Background:
In cold climate zones, climate change affects the water cycle and both the quality and dynamics of groundwater. In Finmark permafrost is melting, temperatures are rising and precipitation patterns are changing. The MSc will investigate how these changes affect groundwater quality, particularly the organic content and metal mobility. Thawing permafrost may release carbon to circulating water. Groundwater transports carbon, forming a major component in the carbon cycle and is a factor to consider in impacts of climate change, acting both as a source and sink for carbon.
Research & Methods:
The student will conduct field work and research in synergy with other ongoing projects and have a community of researchers with experience from this area to discuss with. We are planning a field campaign to Iskoras, south of Karasjok in Finmark in September 2027. The student will collect groundwater and soil samples from the field, and conduct laboratory analyses at UiO (e.g. ion chromatography, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, microscopy). It may be relevant also to conduct lab experiments, analysing sorption/desorption of metals in organic rich sediments, and/or investigating the detailed organic fraction composition and biodegradation. The student will investigate the contribution of groundwater-bound Carbon transport and metal mobility in cold climate zones (Finmark).
Supervisor team:
Anja Sundal (hydrogeology, geochemistry), Dag Karlsen (organic geochemistry) and/or Wolfram Kurschner (palynology, carbon cycle) and/or Sebastian Westermann (permafrost) – depending on main interest field of the student.
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