Southeast Greenland Research Articles

Climatic conditions at the Mittivakkat Glacier catchment (1994–2006), Ammassalik Island, SE Greenland, and in a 109-year perspective (1898–2006)

Geografisk Tidsskrift, Danish Journal of Geography 108(1):51–72, 2008 The present-day climate in the Mittivakkat Glacier catchment (65°N), Southeast Greenland, is investigated spatiotemporally based on time series (13 years, 1994–2006) and standard synoptic climate data from the meteorological station in Tasiilaq (Ammasslik), covering 109 years (1898–2006). Within the catchment, meteorological conditions are monitored at the coast (Station Coast, 25 m a.s.l.) for the period 1998–2006 and in the glacier area (Station Nunatak 515 m a.s.l.)for 1994–2006. During this 13-year period, solar radiation shows increasing values, averaging 0.5 W m−2 y−1, at the nunatak and decreasing values, averaging 1.4 Wm−2 y−1, at the coast. The mean annual solar radiation at Station Coast is 102 Wm−2y−1, which is about 10% lower than at Station Nunatak, and is probably caused by increasing and higher percentages of dense clouds and sea fog in the coastal area. The mean annual air temperature is increasing by 0.10.°C y−1 at the nunatak and by 0.05°C y−1 at the coast, extending the thawing periods by about 50 days and 5 days, respectively. A snow-free period of 64 days is observed at the nunatak. The coastal area is highly dominated by air temperature inversion and sea breezes during spring and summer, strongly controlling the lapse rates within the catchments. The glacier area is highly dominated by katabatic fall winds, resulting in an almost total lack of calm periods. The wind speed is highest during winter, with mean average values around 6.0 m s−1, and gusts up to 35.0 m s−1. The total annual precipitation varies from 1,851 mm w.eq. y−1 at the nunatak (solid precipitation: 80%, mixed: 6%, and liquid: 14%) to 1,428 mm w.eq. y−1 at the coast (53%, 31%, and 16%), covering an average positive orographic effect for solid precipitation during winter (113 mm w.eq. 100 m−1) and a negative effect for liquid precipitation during summer (-52 mm w.eq. 100 m−1). Over the last 109 years (1898–2006) precipitation in the catchment has increased about 85 mm w.eq., covering two significant precipitation-rich periods: 1901–1914 (1,560 mm w.eq. y−1) and 1963–1978 (1,563 mm w.eq. y−1). Mean annual air temperature in the catchment has generally increased 0.2°C through the 109-year period, most significantly ∼2.7°C within the last 25 years. The warmest 10-year period since 1898 was 1938–1947, showing an annual average of -1.83°C, while 1997–2006 was the warmest 10- year period within the last 60 years, with an annual average of—2.10°C.

Snow, runoff, and mass balance modeling for the entire Mittivakkat Glacier (1998–2006), Ammassalik Island, SE Greenland

Geografisk Tidsskrift, Danish Journal of Geography 108(1):121–136, 2008 SnowModel, a physically-based snow evolution modeling system that includes four submodels—MicroMet, EnBal, SnowPack, and SnowTran-3D—was used to simulate eight full-year (1998/99 through 2005/06) evolutions of snow accumulation, blowing snow sublimation, evaporation, snow and ice surface melt, runoff, and mass changes on the entire Mittivakkat Glacier (31 km2) in southeast Greenland. Meteorological observations from two meteorological stations inside the glacier catchment were used as model input, and glaciological mass balance observations were used for model calibration (1998/99 through 2001/02) and validation (2002/03 through 2005/06) of winter snow simulations. As confirmed by observations, the spatially modeled end-of-winter snow water equivalent (SWE) accumulation increased with elevation up to 700–800 m a.s.l. in response to elevation, topography, and dominating wind direction, and maximum snow deposition occurred on the lee side of the ridge east and south of the glacier. Simulated end-of-summer cumulative runoff decreased with elevation and minimum runoff occurred on the shadowed side of the ridge east and south of the glacier. The modeled test period averaged annual mass balance was 65 mm w. eq. y−1 or ∼8% more than the observed. For the simulation period, the glacier net mass balance varies from -199 to -1,834 mm w.eq. y−1, averaging -900 (±470) mm w.eq.y−1. The glacier averaged annual modeled precipitation ranged from 1,299 to 1,613 mm w.eq. y−1, evaporation and sublimation from 206 to 289 mm w.eq., and runoff from 1,531 to 2,869 mm w.eq. y−1. The model simulated Mittivakkat Glacier net loss of900 mm w.eq. y−1 contributes approximately 42% to the average simulated runoff of 2,140 mm w.eq. y−1, indicating a mean specific runoff of 67.8 l s−1 km−2.

Synchronous retreat and acceleration of southeast Greenland outlet glaciers 2000–06: ice dynamics and coupling to climate

AbstractA large portion of the recent increase in the rate of mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet is from increased outlet glacier discharge along its southeastern margin. While previous investigations of the region’s two largest glaciers suggest that acceleration is a dynamic response to thinning and retreat of the calving front, it is unknown whether this mechanism can explain regional acceleration and what forcing is responsible for initiating rapid thinning and retreat. We examine seasonal and interannual changes in ice-front position, surface elevation and flow speed for 32 glaciers along the southeastern coast between 2000 and 2006. While substantial seasonality in front position and speed is apparent, nearly all the observed glaciers show net retreat, thinning and acceleration, with speed-up corresponding to retreat. The ratio of retreat to the along-flow stress-coupling length is proportional to the relative increase in speed, consistent with typical ice-flow and sliding laws. This affirms that speed-up results from loss of resistive stress at the front during retreat, which leads to along-flow stress transfer. Large retreats were often preceded by the formation of a flat or reverse-sloped surface near the front, indicating that subsequent retreats were influenced by the reversed bed slope. Many retreats began with an increase in thinning rates near the front in the summer of 2003, a year of record high coastal-air and sea-surface temperatures. This anomaly was driven in part by recent warming, suggesting that episodes of speed-up and retreat may become more common in a warmer climate.

Elastic uplift in southeast Greenland due to rapid ice mass loss

The rapid unloading of ice from the southeastern sector of the Greenland ice sheet between 2001 and 2006 caused an elastic uplift of ∼35 mm at a GPS site in Kulusuk. Most of the uplift results from ice dynamic‐induced volume losses on two nearby outlet glaciers. Volume loss from Helheim Glacier, calculated from sequential digital elevation models, contributes about ∼16 mm of the observed uplift, with an additional ∼5 mm from volume loss of Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier. The remaining uplift signal is attributed to significant melt‐induced ice volume loss from the ice sheet margin along the southeast coast between 62°N and 66°N.

Deep western boundary current dynamics and associated sedimentation on the Eirik Drift, Southern Greenland Margin

Growing interest in the dynamics and temporal variability of the deep western boundary current (DWBC) in the northern North Atlantic has led to numerous studies of the modern hydrography and palaeoceanography of this current system. The DWBC is fed by the two dense water-masses that spill over the Greenland–Iceland–Scotland Ridge; Denmark Strait Overflow Water (DSOW) and Iceland Scotland Overflow Water (ISOW). These overflows entrain ambient water masses, primarily Labrador Sea Water (LSW), as they cross the Iceland and Irminger Basins before merging in the vicinity of south-east Greenland. A number of studies have been performed around the Eirik Drift, located off the southern Greenland margin, downstream of this main merging point. However, the relationship between the DWBC and the associated sedimentation at this location has yet to be fully elucidated. New hydrographic data show that the current's main sediment load is carried by only one of its components, the DSOW. Seismic surveys and sediment cores confirm that Holocene sedimentation is limited to areas underlying the most offshore part of the current, where the hydrographic data show the highest concentration of DSOW. Active sedimentation through the Holocene therefore appears to have been controlled by proximity to the sediment-laden DSOW. Our interpretation of new and historic geostrophic transport and tracer data from transects around the southern Greenland margin also suggests that the DWBC undergoes significant growth through entrainment as it flows around the Eirik Drift. We attribute this to multiple strands of ISOW following different depth-dependent pathways between exiting the Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone and joining the DWBC. Comparison of our new data with other modern hydrographic datasets reveals significant temporal variability in the DWBC, associated with variations in the position, structure and age since ventilation of the current in the vicinity of Eirik Drift. The complexity of the current dynamics in this area has implications for the interpretation of hydrographic and palaeoceanographic data.

Analysis of glacial earthquakes

In 2003, Ekström et al. reported on the detection of a new class of earthquakes that occur in glaciated regions, with the vast majority being in Greenland. The events have a characteristic radiation pattern and lack the high‐frequency content typical of tectonic earthquakes. It was proposed that the events correspond to large and sudden sliding motion of glaciers. Here we present an analysis of all 184 such events detected in Greenland between 1993 and 2005. Fitting the teleseismic long‐period surface waves to a landslide model of the source, we obtain improved locations, timing, force amplitudes, and force directions. After relocation, the events cluster into seven regions, all of which correspond to regions of very high ice flow and most of which are named outlet glaciers. These regions are Daugaard Jensen Glacier, Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier, Helheim Glacier, the southeast Greenland glaciers, the northwest Greenland glaciers, Rinks Isbrae, and Jakobshavn Isbrae. Event amplitudes range from 0.1 to 2.0 × 1014kg m. Force directions are consistent with sliding in the direction of glacial flow over a period of about 50 s. Each region has a different temporal distribution of events. All glaciers are more productive in the summer, but have their peak activity in different months. Over the study period, Kangerdlugssuaq has had a constant number of events each year, whereas Jakobshavn had most events in 1998–1999, and the number of events in Helheim and the northwest Greenland glaciers has increased substantially between 1993 and 2005. The size distribution of events in Kangerdlugssuaq is peaked above the detection threshold, suggesting that glacial earthquakes have a characteristic size.

Rapid volume loss from two East Greenland outlet glaciers quantified using repeat stereo satellite imagery

The coastal portions of Kangerdlugssuaq and Helheim glaciers in southeast Greenland lost at least 51 ± 8 km3 yr−1 of ice between 2001–2006 due to thinning and retreat, according to an analysis of sequential digital elevation models (DEMs) derived from stereo ASTER satellite imagery. The dominant contribution to this ice loss was dynamic thinning caused by the acceleration in flow of both glaciers. Peak rates of change, including thinning rates of ∼90 m yr−1, coincided with the rapid increases in flow speed. Extrapolation of the measured data to the ice divides yields an estimated combined catchment volume loss of ∼122 ± 30 km3 yr−1, which accounts for half the total mass loss from the ice sheet reported in recent studies. These catchment‐wide volume losses contributed ∼0.31 ± 0.07 mm yr−1 to global sea level rise over the 5‐year observation period with the coastal regions alone contributing at least 0.1 ± 0.02 mm yr−1.

Meteorological observations 2005 and in a longer perspective at the Sermilik Station, Ammassalik Island, Southeast Greenland

Geografisk Tidsskrift, Danish Journal of Geography 107(2):59–68, 2007 Meteorological stations have been in operation since 1993 at Sermilik (65°40'N, 38°10'W), Ammassalik Island, southeast Greenland. This note presents meteorological observations for the year 2005 from the two meteorological stations: Station Nunatak (515 m a.s.l.) and Station Coast (25 m a.s.l.). The year 2005 was dominated by a temporal break down of Station Nunatak and defect instrument recordings at both stations. Average yearly measurements at both meteorological stations: Station Nunatak (1994–2004) and Station Coast (1998–2005) are presented to illustrate the climatic variability within the Mittivakkat Glacier catchment, and further compared with simultaneous standard synoptic meteorological DMI station climate observations (1994–2004) at the town Tasiilaq (Ammassalik) in order to establish transfer functions (linear regressions) and describe the spatial variability of climate variables.

Satellite Gravity Measurements Confirm Accelerated Melting of Greenland Ice Sheet

Using time-variable gravity measurements from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite mission, we estimate ice mass changes over Greenland during the period April 2002 to November 2005. After correcting for the effects of spatial filtering and limited resolution of GRACE data, the estimated total ice melting rate over Greenland is -239 +/- 23 cubic kilometers per year, mostly from East Greenland. This estimate agrees remarkably well with a recent assessment of -224 +/- 41 cubic kilometers per year, based on satellite radar interferometry data. GRACE estimates in southeast Greenland suggest accelerated melting since the summer of 2004, consistent with the latest remote sensing measurements.

Snow Distribution and Melt Modeling for Mittivakkat Glacier, Ammassalik Island, Southeast Greenland

Abstract A physically based snow-evolution modeling system (SnowModel) that includes four submodels—the Micrometeorological Model (MicroMet), EnBal, SnowPack, and SnowTran-3D—was used to simulate five full-year evolutions of snow accumulation, distribution, sublimation, and surface melt on the Mittivakkat Glacier, in southeast Greenland. Model modifications were implemented and used 1) to adjust underestimated observed meteorological station solid precipitation until the model matched the observed Mittivakkat Glacier winter mass balance, and 2) to simulate glacier-ice melt after the winter snow accumulation had ablated. Meteorological observations from two meteorological stations were used as model inputs, and glaciological mass balance observations were used for model calibration and testing of solid precipitation observations. The modeled end-of-winter snow-water equivalent (w.eq.) accumulation increased with elevation from 200 to 700 m above sea level (ASL) in response to both elevation and topographic influences, and the simulated end-of-summer location of the glacier equilibrium line altitude was confirmed by glaciological observations and digital images. The modeled test-period-averaged annual mass balance was 150 mm w.eq. yr−1, or ∼15%, less than the observed. Approximately 12% of the precipitation was returned to the atmosphere by sublimation. Glacier-averaged mean annual modeled surface melt ranged from 1272 to 2221 mm w.eq. yr−1, of which snowmelt contributed from 610 to 1040 mm w.eq. yr−1. The surface-melt period started between mid-May and the beginning of June, and lasted until mid-September; there were as many as 120 melt days at the glacier terminus. The model simulated a Mittivakkat Glacier recession averaging −616 mm w.eq. yr−1, almost equal to the observed −600 mm w.eq. yr−1.

Observed and Modeled Greenland Ice Sheet Snow Accumulation, 1958–2003, and Links with Regional Climate Forcing

Abstract Annual and monthly snow accumulation for the Greenland Ice Sheet was derived from ECMWF forecasts [mainly 40-yr ECMWR Re-Analysis (ERA-40)] and further meteorological modeling. Modeled accumulation was validated using 58 ice core accumulation datasets across the ice sheet and was found to be 95% of the observed accumulation on average, with a mean correlation of 0.53 between modeled and observed. Many of the ice core datasets are new and are presented here for the first time. Central and northern interior parts of the ice sheet were found to be ∼10%–30% too dry in ERA-40, in line with earlier ECMWF analysis, although too much (>50% locally) snow accumulation was modeled for interior southern parts of Greenland. Nevertheless, 47 of 58 sites show significant correlation in temporal variability of modeled with observed accumulation. The model also captures the absolute amount of snow accumulation at several sites, most notably Das1 and Das2 in southeast Greenland. Mean modeled accumulation over the ice sheet was 0.279 (standard deviation 0.034) m yr−1 for 1958–2003 with no significant trend for either the ice sheet or any of the core sites. Unusually high accumulation in southeast Greenland in 2002/03 leads the authors to study meteorological synoptic forcing patterns and comment on the prospect of enhanced climate variability leading to more such events as a result of global warming. There is good agreement between precipitation measured at coastal meteorological stations in southern Greenland and accumulation modeled for adjacent regions of the ice sheet. There is no significant persistent relation between the North Atlantic Oscillation index and whole or southern Greenland accumulation.

Meteorological observations 2004 at the Sermilik Station, Ammassalik Island, Southeast Greenland

Geografisk Tidsskrift, Danish Journal of Geography 106(1): 131–140, 2006 Meteorological stations have been in operation since 1993 at Sermilik (65°40'N, 38° 10W), Ammassalik Island, southeast Greenland. This note presents meteorological observations including snow cover and ground temperature for the year 2004, and orographic effect for liquid and solid precipitation from 2002 to 2004, between the two meteorological stations, Station Nunatak (515 m a.s.l.) and Station Coast (25 m a.s.l.). Since August 2004 air temperature has been measured in the inner proglacial valley, with the purpose among others, to study air temperature differences through the valley. Furthermore, manual measurements of air temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity for August 2004 are presented to illustrate the transect variation from the coast to the glacier terminus, through the proglacial valley.

The internal drainage system of the lower Mittivakkat Glacier, Ammassalik Island, SE Greenland

Geografisk Tidsskrift, Danish Journal of Geography 106(1):13–24, 2006 A dye-tracer technique was used to examine the spatial and the temporal size, structure and hydraulic response of the internal drainage system in the lower ablation area of the Mittivakkat Glacier, southeast Greenland. Eight dye-tracer tests were conducted at five active moulins during the last part of the ablation period, August 2004. The internal drainage system, about 300–685 m from the glacier terminus, consisted of two distinct internal drainage paths: one through a hydraulically efficient channelled (fast) drainage system, and another through a relatively hydraulically inefficient distributed (slow) system. The internal drainage system 0–300 m from the glacier terminus was drained by one conduit. It was observed that 100 m from the glacier watershed divide, dye return curves indicated transport of englacial and subglacial water to the nearby glacier catchment. Spatial transit velocity (fastest, dominating, and median transit velocities) decreased with increased transit distance, due to increased complexity and transit delay in the internal drainage paths; the fastest transit velocities variedfrom 0.18 to 0.37 m s−1, dominating transit velocities from 0.10 to 0.27 m s−1, and median transit velocities from 0.08 to 0.20 m s−1. The diurnal transit velocity increased with increasing discharge and vice versa, indicating a clockwise velocity-discharge hysteresis.

Syntaxonomy of arctic terricolous lichen vegetation, including a case study from Southeast Greenland

Syntaxonomy of arctic terricolous lichen vegetation, including a case study from Southeast Greenland

Acquisition of the neodymium isotopic composition of the North Atlantic Deep Water

The North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) neodymium isotopic composition (Nd IC) is increasingly used in oceanography and paleoceanography to trace large‐scale circulation and weathering processes, notably to investigate past variations of the global thermohaline circulation. Although the present‐day NADW Nd IC is well characterized at ɛNd = −13.5, the acquisition of this isotopic signature (in other words, the causes of this value) has so far been very sparsely documented. Such an understanding is, however, fundamental to the interpretation of paleo records. Nd IC and rare earth element concentrations were measured at 9 stations within the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre (SIGNATURE cruise, summer 1999). The comparison of this data set with our understanding of water mass circulation provides a description of how the three layers constituting the NADW, the Labrador Sea Water (LSW, ɛNd = −13.9 ± 0.4), North East Atlantic Deep Water (NEADW, ɛNd −13.2 ± 0.4), and North West Atlantic Bottom Water (NWABW, ɛNd −14.5 ± 0.4), acquire their Nd IC through distinct water mass mixings and lithogenic inputs. These different mechanisms, acting upon water masses from very diverse sources, seem to bring the Nd IC of the three NADW layers to values close together and similar to that of the NADW. It is suggested that sediment/seawater interactions significantly lower the NEADW and NWABW Nd IC along the South East Greenland margin. Since these interactions do not significantly modify the Nd content of these water masses, sediment remobilizations leading to the Nd IC variations are probably associated with Nd removal fluxes from the water mass toward the sediment, a process called boundary exchange. On the other hand, LSW seems to acquire its Nd IC from the Subpolar Mode Waters from which it is formed by deep convection, and no other mechanism needs to be invoked. Its unradiogenic signature could ultimately be linked to fresh water runoff from the Canadian Shield. These conclusions should allow more precise interpretations of paleoceanographic Nd IC records, taking into account the distinct histories of the three NADW layers, including distinct water mass mixings and distinct lithogenic inputs.

Freshwater forcing from the Greenland Ice Sheet during the Younger Dryas: evidence from southeastern Greenland shelf cores

We present evidence for freshwater forcing from the Greenland Ice Sheet during the last deglaciation, explore its potential involvement in the Younger Dryas cooling, and investigate the role of Atlantic Intermediate Water in the retreat of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Paleoceanographic conditions and ice-sheet retreat history are interpreted from IRD, stable isotopes and foraminiferal assemblages in sediment cores retrieved along the length of the Kangerlussuaq Trough, a cross-shelf trough on the southeast Greenland shelf. The Vedde Ash (11,980±cal. yr BP), which is a marker bed within the Younger Dryas, and the Saksunarvatn tephra (10,180±cal. yr BP) an early Holocene marker horizon, have been located in these cores. The tephra markers and calibrated 14C dates on foraminifers and molluscs provide the basis for the age models in the cores. The stable isotope records indicate a 0.5 ‰ depletion of the 18O between 13.4 and 12.8 cal ka BP. A pronounced light isotope event, exceeding 1.5 ‰ on the inner shelf and 0.8 ‰ on the outer shelf, occurs at the beginning of the Younger Dryas Cold period (12.8 cal. ka BP) and ends by 12 cal ka BP, immediately before deposition of the Vedde Ash. The light isotope spikes are interpreted as glacial meltwater spikes associated with retreat of the adjacent Greenland Ice Sheet. Associated with the light isotope events are episodic high percentages of the Atlantic Intermediate Water benthic foraminiferal species, Cassidulina neoteretis, which continue from the Bølling/Allerød into the Younger Dryas. High percentages of this species suggest that Atlantic Intermediate Water entered the Kangerlussuaq Trough during the Allerød and the Younger Dryas via the Irminger Current, as it does today. We conclude that advection of Atlantic Intermediate Water into the Kangerlussuaq Trough, south of the Denmark Strait, promoted melting and retreat of the marine portions of the Greenland Ice Sheet, explaining the observed glacial meltwater spikes.

Athyrium distentifolium Tausch ex Opiz (A. alpestre (Hoppe) Rylands ex T. Moore‐non‐Clairv.) including A. distentifolium var. flexile (Newman) Jermy

Woodsiaceae. Athyrium distentifolium, Alpine lady-fern. Fronds bi-pinnate, ovate-lanceolate, yellow-green 20 cm to over 100 cm, arising in a 'shuttlecock' from a central crown. Stipe straight, one fifth to one quarter the length of the blade with pale brown scales, usually broad, but occasionally narrow. Pinnae widely spaced near base of the frond, and sometimes deflexed, crowded near the tip, meeting the rachis at an angle of 900 at the midpoint of the blade, or slightly ascending. Pinnules broadest at the base, tapering to a point. Sori circular, with irregular filaments making up a rudimentary indusium when young, soon obscured as the sori grow. Sori concentrated in the upper part of the frond, becoming sparse towards the base. Number of sori varies with size of frond. Plants frequently infertile (McHaffie et al. 2002). Athyrium distentifolium var.flexile Newman's lady-fern. Fronds bi-pinnate, narrow, blue-green, 10-40 cm, arising from a central crown, erect or sharply angled near the base of the rachis to lie nearly flat against the substrate. Stipe short, one sixth to one eighth the length of the blade, often densely covered with broad, pale scales that may continue beyond the midpoint of the blade. Blade broadest near the base, or nearer the mid-point. Pinnae close together near base of frond, often strongly deflexed to at least half way up the frond. Uppermost pinnae widely spaced. Pinnules taper towards the base. Sori circular, sometimes with only a few sporangia; rudimentary indusium visible while the sorus is still immature. Sori concentrated at base of the frond, becoming less frequent towards the tip. Plants usually fertile (McHaffie et al. 2002). Athyrium distentifolium is a chionophilous fern that grows at altitudes or latitudes which ensure long-lying winter snow cover. Deep snow provides insulation from severe winters, and prevents early growth in a mild spring. Only a limited number of species can tolerate these conditions and this reduces competition. Although previously known as a Scandinavian and continental European species, A. distentifolium was not recognized in Britain until 1844 (Newman 1851). Within Britain it is found only in Scotland where it is confined to the remote Highlands. Soon after it was identified, another similar taxon of uncertain taxonomic status was described (Backhouse 1852). Subsequent research has determined that this is a recessive variety which is now known as A. distentifolium var.flexile. Both taxa are covered in this account.

Circumpolar Study of Perfluoroalkyl Contaminants in Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus)

Perfluoroalkyl substances were determined in liver tissues and blood of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from five locations in the North American Arctic and two locations in the European Arctic. Concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate, heptadecafluorooctane sulfonamide, and perfluoroalkyl carboxylates with C(8)-C(15) perfluorinated carbon chains were determined using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. PFOS concentrations were significantly correlated with age at four of seven sampling locations, while gender was not correlated to concentration for any compound measured. Populations in South Hudson Bay (2000-2730 ng/g wet wt), East Greenland (911-2140 ng/g wet wt), and Svalbard (756-1290 ng/g wet wt) had significantly (P < 0.05) higher PFOS concentrations than western populations such as the Chukchi Sea (435-729 ng/g wet wt). Concentrations of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) with adjacent chain lengths (i.e., C9:C10 and C10:C11) were significantly correlated (P < 0.05), suggesting PFCAs have a common source within a location, but there were differences in proportions of PFCAs between eastern and western location sources. Concentrations of PFOS in liver tissue at five locations were correlated with concentrations of four polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (180, 153, 138, and 99) in adipose tissue of bears in the same populations, suggesting similar transport pathways and source regions of PFOS or precursors.

Meteorological observations 2003 at the Sermilik Station, Ammassalik Island, Southeast Greenland

Geografisk Tidsskrift, Danish Journal of Geography 105(2):49–56, 2005 Meteorological stations have been in operation since 1993 at Sermilik (65°40'N, 38°10'W), located in southeast Greenland. This note presents meteorological observations for the year 2003, including ground temperature, orographic effect (liquid precipitation) and air temperature lapse rates between two meteorological stations, Station Nunatak (515 m a.s.l.) and Station Coast (25 m a.s.l.).

Coccolithophorids from the Southeast Greenland Margin (Northern North Atlantic): production, ecology and the surface sediment record

A total of 27 coccolithophorid species were identified in water samples from the Southeast Greenland Margin taken during the late summer 1997. This is the first report of coccolithophorids present in this region, so close to the extreme environment of Greenland’s shoreline. Surprisingly, a consistent standing crop of temperate coccolithophorid species occurs, despite environmental conditions with sea surface water covered by ice for most of the year. Cell concentrations range between 1.7x10 2 and 2x10 5 cell/l. The upper photic zone is dominated by Emiliania huxleyi and Syracosphaera spp. Coccolithus pelagicus is present in both of its life stages (holo- and heterococcolithophorid), with a different distribution in the water column. The maximum concentration of cells/l is recorded at depths of 10m. Cell concentrations decrease quickly with depth. In this study, surface sediments were also used to analyse the coccolithophorid spatial distribution and their fate after death. The coccolith distribution pattern in the surface sediments of the Southeast Greenland Margin reflects the conditions of the overlying surface water masses.