On the tip of the iceberg

"Sometimes when I wake up, I hear sounds. It's the eider ducks eating the mussels growing on the ropes around the boat. It's fun," says Lars Henrik Smedsrud. He looks out over Puddefjorden, searching for the eider ducks floating on the water. They have become his new neighbors since he moved into the boat "Antares" in Solheimsviken.

Lars Henrik Smedsrud has received a Fulbright scholarship and is in the USA to meet other researchers and work on interdisciplinary projects on critical minerals in the Arctic. He has also received funding to travel to Greenland in June to measure icebergs.

Smedsrud researches physical processes in the ocean with a focus on polar regions. The cold regions are something he is particularly drawn to. 

"I like that it's cold, and I like skiing. And there is something very fascinating about those who live and have lived in Greenland and how they have managed there without contact with the outside world, and have managed to live in such harsh nature," says the professor at the Geophysical Institute at University of Bergen and the Bjerknes Centre.

Exchange knowledge

The 55-year-old is now at the University of Maryland near Washington DC to work on his Fulbright scholarship. The organization aims to exchange scientific knowledge between the USA and other countries. The scholarship consists of two parts. One part involves collaborating with other researchers from different countries around the Arctic on an interdisciplinary task. The next part is funding for his own project.

"Our group will take a closer look at critical minerals in the Arctic. The results will then be delivered back to the USA in the form of a recommendation to politicians. The plan is to travel to Washington and the Trump administration in 2026 to present the results, so it will be exciting."

Since January 21, when Donald Trump was inaugurated, there have been significant changes in the USA. The Fulbright organisation reports that the project is currently proceeding as planned, but several large organizations in the USA are facing substantial cuts. One of these is NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which conducts observations in the ocean and atmosphere.

"How much will be shut down is not yet entirely clear, but many nervous researchers are worried about their projects and future support. Most things related to 'climate research' seem to be particularly at risk.

Smedsrud gives a small tour on his boat and talks about the project. Video only in Norwegian. 

Measuring Currents and Icebergs

Smedsrud also receives funding for a project in Greenland. He will travel to Ilulissat in June, accompanied by a PhD student and a master's student, to study icebergs.

"We will go out with a small boat and deploy instruments that measure currents and the icebergs themselves. We will also place a sensor on top of an iceberg. The information we gather will be given to those who model this, so that we can improve the forecasting of iceberg drift," says Smedsrud.

He adds that there are several fields that need this information.

"It is also important for biology, because when it melts, meltwater and nutrients flow into the mixed layer, which otherwise would not happen. Additionally, it brings sediments into the fjord, which is important for paleostudies. They are wondering why there are so many variations in the sediments."

"There is no place where global warming is happening faster than in the Arctic. Therefore, this is an important area to research," Smedsrud adds.

In addition, climate models are less accurate in the Arctic than in other places because most of the measurements used by the models are taken much further south. There are many processes that are not included in the models.

"Icebergs are not included in any ocean models, so how far from the coast they melt is information that is currently not included in the projections we have from the IPCC."

Teamwork

As part of his stay in Maryland, Smedsrud will meet researchers from the "International Ice Patrol." They monitor large icebergs and report to those navigating in the Arctic. This organization was started after the Titanic sank in 1912. Therefore, where the icebergs drift or run aground is important for safety.

"If we can better measure the currents around the icebergs, this can hopefully contribute to creating better models for iceberg drift – something both the Nansen Center and the Meteorological Institute are working on in Norway," says the researcher.

In June, he will head out on an expedition again. In the field, there are several exciting aspects, such as ensuring that instruments work both before and after measurements. The weather can also make things difficult. Additionally, it is crucial to measure the right things.

"We are very excited to see if we can measure the effects of icebergs. There are many icebergs there, and it will be difficult to detect the effect of one iceberg if it is in an area with many icebergs. So we need to carefully consider whether to find one that is alone, or whether to find a large or small iceberg. Additionally, we have to do everything from a fairly small boat, which brings some limitations. So I am curious about what we will achieve."

"It's very nice to work with the students. They come up with good ideas, and we become a team that collaborates well. I also really enjoy being in Greenland. Meeting the people and understanding more about nature. That's the big motivation behind it," says Smedsrud.