Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Arctic glacier melting in warming climates: a new biogeochemical proxy for glacial discharge using Ba/Ca in benthic foraminifera

Project description

Biogeochemical indicator for understanding glacier dynamics

The Arctic is warming rapidly, driving glacier retreat and the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet. However, uncertainties remain due to limited knowledge of glacier dynamics. Marine sediment records could provide valuable insights, if reliable indicators are available. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the GMPro project will develop a biogeochemical proxy for past glacial meltwater discharge by analysing barium-to-calcium (Ba/Ca) ratios in benthic foraminifera shells. By combining modern calibration with palaeo-studies in Greenland and Svalbard, the project will trace barium pathways in fjords and its uptake by foraminifera using advanced micro-analytical tools, improving our understanding of glacier responses to climate change.

Objective

The Arctic is warming at an unprecedented rate, leading to rapid glacier retreat and accelerated melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet. This has far-reaching consequences: rising sea levels, changing ocean geochemistry, and the amplification of global warming. Environmental and socioeconomic effects are already becoming evident, extending from the mid- to high latitudes. Nevertheless, uncertainties in the outcomes and severity of these changes persist due to our limited understanding of long-term glacier dynamics and their natural variability. Such can be gained from marine sedimentary records, given reliable proxies are available. GMPro will establish a novel biogeochemical indicator for past glacial meltwater discharge, based on barium-to-calcium ratios (Ba/Ca) in shells of benthic foraminifera. Combining modern calibrations and paleo studies in two key Arctic regions (Greenland, Svalbard), this project will (1a) establish barium pathways in fjords across spatial and temporal gradients of glacier melting and (1b) trace barium uptake into foraminifera shells using state-of-the-art micro-analytical techniques; (2) validate the new proxy against multiple established glaciological and oceanographical indicators; and (3) unlock histories of Arctic deglaciation under past, warm(-er than today) climates. The outcomes will enhance our understanding of glacier dynamics under a changing climate, and form the foundation for refining climate models, predicting future changes and supporting evidence-based adaptation strategies. Through GMPro, I will gain skills and experience in Arctic paleoclimatology and -oceanography, receive focused training in research leadership and management, and build an extensive network for future collaborations. These combined will be my steppingstone to becoming an interdisciplinary, independent and leading researcher within Arctic paleoclimatology and geochemistry.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

UNIVERSITETET I TROMSOE - NORGES ARKTISKE UNIVERSITET
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 251 578,56
Address
HANSINE HANSENS VEG 14
9019 Tromso
Norway

See on map

Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Partners (1)

My booklet 0 0