Description: A Svalbard Science Forum workshop about research on the Kongsfjorden System was held in Ny-Ålesund, 28-31 March 2008. The aim was to discuss focal areas for future research and to initiate the Kongsfjorden System Integrated Research Flagship. Current work and future plans of the individual research groups in Ny-Ålesund related to the Kongsfjorden System were presented. This built the base for identifying knowledge gaps and following future research priorities were identified: There is a great need to combine the atmospheric measurements of long-range pollutants with measurements of the contaminant levels in the biota, to study the feedback mechanisms from the biosphere to the atmosphere and to investigate the interactive effects of rising temperatures and enhanced UV- radiation. Furthermore, knowledge is little about the changes in the pelagic fish community of Kongsfjorden, a monitoring programme for phytoplankton is needed and data on organic carbon mineralization is lacking. Also, the knowledge about water exchange processes in the fjord and small scale turbulences should be improved. Finally, it was suggested to use clams as environmental indicators. Two major infrastructure innovations were suggested, a cabled oceanographic monitoring platform that will allow real-time data retrieval and an integrated comprehensive monitoring station on the central islands within Kongsfjorden to monitor and study the processes on the atmosphere/ocean surface interface. It was also emphasised that a database for long-term data series from the Kongsfjorden System needs to be established and made available for the research community, as well as the metadatabases already established have to be coordinated and further developed. Several initiatives were proposed that will contribute to an integrated approach to better understand the seasonal and annual dynamics of the Kongsfjorden ecosystem in the light of pollutant effects and climate change: The monitoring programme of atmospheric pollution at the Zeppelin Station will be further developed and linked to the marine research activities in order to identify the major drivers influencing the atmosphere/ocean surface interface. This will be supplemented by a marine monitoring platform that will allow real time monitoring of oceanographic and biological parameters in the fjord. The effects of discharges of terrigenous organic carbon and terrestrial particles from permafrost soils on the physiology of benthic organisms will be investigated. It is suggested that Kongsfjorden should be established as a main reference system for studies on the transport patterns of anthropogenic and natural contaminants throughout the marine foodweb and the consequences for the biota communities. Also, the variability of abiotic conditions and the effects on the biota will be addressed. The alteration of algae spring bloom needs to be studied in the light of observed changing oceanographic parameters and the possible consequences for the higher trophic levels. Furthermore, clams will be used as indicators for changes in climate and environmental parameters due to their behavioural modulations as response to environmental parameters. A special emphasis will be to advance the understanding of overwintering strategies of key components of the Kongsfjorden ecosystem.Also, climate data on longer time-scales than the instrumental records are needed to assess the significance of the current warming in the context of the Holocene and to produce more reliable predictions for the future climate.

Description: In November 2008, Svalbard Science Forum organised a workshop with the aim to discuss future focal areas in atmosphere research in Ny-Ålesund. The result is this document that initiates an Atmosphere Research Flagship programme as part of the NySMAC science plan for Ny-Ålesund. In Ny-Ålesund, long term measurements of several key climate parameters from the surface level up to the ozone layer have been performed for decades already. Such comprehensive data sets are available from very few sites in the Arctic and the data are continuously fed into global networks. Ny-Ålesund offers excellent conditions for scientific research, due to its accessibility and international and multidisciplinary character. For atmospheric research, Ny-Ålesund offers the possibility to perform continuous measurements both close at sea level and at 475 m of altitude within a relatively pristine environment. Also, its location under the magnetospheric cusp makes it a unique place for observing the solar wind and magnetosphere interaction on the dayside. In order to optimally use these excellent conditions for atmospheric research and to improve cooperation within the Kongsfjorden science community, this document describes general flagship goals which include the optimal utilization of available instruments and data sets, the establishment and further development of common research infrastructures, and a programme to investigate the representativeness of measurements in Ny-Ålesund for climate change research and atmospheric process studies. The flagship programme states the following future research priorities: • Long term observations of key parameters concerning climate change • Planetary boundary layer (PBL) research • Studies and monitoring of long range transport of pollutants • Arctic ozone layer and UV research • Ionospheric / magnetospheric research • Validation and synergistic analyses of satellite data The flagship programme aims to establish a unique international long-term atmospheric monitoring and observation platform supported by all research institutions represented in Ny-Ålesund and thus to realize a supersite, allowing investigations of the complex Arctic System with a multidisciplinary approach. Interdisciplinary observations will be performed elucidating interaction processes on sea, snow and ice surfaces and the atmosphere. Special emphasis will be laid upon the impact of climate change on the Arctic environment. Furthermore, means of better integration of atmospheric research within NyÅlesund, Svalbard as well as on a circumpolar level are discussed, and possibilities for interdisciplinary cooperation with other flagships are pointed out. Finally, three appendices give an overview of atmospheric stations in Ny-Ålesund, atmospheric parameters measured in Ny-Ålesund, and the atmospheric monitoring satellites in operation in 2010–2020.

Description: Executive Summary The State of Environmental Science in Svalbard (SESS) report 2021 together with its predecessors contributes to the documentation of the state of the Arctic environment in and around Svalbard, and highlights research conducted within the Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System (SIOS). Climate change is a global problem, but many of its impacts are being felt most strongly in the Arctic. Given its remote but accessible location, Svalbard constitutes an ideal place to study the Arctic environment in general, including, more specifically, the causes and consequences of climate change. The Arctic Climate Change Update (2021) emphasised the severity of global climate change for ecosystems across the Arctic. They are undergoing radical changes regarding their structure and functioning, affecting flora, fauna and livelihoods of Arctic communities. Oceanic ecosystems and food webs are directly and indirectly altered by the warming and freshening of the Arctic Ocean. A prolonged open water period and the expansion of open water areas caused by declining sea ice affect under-ice productivity and diversity. These changes have cascading effects through ecosystems and impact the distribution, abundance and seasonality of a variety of marine species. Svalbard is located at one of the key oceanic gateways to the Arctic. This land–ice–ocean transition zone is a system particularly vulnerable to environmental changes. Svalbard’s environment is influenced by maritime processes; thus extensive observation of the ocean system is nowadays necessary. The chapter on the iMOP project reports seawater temperature and salinity variability over the last decades and indicates changes of Svalbard fjord seawater properties. The chapter highlights the role of a collaborative and supportive network of observatory operators and encourages joint planning and maintenance of future marine observatories. Arctic vegetation plays a key role in land–atmosphere interactions. Alterations can lead to ecosystem–climate feedbacks and exacerbate climate change. Extreme precipitation events are already becoming more frequent. Together with an increasing rain-to-snow ratio they impact the structure and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Dynamics in Arctic tundra ecosystems are expected to undergo fundamental changes with increasing temperatures as predicted by climate models. To detect, document, understand and predict those changes, COAT Svalbard provides a long-term and real-time operational observation system through ecosystem-based terrestrial monitoring. The observation system consists of six modules comprising food web pathways as well as one climate-monitoring module and focuses on two contrasting regions in Svalbard to allow for intercomparison. To date, the project has done an initial assessment of tundra ecosystems in Norway and will now begin with the long-term ecosystembased monitoring. For remote regions such as the Svalbard archipelago, terrestrial photography is a crucial addition to satellite imagery, because land-based cameras offer high temporal resolution and insensitivity towards varying weather conditions. PASSES provides an overview of cameras operating in Svalbard managed by research institutions and private companies. The survey revealed difficulties and knowledge gaps preventing the full potential of the terrestrial photography network in Svalbard from being used. Therefore, PASSES recommends the creation of a Svalbard camera system network. The effects of climate change contributed to a specific anomaly of the springtime Arctic atmosphere, namely a pronounced depletion of stratospheric ozone during March and April 2020, which can be called an Arctic ozone hole. In Svalbard, the amount of ozone loss was recorded by ground-based dedicated spectroscopic instruments measuring the total ozone column as well as the UV irradiance (EXAODEP-2020, an update of UV Ozone). The latter is important for effects on the biota. Corresponding erythemal daily doses for spring 2020 show a doubling compared to previous years with less or no ozone depletion. While the correspondence between ozone loss and increase in UV doses follows a well-known relationship, the possible later consequences of the observed springtime increase of UV doses on Svalbard’s environment need to be further studied. A particular method to observe the Svalbard environment, which has seen a very strong increase in usage during recent years, is the application of unmanned airborne or marine vehicles. The update on recent publications using these devices (UAV Svalbard) reveals that especially conventional remotely operated aerial vehicles (drones) with camera equipment are now widely used. It is recommended to SIOS to foster interdisciplinary communication among the multitude of drone users to establish exchange of information and data. New EU regulations for drone operations are being put in place from 2022 onwards also in Svalbard. Climate services are receiving more and more attention from Arctic countries, because they translate data into relevant and timely information, thereby supporting governments, societies and industries in planning and decision-making processes. SIOS contributes to climate services by providing research infrastructure with an overarching goal to develop and maintain a regional observational system for long-term measurements in and around Svalbard. The SIOS Core Data (SCD) consists of a list of essential Earth System Science variables relevant to determine environmental change in the Arctic. SCD is developed to improve the relevance and availability of scientific information addressing ESS topics for decision-making. SIOS Core Data providers have committed to maintain the observations for at least five years, to make the data publicly available, and to follow advanced principles of scientific data management and stewardship. Arctic climate change is posing risks to the safety, health and well-being of Arctic communities and ecosystems. Still, there remain gaps in our understanding of physical processes and societal implications. The authors of the SESS chapters have highlighted some unanswered questions and suggested concrete actions that should be taken to address them. The editors would like to thank the authors for their valuable contributions to the SESS Report 2021. These chapters illustrate how SIOS projects contribute to ensure the future vitality and resilience of Arctic peoples, communities and ecosystems.