BOOK OF ABSTRACTS. 40th International Polar Symposium – Arctic and Antarctic at the Tipping Point, 4–7 November 2025, Puławy, Poland

Abstract:

The Polar Symposium is a recurrent conference, typically occurring every two years, dedicated to Arctic and Antarctic topics, with a long tradition dating back to 1972. Since then, these meetings have been an excellent opportunity for integrating the polar community, exchanging experiences, and a discussion between Polish and international polar researchers representing various scientific disciplines. The Polar Symposium is currently co-organised by the Committee of Polar Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, and the Polish Polar Consortium, and until recently it has also been co-organised by the Polar Club of the Polish Geographical Society. Instead, during the 40th International Polar Symposium, a new Polish Polar Club will debut as an independent association, thus continuing the functioning of the Club since 1974

Abstract:

Sympozjum Polarne to cykliczna, odbywająca się typowo co dwa lata konferencja dedykowana tematyce polarnej, o długiej tradycji sięgającej 1972 roku. Spotkania te od lat stwarzają doskonałą sposobność do integracji, wymiany doświadczeń i dyskusji między polskimi i zagranicznymi badaczami rejonów polarnych, reprezentującymi rozmaite dziedziny naukowe. Opiekę nad Sympozjum sprawują obecnie Komitet Badań Polarnych PAN oraz Polskie Konsorcjum Polarne, do niedawna również Klub Polarny PTG. Podczas 40. Sympozjum Polarnego nastąpi debiut na tej konferencji Polskiego Klubu Polarnego jako samodzielnego stowarzyszenia, które jest kontynuacją funkcjonowania Klubu od 1974 r.

Abstract:

Our understanding of cryosphere-biosphere coupling in the polar regions is arguably weakest in the context of glaciers and their influence upon marine ecosystems. Major reasons include the lack of cross-disciplinary interaction and the sometime extreme difficulty faced by those trying to conduct field work where glaciers or glacial runoff meet the sea. This presentation therefore addresses this science gap with new insights into nutrient transport by glacial melt-waters into Svalbard coastal ecosystems. A particular emphasis is placed upon nitrogen, because it is a key, productivity-limiting nutrient and because the nitrogen cycle includes atmospheric, organic and even geogenic inputs to the glacial system that were defined for the first time by fieldwork conducted in Svalbard a quarter of a Century ago.

Abstract:

Antarctica is the most extreme continent for life on Earth, and it is also one of the regions most threatened by climate change. Areas like maritime Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula have experienced significant temperature increases, with an average rise of 0.1 °C per decade over the past 50 years. Future predictions are equally concerning, with temperatures expected to rise by 0.5–1.5 °C over the next two decades. These temperature increases could also significantly alter water and nutrient cycles in Antarctic soils, ultimately affecting nutrient availability for plants. Moreover, it is crucial to consider that in Antarctica, just as in the rest of the world, the atmospheric CO2 (the essential carbon source for photosynthesis and a major greenhouse gas leading global warming), has risen dramatically since the Industrial Revolution, from 260 to 410 ppm today. Together, the changes in these abiotic factors are profoundly shaping the lives of terrestrial autotrophic organisms in Antarctica.

Abstract:

The Antarctic Peninsula (AP) is one of the well-known regions with high climate variability, recent atmospheric warming and related consequences to the cryosphere. The largest annual and winter air temperatures increase of 0.46 °C and 0.89 °C/decade was reported along the coast of AP. Changes in summer air temperature largely contribute to major part of the interannual variability of all cryospheric components, i.e. glacier mass balance, permafrost temperature or active layer thickness.

Abstract:

Elevated water levels at the shore, that result from a combination of sea level rise, tides, storm surges and waves, cause coastal erosion, wave overtopping and flooding, threatening communities and infrastructure. More frequent, longer and more severe storm events observed in the North Atlantic sector of the Arctic bring more energetic waves to beaches. Decreasing extent and duration of the sea ice cover increases potential fetch, the distance over which wave-generating wind blows, which leads to larger (higher and longer) waves. Arctic-wide sea ice extent has been decreasing by 12.8 ± 2.3% per decade, while at the shore, the number of ice-free days per year doubled between 1979 and 2012. Coasts that were protected from waves by ice are becoming exposed perennially or over longer time. Modelling suggests that in future sea ice will continue to decrease while the storminess will further increase. Better understanding of the role of sea ice conditions and offshore wave transformations on wave energy delivery to the Arctic shores is needed to predict coastal hazards under changing climate.

Abstract:

During the jubilee 40th Polar Symposium, one of the thematic sessions is devoted to advances in research on coastal zone changes in polar regions. In addition to the presentation of the latest research results from the cold coasts of the world, session will honour academic life and works of Dr. hab. Piotr Zagórski, who passed away in 2024. Piotr Zagórski, a professor at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS) in Lublin, was a renowned researcher in the field of geomorphology and contemporary morphogenetic processes in polar regions.

Abstract:

The polar zones, the Arctic and Antarctic, are considered to be areas where global warming is particularly pronounced and the rate of change is up to 4 times faster. In the global approach, an important aspect of scientific research is also the analysis of changes in the coastline in the High Arctic.

Abstract:

The lack of systematic observational data means that the dynamics and morphology of distributary channels in Arctic deltas remain poorly understood. This is primarily due to the fact that these areas are covered by ice and snow for most of the year, significantly hindering regular field measurements. Our recent studies have shown that large distributary channels within these deltas may exhibit unusual morphometric characteristics, including locally occurring significant depths. In the Mackenzie and Kolyma deltas, channel forms exceeding 20 meters in depth have been identified, commonly referred to in English-language literature as scour holes or deep scour holes. Field measurements conducted over the past four years confirm that these forms exhibit diverse morphologies — they occur as kettles, craters, and trenches. The presence of permafrost in these regions suggests that one of the factors contributing to their formation may be thermo-erosion.

Abstract:

Ongoing climate warming is leading to rapid changes in the Arctic environment, including significant alterations to the cryosphere. The recent rapid retreat of marine-terminating glaciers has exposed new coastlines. The calving of these glaciers often causes tsunami-like waves that pose a serious threat to the local environment. These powerful waves can move the glacial debris in front of ice cliffs, redistribute icebergs and flood, and reshape local cliffs and beaches. Another type of wave clearly related to cryospheric processes is the iceberg roll wave observed in the natural conditions during the transport of broken parts of the glacier in Arctic waters. Melting causes icebergs to rotate, sway, capsize and collapse to find new equilibrium, creating waves that can hit the coast.

Abstract:

Often overlooked, Arctic lagoons are the silent guardians of a rapidly changing polar world. These dynamic coastal ecosystems are crucial conduits between land, sea, and atmosphere. They are facing significant threats due to climate change. Their stability is closely linked to the interplay of storm waves, ocean currents, sediment supply, and fluctuating sea levels. However, a significant knowledge gap remains: the processes that shape their evolution in the Arctic are largely unknown.

Abstract:

The rapid retreat of most Northern Hemisphere marine-terminating glaciers since the post-Little Ice Age (LIA) is a direct consequence of escalating climate warming. Today, the dominant form of ice loss is calving, where massive chunks of ice break off from glacier fronts, significantly contributing to global sea-level rise.

Abstract:

Accelerated climate warming has caused the majority of marine-terminating glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere to retreat significantly during the 21st century. Recently published digital inventory of new exposed coasts shows that a total of 2466 ± 0.8 km of new coastline was exposed in period 2000–2020, giving an average length of 123 km every year. Two-thirds of this coastline was exposed in Greenland with shorter sections in Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Russian Arctic, Svalbard, and south-western Alaska.

Abstract:

An exceptionally strong climate warming (Arctic amplification) has led indirectly to inten-sive coastscape transformation in East Spitsbergen and the East Svalbard islands.
     There are three main processes through which climate warming affects the coastal land-scape: (1) recession of tidewater glaciers which abandoned large areas from ice; (2) shortening of the sea ice season, which allows for more frequent and more intense sea storms; (3) deeper thawing of the permafrost active layer.

Abstract:

One of the most interesting scientific issues in recent years related to the response of cryosphere elements to atmospheric warming is the issue of the separation of Sørkapp Land from the rest of Spitsbergen as a result of the retreat of the Hornbreen–Hambergbreen glacier system.

Abstract:

The genus Colobanthus (Caryophyllaceae) includes 26 species. These plants are primarily found in the southern hemisphere, including the islands of the South Pacific, Australasia, central and southern South America, Antarctica, and the subantarctic islands. The most famous representative of this genus is Colobanthus quitensis, which is one of only two flowering plants, along with Deschampsia antarctica E. Desv., considered native to Antarctica. C. quitensis has become a model species in the study of plant adaptation to the extremely difficult environmental conditions of the Antarctic, which include not only low temperature but also its rapid changes (cyclical melting and freezing), short vegetation period, strong winds, the phenomenon of polar night and day, and strong UV radiation.

Abstract:

Polar regions are generally considered to have extreme environmental conditions: nutri-ent-deficient soils, low temperatures and frequent freeze-thaw cycles in winter, and desiccation in summer.

Abstract:

Dwarf shrubs growing in the High Arctic tundra are very sensitive to environmental changes and are therefore very important ecological indicators. The variation in the width of annual increments is linked to several complex factors, climatic and non-climatic, such as geomorphological, soil, and habitat.

Abstract:

Glacier retreat has consequences for diverse ecological functions, from nutrient cycling, energy flow to species interactions and likely decline of glacier related psychrophiles. The vanishing of glaciers also determines a change in the diversity and distribution of organisms, including potential extinction of glacier specialists (i.e. supraglacial organisms). Global biodiversity is declining at rates faster than at any other time in human history. While much research has focused on documenting the spatio-temporal changes in biodiversity following glacier retreat, better understanding of the biodiversity of glacial habitats, and the response to elevated temperatures of glacial specialist is crucial for anticipating future actions protecting biodiversity in situ or ex situ, and to identify refugia.

Abstract:

This study analyses changes in the frequency of freeze-thaw cycles in high-latitude and mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The aim is to evaluate thermal conditions conducive to frost weathering processes, considering the spatial variability of climate characteristics and trends observed over the period 1971–2020.

Abstract:

Iceland, situated in the central Arctic sector of the Atlantic, plays a pivotal role in identifying the direction of contemporary environmental changes associated with the rapid warming of the polar regions, termed Arctic amplification.

Abstract:

In this paper, we present preliminary research findings on the thermal conditions of south-western Greenland (based on data from Godthåb [now Nuuk]) for the period from 1 November 1806 to 16 August 1813

Abstract:

The Barents Shelf is among the most dynamic sectors of the Arctic Ocean system, acting as a climatic frontier where polar and Atlantic influences meet. While the broader Arctic experienced sea-ice intensification from ~5 ka BP onwards—largely attributed to orbitally forced Neoglacial cooling (Wanner 2021)—our study reveals a distinctly delayed response on the northwestern Barents Shelf. This finding challenges traditional expectations of synchronous cryospheric change across high northern latitudes and raises questions about the role of regional oceanography in modulating sea-ice cover.

Abstract:

As part of the National Science Centre research project entitled “Reconstructions of Climatic and Bioclimatic Conditions in Greenland and Labrador/Nunatsiavut ca. 1770 to 1939 from Moravian Missionary Observations (MORCLIM)”, we visited numerous Moravian Church archives across Europe, including the Moravian Church House in Muswell Hill, London; the Unity Archives – Moravian Archives Herrnhut in Germany; and the Moravian Archives in Bethlehem in USA. Additionally, we consulted and checked several other archives and libraries where we suspected early instrumental meteorological data might be located for stations in southwestern Greenland and Labrador. A complete list of the archives and libraries visited is available on the project website: https://morclim.umk.pl/pages/research/.

Abstract:

The Arctic is warming faster than the other regions on Earth due to amplification of anthropogenic climate change by sea ice loss and its impact on albedo feedbacks and heat uptake by the upper ocean. The physical environment of the Arctic Ocean is rapidly changing under ongoing warming. Not only air temperature is rising faster than average and sea ice is shrinking, thinning and its seasonal cover is lasting shorter but profound changes are also observed in the upper ocean climate and dynamics. The upper ocean heat content is rising to due advection of warmer waters from lower latitudes and increased solar warming. Warm and salty anomalies progressing from the North Atlantic into the Arctic Ocean through Fram Strait and Barents Sea result in “Atlantification” – a change toward more Atlantic conditions.

Abstract:

The Arctic coast undergoes rapid environmental changes due to glacier retreat and transition from marine-terminating to land-based. This transformation alters the pathways through which elements such as iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) are transported from glaciers. These two key micronutrients, together with other trace elements like aluminum (Al), are delivered to fjords and coastal marine ecosystems from subglacial runoff and benthic processes. These dramatic environmental changes can affect phytoplankton growth and marine biogeochemical processes. While previous research has emphasized the role of benthic recycling and riverine dissolved (<0.45 μm) elemental inputs, the seasonal and spatial variability of sediment-bound micronutrients, particularly in relation to glacier type and catchment geology, remains poorly understood. It is also unknown how a shift from tidewater to land-based glacier will affect micronutrient cycling and associated biogeochemical processes in the fjords.
     With this study we aimed to determine the impact of local conditions (bedrock geology, glacier type and seasonality) on micronutrient cycling in three high Arctic fjord systems (Svalbard Archipelago).

Abstract:

The Arctic environment is rapidly changing due to global warming, causing rising concern for key species of the north polar food web, especially a zooplanktivorous seabird, the little auk Alle alle and its prey. Energy-rich copepods, the main food source of little auks, Calanus glacialis and Calanus hyperboreus, form patches of high concentrations across the water column, which are difficult to detect via common net-sampling methods. New automatic in situ instruments provide the possibility to analyse the fine-scale distribution of Calanus spp. communities in relation to environmental background providing insights into little auks’ foraging areas on a broader scale, focused on prey concentrations and quality.

Abstract:

The rapid warming of the Arctic—occurring at a rate nearly four times faster than the global average—is a hallmark of climate change known as Arctic Amplification (AA, Rantanen et al. 2022). Despite extensive study, many mechanisms behind AA remain uncertain, particularly those involving long-range energy transport. Among these, the role of atmospheric aerosols—specifically Light-Absorbing Aerosols (LAA) such as black carbon, brown carbon, and mineral dust—has emerged as a key but poorly understood driver. While modeling studies have hypothesized that aerosol-induced heating at lower latitudes enhances poleward atmospheric energy transport (AET, Shindell and Faluvegi 2009), direct observational evidence has been lacking.

Abstract:

The Baltic Sea is a semi-enclosed, brackish water body that receives significantly more freshwater input from rivers and precipitation than it loses through evaporation and outflow. To balance this excess, there is a continuous surface outflow of brackish Baltic water through the Danish Straits, Kattegat, and Skagerrak. The outflowing surface water joins the Norwegian Coastal Current and flows along the coast of Norway into the Barents Sea. Additionally, the catchment area of the Baltic Sea is more than four times larger than its surface area, making it especially vulnerable to the accumulation of pollutants, originating from a densely populated and highly urbanized regions of Central and Eastern Europe (HELCOM 2010).

Abstract:

The aim of this presentation is to share the experiences and outcomes of a Polish-German research project conducted between 2020 and 2024, funded by the National Science Centre (NCN) and the German Research Foundation (DFG), which examined the challenges to sustainable urban development in the European Arctic. Carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic, the project required adaptations to qualitative research methodologies—particularly the shift of interviews and consultations to remote formats. This transformation introduced new limitations but also opened up a space for critical reflection on conducting social research “from outside” the studied region.

Abstract:

Ongoing research on international relations in the Arctic allows for the assumption that since the Arctic is treated as a separate region in geographical terms, it can also be seen as a particular sub-system of international relations. The region comprises eight states that act to ensure a secure existence by pursuing their own goals and interests in the international arena. This creates a security relationships.

Abstract:

Working in isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environments, such as Arctic and Antarctic research stations, presents numerous psychological challenges. These challenges make psychological resilience, personality traits, and personal values critical to successful adaptation. This study investigates the relationships between personality, ego resilience, and values in the context of adaptation to ICE conditions. It further explores gender, regional, duration-based, and national differences in these psychological variables, building upon previous research.

Abstract:

The Arctic is a place that serves as a unique lens for observing both natural and social changes related to climate change. In this region, warming is progressing more intensely than in the rest of the planet. As glaciers and sea ice melt, the geopolitical significance of the area increases. It has become the subject of new international competition for fossil fuel resources hidden beneath the permafrost, control over new shipping routes, and political as well as military dominance in the region. These processes—both in their natural and political dimensions—directly affect the lives of the inhabitants of the Arctic Region, their sense of security, physical and emotional well-being, patterns of daily activity, and the preferred models of management for survival in the era of climate crisis. Recognizing these processes is crucial for formulating forecasts regarding social processes and changes in areas that will experience the consequences of climate change with a delay compared to the Arctic region. In turn, understanding them seems to be key in the context of designing local as well as global programs of social ecological practice, strategies for adapting to climate change, and—more broadly—an effective agenda for combating the climate crisis.

Abstract:

Arctic adventure tourism is growing rapidly, increasing both the risk of accidents and the strain on local emergency preparedness systems. This research investigates the relationship between the competencies of outdoor leaders—including adventure guides, scientists, and field researchers—and their ability to ensure safety in the Arctic. Focusing on Iceland, Svalbard, and Greenland, it examines how training, safety practices, and risk management strategies intersect with local capacities and the evolving demands on search and rescue (SAR) systems.

Abstract:

Svalbard’s glaciers are among the most dynamic elements of the Arctic landscape, and their variable extent is a sensitive indicator of the rate of climate warming. Episodes of surging – sudden, accelerating ice flows after a period of quiescent phase – play a special role in shaping the archipelago’s relief. However, effective monitoring of glacier fronts is hampered by long periods of polar night, cloud cover and poor field accessibility. The current work demonstrates that two easily derived products from Sentinel-1 radar interferometry: coherence and signal amplitude, are sufficient to capture both the long-term trends of glacier retreat and the initial phases of surging.

Abstract:

In this paper we present long-term position changes of permantent GNSS sites located at Svalbard. These variations, along with crust physical properties, are utilized to infer ice mass loading changes. We found good agreement of our indirect estimation with values provided by classic glaciology. This study shows that this passive method can be easily applied for regional ice mass varaiation assesment, however with sparse GNSS network, any regional discremination is still challenging.

Abstract:

In conditions of the Arctic amplification of climate warming the most impressive landscape effect is observed in Svalbard in connection with glaciers retreat. Since the beginning of the 21st century, when GPS measurements with satisfactory precision became widely available, the number of publications appeared following the first paper on glaciers margins positions. The aim of the paper is to compare the results of retreat rates of glaciers and show the landscape dynamics of their marginal zones in the central part of Spitsbergen collected during the last 25 years of observations on the background of verified archive sources going back to the Little Ice Age termination.

Abstract:

Accurate delineation of glacier calving fronts is essential for quantifying marine-terminating glacier retreat and understanding ice-ocean interactions. These fronts mark the dynamic boundary between glacial ice and body of water and are critical for estimating ice discharge and tracking the response of outlet glaciers to climate forcing. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) amplitude imagery offers unique advantages for high-latitude glacier monitoring due to its ability to penetrate clouds and operate independently of solar illumination. However, automatic segmentation of calving fronts in SAR data remains challenging due to the presence of speckle noise, variable radar backscatter, and low contrast between surface of the glacier tongue, glacier ice mélange, and concentration of winter sea ice floes.

Abstract:

Research on ice sheets, which are a major factor in the world’s climate system, has become increasingly intensive, as understanding the processes regulating their behaviour is important for assessing and predicting ongoing global climate change. One important indicator of changes in shelf glaciers is the location of the grounding line, which is defined as the line where a glacier loses contact with the bed and becomes a floating ice shelf. Determining the grounding line of an ice shelf glacier is essential for precise measurement and understanding of ice sheet mass balance and glacier dynamic

Abstract:

Mid-ocean ridges (MOR) are responsible for creating new oceanic crust. The oceanic crust, which covers approximately 60% of the Earth’s surface, is formed along the MOR system. Ultraslow-spreading mid-ocean ridges can be found in both hemispheres. However, the two most extensive ultraslow-spreading systems are the Arctic Ridge system in the Northern Atlantic Ocean and the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) in the Indian Ocean. The Knipovich Ridge belongs to the first one.

Abstract:

The assembly of East Antarctica was a multistage process. Several Archean blocks became enclosed within an extensive network of Proterozoic to Lower Paleozoic mobile belts. The formation of these orogens is generally associated with amalgamation of two supercontinents – Rodinia, ca. 1 Ga, and Gondwana approximately 0.7–0.5 Ga. Major provinces produced by regional scale tectono-metamorphism include the Rayner Province (Enderby Land – Kemp Land – Mac Robertson Land – Princess Elizabeth Land) and Wilkes Province (Bunger Hills and terranes further east). These provinces have their counterparts in India (the Eastern Ghats) and Western Australia.

Abstract:

Polar ecosystems are environmentally sensitive and have attracted relatively little research, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere, where human presence dates back two centuries only. Initially, it was seal hunters who penetrated the sub-Antarctic seas. At the beginning of the 20th century, South Georgia, the largest sub-Antarctic island, became known as “the gateway to Antarctica”. The first whaling station, Grytviken, was established there in 1904. The subsequent six decades of its operation nearly exhausted the local environment. Years after its closure, an unprecedented post-industrial recovery of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems was observed.

Abstract:

Although trace elements naturally occur in the environment, their concentrations increase significantly as a result of anthropogenic activities such as mining and the combustion of fossil fuels. The introduction of these elements can disrupt ecosystem functioning, especially in sensitive Arctic regions. Svalbard, which has long been exploited for coal, mineral, and hydrocarbon extraction, is particularly vulnerable to such disturbances. Soils serve as long-term sinks for both local contamination and atmospheric deposition, making them effective indicators of environmental pollution.

Abstract:

Although plastic pollution is ubiquitous, and remote polar regions are no exception, relatively little is known about the presence of polymers in the Arctic and Antarctic. Additionally, basic data to perform the modelling of their transport, fate, and environmental behaviour are insufficient. Within this work, we provide information about the polymer types present in the polar environment through spectral identification of specimens from Longyearbyen (Svalbard) and the Falkland Islands. Both places were intentionally selected to compare the northern and southern hemispheres. The Arctic, being under higher anthropogenic pressure, is a perfect place to understand the long-term interaction between plastic debris and biota. In particular, fungi were selected to be studied as promising bioindicators. Thus, research on the fungisphere composition has been conducted. In contrast, the relatively little-contaminated Falkland Islands can be used as a model zone to speculate on the origin, transport, and fate of microplastics.

Abstract:

The burial and long-term storage of organic matter in marine sediments play a crucial role in regulating the global carbon cycle and atmospheric CO2 levels. Fjords, characterized by high sedimentation rates and organic carbon fluxes, are particularly significant, accounting for around 11% of the annual global marine carbon burial.

Abstract:

Seabirds play a vital role in Arctic coastal ecosystems by delivering large quantities of organic matter and nutrients of marine origin, primarily in the form of guano, to the areas around their nesting sites. A significant proportion of these ornithogenic nutrients are absorbed by terrestrial producers, which stimulates the growth of exceptionally lush and rich tundra. However, the remainder returns to the sea through percolation, leaching and/or runoff from the ground. These nutrients are easily soluble, which increases their short-term bioavailability in coastal waters near seabird colonies, providing an important local resource for the marine food web. The greater the waves and the more open the sea, the more nutrients are dispersed in the water and lost from the area. However, the precise role and importance of seabird-derived nutrients in the marine ecosystem remains unclear.

Abstract:

The study of the presence of chemical elements and compounds, as well as the characterization of physicochemical properties, are among the most common activities conducted in polar regions. They provide information on the functioning of polar ecosystems, their interrelationships, and their impacts. In the context of observed climate change and increasing environmental pollution, chemical analysis plays an extremely important role, providing tools for observing these processes.

Abstract:

Since the middle of the 20th century, the Southern Ocean, especially the Antarctic Peninsula, has been experiencing intense climate warming. On the west coast of the peninsula, there has been a marked increase in air and seawater temperatures, combined with a reduction in seasonal ice sea cover, the rapid retreat of glaciers and the collapse of ice shelves. Observed changes not only have an impact on the physical environment, but also directly and indirectly affect marine organisms – disrupting their physiology, life cycles and thus also their feeding strategies, behaviour, and spatial distribution. Admiralty Bay – located on the northern coast of King George Island in the South Shetland – a glacially influenced coastal embayment and a key site for long-term Antarctic ecosystem monitoring is a region where intense climate change overlaps with anthropogenic pressure.

Abstract:

The intensified inflow of warm Atlantic Water into the arctic ocean is reshaping pelagic ecosystems, making them increasingly similar to those of the North Atlantic. As a result, resident Arctic zooplankton species now commonly coexist with closely related boreal counter-parts over broad regions, particularly in the European Arctic. This study explores ecological interactions between such sibling species—representing diverse taxonomic and functional groups (large calanoid copepods, amphipods, euphausiids, chaetognaths)—with a focus on their habitat use, trophic strategies, and trait plasticity.

Abstract:

Fjords on the west and north coast of the Svalbard are currently experiencing a steadily warming mainly due to raising temperatures and increased influx of warm Atlantic waters. This warming, along with glacial retreat and associated freshwater influx, modifies fjord hydrology, stratification, and water turbidity, and thus primary production patterns, which further cascade to the whole ecosystem functioning. Woodfjorden, a long fjord north of Spitsbergen, is located at the northern edge of the West Spitsbergen Current, includes the main fjord, fed by multiple small rivers, and the two tributary fjords impacted tidewater glaciers.

Abstract:

Meroplankton—pelagic larvae of benthic invertebrates—plays a key role in Arctic coastal ecosystems by linking pelagic and benthic processes through dispersal and settlement (Pineda-Metz 2020). However, in shallow hard-bottom environments, factors driving this pelago-benthic coupling remain poorly understood. We investigated these processes through a year-round study in Isfjorden, Svalbard (>78 °N), combining seasonal plankton sampling with an in situ colonization experiment using settlement plates at two stations (site S and site N).

Abstract:

Recent advances in in situ underwater imaging have opened new horizons for understanding particle and plankton dynamics in marine ecosystems including polar regions. Utilizing the Underwater Vision Profiler (UVP), we conducted high-resolution investigations of particle size spectra and morphology of plankton and marine snow across both polar regions—Admiralty Bay (Antarctica), West Spitsbergen Shelf and fjords (Arctic), and several fjords along East Greenland (Arctic). This modern optical approach not only quantifies particle flux but uniquely enables the morphological classification of marine snow into distinct morphotypes, offering novel insights into their origin, biological composition, and role in the ocean’s biological carbon pump.

Abstract:

The active layer and permafrost are key elements of periglacial landscapes in Antarctica’s ice-free regions. Variations in factors like permafrost temperature and the thickness of the active layer are valuable indicators of climate change, given their strong responsiveness to climate fluctuations. The northern part of James Ross Island, Ulu Peninsula, is probably the largest ice-free area in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Local conditions in terms of altitude, lithology, topography or vegetation abundance therefore provide favourable conditions for the soil wide range of research activities including thermal state of the active layer and topmost permafrost. In this contribution, we present the data on active layer thermal regime in the period 2006 to 2023.

Abstract:

Permafrost landscape consists of a variety of frozen grounds, including the ice- and carbon-rich yedoma (occurring in Siberia, Alaska, and northern Canada), which sheds significant amounts of carbon into surface waters as a result of climate warming. The ice in yedoma had been formed through a variety of processes, including syngenetic ice-wedge expansion. Yedoma may thus contain refrozen meteoric waters of various age with various chemical traces. Permafrost has been shown to include not only a large organic matter burden, but also mercury and polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) of mixed origin. We have demonstrated recently that it may also be a source of other metals and metalloids released into the surrounding waters with thaw. Here, we have further investigated into the organic chemistry of various surface waters connected to and more distant from a yedoma cliff on the bank of the great Arctic river Kolyma to determine what other effects may be associated with its thaw and thermoerosion-driven input into the river.

Abstract:

The objective of the presented research was to gather reliable data on the bathymetry and physicochemical properties of water of lakes situated on King George Island in West Antarctica. The area that was examined in particular was the unglaciated portion of the Admiralty Bay catchment, which is situated in the central region of the island.

Abstract:

Investigating the effects of climate change on permafrost and vegetation dynamics in Antarctica is of great importance. Vegetation plays a key role in modulating soil thermal regimes and ecosystem processes under climate change in Antarctica.
     Until recent, only limited results are available from distinctive Antarctic regions. In continental Antarctica, climate warming has led to an increase in the thickness of the active permafrost layer (0.3 cm/year), improved soil drainage resulting in lower moisture content, and greater diversity of vegetation–particularly lichens–in drier areas. The research also highlights the critical role of vegetation in regulating the thermal regime of soils in continental Antarctica. Vegetation changes can affect soil temperature and the thickness of the active layer, with significant ecological consequences, particularly for carbon storage in ecosystems. A decrease in moisture in East Antarctica has caused significant shifts in the composition, distribution, and growth of local vegetation, highlighting the vulnerability of Antarctic ecosystems to climate change.

Abstract:

Glacial lakes are some of the more prominent evidence of progressive, contemporary climate change. Their development is directly linked to the overgrowth of glacial water inflow over drainage, leading to accumulation in the proglacial zone. Research on Svalbard has shown that the increase in the total area of glacial lakes in this Arctic archipelago is greater than the average increase from other glaciated regions of the world – relative to the end of the Little Ice Age.

Abstract:

The Arctic flow regimes have become vulnerable to the ongoing climate change-induced Arctic Warming, which is referred to as Arctic Amplification. Consequently, Arctic Amplification has impacted the riverine water flow, significantly affected stream networks, and critically impacted the large river deltaic estuaries. Nutrients. Across the Arctic, a 2 °C rise in air temperature can lead to a 30% increase in sediment flux, while a 20% increase in river runoff can result in a 10% increase in sediment load. It has induced permafrost thaw across the Arctic catchments, mobilizing sediment particles and associated nutrients. Due to Arctic amplification, since 1990, Scandinavia has experienced a warming trend, primarily due to winter warming; it was unusually warm even during the 20th century’s first half.

Abstract:

This presentation delves into the lived experiences of a primary school teacher working in a remote Greenlandic settlement. The challenges and opportunities inherent in Arctic edu-cation will be highlighted through educational projects carried out at school.

Abstract:

The project aims to promote polar research and knowledge development among students at technical universities. By participating, students gain a global perspective on climate change and deepen their understanding of the mechanisms driving it. The project has two main objectives: scientific and didactic. The scientific objective is to organise an expedition to Spitsbergen, during which research is conducted to identify changes in the Arctic environment, which is undergoing rapid transformation due to anthropogenic pressure and climate change. The didactic objective is to provide students with experience in working on international and interdisciplinary scientific projects and to disseminate knowledge about climate change. The project is being implemented over three years (2022–2025), with a total of 36 students participating.

Abstract:

In the communication of scientific research conducted in polar regions, visual and emotional narratives, along with artistic forms of expression, are gaining increasing significance. Photography, illustration, and installation art are no longer just tools to illustrate data—they become languages of their own. By transcending the boundaries of scientific jargon, they help evoke emotional responses and remain memorable. Artistic forms open a space for empathy, sensitivity, and deep personal engagement—elements that are crucial in building public awareness and action for the climate.

Abstract:

The specificity of Greenland’s geographical environment and lighting conditions (polar day and night) causes the climate system in this region to differ significantly from other areas on Earth. Polar regions experience conditions that are very harsh for human life.
     The paper estimates the bioclimatic conditions in the region of the modern-day capital of Greenland (i.e., Nuuk, formerly known as Godthåb or Neu-Herrnhut) in the second half of the 18th century. Nuuk is located in the SW coastal part of Greenland.

Abstract:

The Arctic is one of the most sensitive ecosystems on Earth, where changes in aquatic environments are closely tied to dynamic climatic processes intensified by growing global anthropogenic pressure (AMAP 2021). The Kaffiøyra Plain, located in the western part of Spitsbergen (Svalbard), is characterized by the presence of numerous glacial lakes, which constitute an important element of the local landscape and, at the same time, an excellent indicator of environmental change. The aim of this study was to assess the physicochemical and microbiological parameters of glacial lake waters. The data obtained were used to identify potential sources of anthropogenic pollution in the Arctic environment and to observe climate-related processes.

Abstract:

The Arctic is particularly vulnerable to warming, and the environmental impacts of climate change are amplified in this region. Consequently, with the increased melting of glaciers – the largest natural reservoirs of freshwater – fjord ecosystems are likely receiving higher loads of contaminants today than in the past, which may pose a threat to the ecosystem.

Abstract:

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the diet composition of little auk (Alle alle) chicks in Hornsund (Spitsbergen), based on 14 years (2011–2024) of regular monitoring. Little auks (LA) are the most numerous planktivorous seabirds in the European Arctic, playing a pivotal role in nutrient transfer from marine (foraging areas at sea) to terrestrial ecosystems (breeding colonies on land).

Abstract:

In Arctic conditions, ice and snow cover can serve as significant sources of water supply, but also as a physical barrier to water flow within river deltas. The breakup of ice triggers hydrological pulses that play a crucial role in the exchange of water and sediment within the delta. In the late winter and early spring, the ice cover in river channels and lakes begins to crack and drift, leading to dynamic and difficult-to-predict directions and intensities of water flow. A key phenomenon during this period is the formation of ice jams and backwater effects, i.e., the reverse flow of river water caused by the obstruction of the channel by residual ice.

Abstract:

Advances in nuclear science during the 20th century have led to the systematic production of a novel form of environmental contamination on a global scale. Introduced radionuclides, categorised as artificial, technogenic, man-made or anthropogenic, were previously non-existent or present in ultra-trace quantities across the Earth system. Despite the ongoing presence of the nuclear era, it should be noted that significant changes have occurred in terms of scope, objectives, and main directions over time. The initial focus on military applications has evolved significantly since then, with the development of nuclear power plants, nuclear medicine and the handling of radioactive materials in the nuclear industry being the main drivers of this change. It is clear that the ongoing revolution has brought a plethora of benefits. However, the parallel identification of new radionuclide emissions and transportation over long distances from the epicentre, with the potential to increase natural background radiation levels, has raised public awareness of the necessity to monitor and control the radiological situation routinely. These measures are required not only for critical groups, objects or areas but also to review the exposures of the population and surrounding areas. Monitoring radioactivity levels in the air is of particular importance, given that inhalation represents a significant exposure pathway.

Abstract:

The High Arctic, a region characterised by its remote and largely inaccessible tundra terrain, was the focus of international field campaigns in 1999, 2012, and 2013. The initial expedition pertained to the freshwater systems of the Canadian Arctic, while the subsequent two projects addressed subjects concerning the tundra vegetation of the shoreline of the Western Arctic. The research material comprised lake sediments and soils, the majority of which were sourced from the Arctic Archipelago. In addition, the material included various species of lichens and mosses, which were collected from southwest Greenland, the Canadian Arctic, and Alaska. The objective of the study was to re-evaluate and supplement the existing knowledge relating to radioactivity contamination levels, trends and patterns in the terrestrial environment of the Western Arctic during the early 21st century. In order to produce a database that would facilitate such an assessment, both deposition and isotopic composition for anthropogenic radioisotopes were analysed. The primary focus was on ⁹⁰Sr, ^{134, 137}Cs, ^{238, 239, 240}Pu, and ²⁴¹Am. In addition to the spatial distribution, the temporal variations of pollution for lake sediments dated using 210Pb dating models were also investigated.

Abstract:

Pseudocalanus spp. are highly abundant Arctic copepods and play a key role in zooplankton biomass and ecosystem functioning. Their substantial numbers make them important secondary producers, mediating the transfer of primary production from microalgae and protists to higher trophic levels. They are also significant contributors to carbon cycling in the Arctic. Despite their ecological relevance, species-specific feeding ecology of Pseudocalanus remains poorly understood. This study explores the species composition and gut content of Pseudocalanus spp. across Arctic- and Atlantic-influenced fjords in the Svalbard archipelago. Species identification was carried out using species-specific PCR assays, and dietary analysis was performed via DNA metabarcoding of gut content. Sampling was conducted at four locations representing a hydrographic gradient in the Isfjorden system: Grønfjorden, Isfjorden Karlskronadypet, Isfjorden Adventfjorden, and Billefjorden.

Abstract:

Penguins (Sphenisciformes) are highly specialized seabirds that exhibit a range of morphological and physiological adaptations. Within their skeletal structure, the pedal phalanges (bones of the toes) are among the elements heavily involved in both aquatic and terrestrial locomotion. As components of the feet, they enable penguins to navigate marine environments, acting functionally like the distal portion of a rudder, while also facilitating walking and tobogganing on land and ice. In the fossil record of Eocene Antarctic penguins, these bones are common yet typically disarticulated, posing challenges for both taxonomic and functional interpretation. This study examines pure-shape variation in such isolated phalanges using geometric morphometrics and ordination techniques to evaluate whether consistent patterns linked to anatomical identity can be detected. By establishing a morphological baseline for early Antarctic penguins, this work contributes to understanding long-term anatomical responses to polar environmental change, offering a historical perspective relevant to current transformations in high-latitude ecosystems.

Abstract:

Climate change in the Arctic is among the most dynamic and visible worldwide. Particularly rapid warming is observed in the Svalbard archipelago, where recent years brought record-breaking temperatures, including 21.7 °C in Longyearbyen in July 2020. Due to its geographical location and unique natural value, the region serves as a natural laboratory for monitoring global climate processes, ocean circulation, and related environmental transformations. At the same time, it is increasingly exposed to anthropogenic pressure, mainly resulting from the growing influx of tourists, which in 2023 amounted to approximately100,000 visitors. The dynamic expansion of tourist infrastructure and the growing popularity of recreational activities have led to noticeable changes in environmental quality.

Abstract:

Climate warming in the Northern Hemisphere accelerated permafrost degradation, leading to physical and chemical changes in Arctic and sub-Arctic watersheds. Palsa mires are a feature of sporadic and patchy permafrost landscapes in Northern Finland. We analysed inorganic chemistry (ions, metals and metalloid concentrations) of freshwater (rivers and lakes) collected from this region in the summer 2022 to detect their characteristic features.

Abstract:

The Arctic environment is one of the most vulnerable regions on Earth, facing increasing pressure from human activities such as tourism and settlement expansion. These fragile ecosystems, uniquely adapted to extreme conditions, are highly sensitive to disturbances caused by pollution. Among the most pressing challenges is the discharge of untreated wastewater into the environment, which introduces organic pollutants, nutrients, and emerging contaminants, such as antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Addressing these challenges requires innovative, scalable, and cost-effective solutions tailored to the harsh Arctic conditions.

Abstract:

The Arctic plays a critical role in the global climate system, acting as both a carbon sink and a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane. Methane is released from thawing permafrost, Arctic wetlands, and thermokarst lakes. These emissions may intensify under global warming, creating a feedback loop that accelerates climate change. A comprehensive understanding of this process requires robust, long-term datasets characterizing both the magnitude and variability of methane fluxes.

Abstract:

Polar regions have always been the subject of human interest. Polish researchers began to intensively explore north pole at the second half of the 19th century. After two great field-works at Spitsbergen, Poles decided to reach the largest of islands – Greenland. At the beginning of June 1937, first polish scientific expedition to Greenland set off from the seaport in Gdynia. The expedition headed to Arfersiorfik fjord (western coast of Greenland), where observations of environment most familiar to the one during Pleistocene glaciation in Poland were conducted. The Capitan of the expedition was Aleksander Kosiba, rest of the research group were scientists from Poland. One of them was Antoni Gaweł, polish geologist, whose legacy from this event enabled setting exact track of the expedition. Almost all materials collected during the expedition were untouched for almost ninety years. This poster will be focused on the expedition to Greenland in 1937 and will follow Antoni Gaweł’s trail. His collection allows to show geological diversity of western coast of Greenland and will be the subject of more detailed research.

Abstract:

Proglacial lakes in Antarctica, primarily fed by melting ice and snow, are sensitive indicators of climatic shifts and ongoing cryospheric and geochemical processes in their surroundings. Due to their shallow depth, limited water exchange, and geographic isolation, these systems are particularly vulnerable to contamination and hydrological imbalance. Lions Rump headland (ASPA 151), located in the southwestern part of King George Island, is a region of high ecological value with prominent glacial and limnological features. These isolated lakes not only record hydrological and chemical changes but also act as potential sites of contaminant accumulation, as previously demonstrated for periglacial systems in Admiralty Bay. This study, conducted on seventeen lakes in the area (water samples LR1–LR17), integrates the analysis of stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen with a broad spectrum of major and trace element concentrations to determine the origin of waters, mechanisms of recharge, and potential sources of chemical con-stituents.

Abstract:

The ongoing global warming and its arctic amplification might result in reduced hunting grounds and traditional food sources, degradation of drinking water, which pose challenges to food and water security for many indigenous communities. Climate change is projected to significantly alter the hydrological cycle on a global and regional scale. Reduced snow cover and permafrost in Sub-Arctic and Arctic areas may impact drainage systems and river discharge. Future projections indicate a decline in the overall amplitude of yearly runoff as well as in the springtime intense snow melt runoff episodes. River systems in the arctic and sub-arctic regions are extremely sensitive climate change sensors, and these fluvial systems are experiencing a shift in discharge and sediment load. The seasonal ice cover and suspended sediment concentration control the incoming solar radiation in the rivers and are considered two crucial factors that dictate the physical and biological state of the arctic rivers. Climate change can trigger early meltdown of ice cover, resulting in high discharge and suspended sediment in the river, which in turn determines the morphological evolution of river channels and coastal deltas. In arctic and subarctic rivers, ice cover and sediment dynamics regulate nutrients and biogeochemical cycles, affecting marine flora and fauna as well as water quality. Early arrival of spring and extended ice-free season could trigger erosion through the dynamic breakup of ice cover and make scour holes in the river banks.

Abstract:

Several animal species on Earth modify the environment to suit their ecological needs, with beavers (Castor spp.) being among the most transformative. Research indicates that beavers (family Castoridae) began to appear in the late Eocene and have evolved into various species and genera across the globe until the present day. They inhabit the Northern Hemisphere, which is why world literature has located beaver sites in areas currently covered by permafrost. These places indicate the presence of beavers in the past (e.g. bones, pieces of wood gnawed by beavers, sediments) and today.
     The aim of this study is to identify locations in the Northern Hemisphere, in the permafrost zone, where beaver remains have been found or where beavers still dwell.

Abstract:

The aim of the presented work is to analyze changes in the environment covered by palsa peatlands located in Northern Finland in the years 1985–2024. The research includes analysis of changes in vegetation, water relations and humidity of the area (e.g. NDVI, NDWI, NDMI index) on Landsat satellite images, using GIS tools and techniques. Based on the obtained results, it was found that the use of remote sensing methods and calculation of multispectral indices based on Landsat satellite images is a useful tool in determining changes in the palsa region environment.

Abstract:

The presentation constitutes an attempt to demonstrate how Polish humanities may engage in a creative interpretation of texts situated at the intersection of science and literature, such as the journals and memoirs of polar explorers. The analysis focuses on selected passages from Wspomnienia z Wyprawy Polarnej by Antoni Bolesław Dobrowolski (Dobrowolski 1950) – one of the pioneers of Polish Antarctic exploration and a participant in the Belgian Antarctic Expedition (1897–1899). The objective is to reveal how, within the scientist’s prose, a distinctive “poetics of the polar space” emerges, wherein cognitive endeavor is interwoven with introspection, and scientific inquiry with the work of the imagination.

Abstract:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), despite not being listed in the Stockholm Convention (2001) on persistent organic pollutants (POPs), share several characteristics with the classic POPs and are distributed in the environment worldwide. They are environmentally persistent and toxic; they act as carcinogens and mutagens.

Abstract:

Every sub climate change in the Arctic, including accelerated thawing of permafrost, rising air temperatures, and increasing intensity and variability of precipitation, is driving profound transformations in sediment supply dynamics to Arctic seas, including the coastal zones of the Arctic Ocean. In northern Norway, one of the key river systems shaping the sedimentary and biogeochemical balance of coastal environments is the Tana River (Tenojoki). This river, extending over 360 km, discharges into Tanafjord—a fjord approximately 65 km long and 8–12 km wide—whose estuary represents an important transitional zone between fluvial and sub-Arctic shelf environments. The fjord, together with the delta and estuary of the Tana River, functions as an active interface where freshwater and marine waters mix and where intense sedimentary processes occur.

Abstract:

The ocean’s role in the climate system is fundamental. By accumulating and transporting heat, it shapes our climate and further mitigates the effects of anthropogenic changes occurring in the environment. The role of the Arctic, including the ocean and its ice cover, is even more critical in climate processes. These regions lie at a key location where the thermohaline circulation reverses and deep waters formation occurs. Therefore Arctic is the most sensitive to ongoing changes. Therefore, there is the need for increasingly precise and comprehensive monitoring of changes in the Arctic hydrosphere and cryosphere. This is a challenging task, as these regions are difficult to access, especially in winter. Hence the increasing role of autonomous devices capable of collecting data year-round.

Abstract:

Marine snow morphology and distribution has been already investigated in Arctic region using underwater imaging, but this research is the first one focusing on Antarctic region. The main source of marine particles and their aggregates are the glacier meltwaters, decaying phytoplankton and the by-products of their consumers. Therefore, the knowledge about marine snow composition and morphology may constitute an important new indicator of the processes occurring in the coastal waters. Research objective was to characterize marine snow composition and concentrations, as well as to estimate driven by it carbon export flux in order to broaden our understanding how they change across various glacial bays at a time of climate change. Moreover, we aimed to compare Arctic and Antarctic marine snow to check if their origin deduced by morphology is similar.

Abstract:

Arctic catchments are particularly sensitive to ongoing climate change. On Svalbard, a clear upward trend in average air temperature has been observed – reaching up to six times the global average. Climate warming leads to changes in the carbon and nitrogen cycles, which, as a result of cryosphere melting, may be released into surface waters.
     The primary objective of this study was to examine the spatial variability of total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations within the non-glaciated Fuglebekken catchment, located in close proximity to the Polish Polar Station in Hornsund (Svalbard). The study provided insight into the less well-known aspects of the cycling of TOC and TN in the environment.