Workshop on Fjords Sparks New International Research Network
The workshop held in Stalheim in early June has yielded promising results — a brand-new international research network is now collaborating on a perspective paper about the world’s fjords in a changing climate.
Publisert 20. June 2025
Written by Anne Gro Vea Salvanes
A highly international group of scientists, covering most of the world fjord regions were gathered in Stalheim, Norway in Early June. Photo: Mari Myksvoll
Fjords are among the areas most affected by global warming. Large knowledge gaps exist with respect to how, why and where the most pronounced changes occur.
Above the sea surface fjord landscapes are beautiful and this makes them attractive tourist destinations.
Their origins are as glacial landforms in temperate and Polar regions. They occur in the transition zone between land and the open ocean. Fjords are sheltered locations and have allowed massive salmon farming. However, fjord conditions and ecosystems below the sea surfaces are often little known.
Darker waters
Fjords are where increased precipitation and runoff can change the strong physical and chemical gradients where fresh and saltwater mix. Increased runoff will also transport more brown materials (colored dissolved organic material) to the fjords and make fjord habitats darker.
Darker water can reduce feeding opportunities for deep-water organisms that rely on vision. Also, deep fjord basins with shallow sills are sites where oxygen loss linked to ocean warming are the strong and where renewal of basin water is reduced.
This can generate stagnant and hypoxic and anoxic habitats and ameliorate the fate of deep-sea organisms.
Workshop - Fjords in a changinc climate. Stalheim, 2.-5. June 2025
- 70 participants from 14 different countries
- Fjord studies from most fjord regions of the world: Chile, New Zealand, Alaska, Canada, Costa Rica, Norway, Svalbard, Scotland, Sweden, Greenland Antarctica
- A wide range of disciplines were covered - observed changes, key drivers of change, fjords in a changing climate and anthropogenic pressures
- The participants are now members of a new international Fjord research network, working on a joint perspective paper
The poster sessions sparked meaningful conversations and new connections. Photos: Fjord Workshop Committee
Several research projects (e.g. CLIFORD, FJO2RD and HyponFjordFish) led by the FJORD-group members affiliated to the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, employed at major marine research institutions in Bergen (University of Bergen, Institute of Marine Research, NORCE), have worked in western Norwegian sill fjords.
These projects are now approaching the end in 2025. To sum up state-of-the-art knowledge on physical, biogeochemical and biological processes, and to identify major knowledge gaps on why, how and where fjords can be affected to climate change, we organized the Fjords in a future Climate workshop at Stalheim hotel 2-5 June 2025.
The location is at the head of the valley ending in the beautiful and famous Nærøyfjorden, a branch of Sognefjorden, and at a historical key accommodation for tourists on the route to the fjords.
The organizing committee consisted of the BCCR members:
- Mari Myksvoll (IMR)
- Bjørg Risebrobakken (NORCE)
- Agnes Weiner (NORCE)
- Anne Gro Vea Salvanes (UiB)
- Natalya Gallo (NORCE & UiB)
- João Bettencourt (UiB)
- Elin Darelius (UiB)
Fjord workshop participants trekking in the steep environment. Photo credit: Lilli Weniger
The workshop had 70 participants from 14 different countries and covered a wide range of disciplines. Fjord studies from most fjord regions of the world were presented. Full presentations were balanced among early career & senior scientists, fjord regions & countries, men & women.
The participants were working in fjords in Chile, New Zealand, Alaska, Canada, Costa Rica, Norway, Svalbard, Scotland, Sweden, Greenland, Antarctica and more - and 21 oral presentations and 48 flash talks on posters were given.
Participants are now members of an international Fjord-network that during the workshop started to work on a perspective paper on what we know and what we do not know about fjords in a changing climate.
There were presentations on observed changes, key drivers of change, fjords in a changing climate and anthropogenic pressures, and group works initiating the planned manuscript.
