Determination and characteristics of pollution melting due to climate change from glaciers and snow in Antarctica - Project - Bridge of Knowledge

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Determination and characteristics of pollution melting due to climate change from glaciers and snow in Antarctica

Geographical isolation and extreme meteorological conditions in Antarctica make it one of the most virgin regions on Earth. In terms of chemical pollution, however, it is not completely free from human activities. Over the years, the intensity of tourism and activities in this area, which may be a local source of pollution, has increased. However, global processes such as transporting pollutants over long distances in the atmosphere are more important and seawater that cause pollution to reach Antarctica from distant areas. The extreme climatic conditions characteristic of the Antarctic area affect the environmental fate of pollution in various elements of the environment. In addition, the intense climate change observed over recent decades has favored the release of pollutants stored in permafrost. The implementation of this project will assess whether and how the re-emission of pollutants deposited in snow and glaciers affects the chemistry of polar regions. This is particularly important in the context of climate change. In addition, this project will also determine the contribution of each of the natural and anthropogenic sources to the pollution of various elements of the environment, as well as broaden knowledge about the fate of pollutants in a cold climate environment. The assumptions of the project include determination of the concentrations of selected chemical pollutants in some elements of the environment at the western shore of Admiralty Bay (Maritime Antarctica), not yet sufficiently researched in this respect (snow, sea water, freshwater). This extensive, valuable and yet unprecedented data sets on chemical compounds in the Antarctic, could be used to validate existing environmental fate models and identify threats to local fauna. Such studies have not been described in the world literature yet. The results obtained will be published in prestigious scientific journals with a high IF rate.

Details

Financial Program Name:
PRELUDIUM
Organization:
Narodowe Centrum Nauki (NCN) (National Science Centre)
Agreement:
UMO-2020/37/N/ST10/02199 z dnia 2021-01-18
Realisation period:
2021-01-18 - 2024-01-17
Project manager:
Joanna Potapowicz
Team members:
Realised in:
Department of Analytical Chemistry
Project's value:
208 200.00 PLN
Request type:
National Research Programmes
Domestic:
Domestic project
Verified by:
Gdańsk University of Technology

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