that both sampling method and sampling experimental method can affect the results obtained. The case study showed that the sampling variability was higher for sampling locations where grab sampling was applied, in comparison to composite sampling that generated lower sampling variability at one of the sampling locations in the pilot plant. This indicate that the composite sampling method can produce more representative results and should be favourable in future process experiments. The results also indicate that the duplicate sampling experiment is more robust to outliers in comparison to the replication experiment. The duplicate experiment is also able to quantify the process variability and evaluate the relative sampling to process variability which can be an advantage in some cases.