IAP-25-017

From ice to ecosystem: assessing the risk of glacier melt and legacy contamination for reindeer in Sápmi (Lapland)

Glaciers act as reservoirs for contaminants that fall onto their surface through processes such as atmospheric deposition and anthropogenic activities (Beard et al., 2022; Clason et al., 2015) and can accumulate and store these materials for decades or longer. Contaminants are not only stored by glaciers, but are also concentrated through their interactions with snow, ice, meltwater and glacial sediments. For example, cryoconite, an organic-rich material commonly found on the surface of glaciers, has been demonstrated to have a unique ability to efficiently accumulate some contaminants (e.g. Owens et al., 2019; Clason et al, 2021). As glaciers melt in response to a warming climate the materials they contain are released and transported downstream. This means that legacy contaminants can be remobilized and pose a potential threat for local water quality, ecosystems, and communities. One such ecosystem is the Sámi reindeer herding region of Sápmi (Lapland).

This project will take an innovative interdisciplinary approach to evaluate (a) whether contaminants are released from glaciers in Sápmi in concentrations that are potentially harmful for reindeer, and (b) the potential socio-environmental impact(s) of this emerging challenge for downstream communities. Contaminants including fallout radionuclides (FRNs) and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) will be targeted to improve our understanding of how they are accumulated and mobilised within mountain glacier settings. Caesium-137 is particularly important to understand in this region due to the historical (and ongoing) impacts of the Chernobyl disaster for reindeer herding communities. The project will also assess current and future socio-environmental risk from contaminant release for downstream reindeer grazing environments and Sámi herding communities, providing a novel, interdisciplinary understanding of contaminant release and risk. While considerable research efforts have been made to quantify the consequences of glacier retreat for freshwater discharge and sea level, research into what this means for the legacy materials accumulated within glaciers, and downstream consequences, is in its infancy. To address this research gap, this project proposes three objectives:

1. To quantify FRNs and PTEs in materials on and downstream of glaciers in Sápmi.

2. To assess the risk of legacy contaminant release under current and future glacier melt scenarios.

3. To engage with local Sámi stakeholders to understand current perceptions of environmental risk and communicate risk from future legacy contaminant release.

The successful candidate will conduct fieldwork in a glaciated catchment in Sápmi to sample cryoconite, proglacial sediments, and reindeer hair and dung, and apply geochemical techniques to identify and quantify contaminants including FRNs and PTEs. In addition to analysing the levels of contaminants present within the glacier and the downstream environment, this project will apply existing computer models to simulate glacier melt to predict the release of stored contaminants under future warming scenarios. The student will also engage local stakeholders to understand current perception and prioritisation of environmental risk and communicate the findings of their own research as it develops.

The methods can be split into three distinct but interlinked packages of work:

1: Sampling and analysis of contaminants in sediments and organic materials.

• Sampling of cryoconite on the glacier surface and sampling of sediments, soils, lichens and reindeer hair and dung within the proglacial environment.
• Application of gamma spectrometry, wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to quantify contaminant levels.
• Assessment of environmental risk through comparison of contaminant concentrations identified in organic materials with probable effect levels (PELs).

2: Identification of processes and pathways of contaminant release and transport.

• Application of sediment fingerprinting to assess the primary sources and pathways for contaminant transport from glaciers to downstream environments.
• Assessment of seasonal variability of contaminant in levels in reindeer keratin samples to explore how grazing behaviour intersects with contaminant risk.
• Projections of glacier melt and contaminant release using existing future climate forcings and surface meltwater production modelling tools.

3: Assessment and communication of environmental risk with local stakeholders.

• Risk mapping to explore current perception and prioritisation of environmental risks and pressures with local Sámi reindeer herders.
• Design of materials to communicate research findings, based on stakeholder-identified preference, including future contaminant release scenarios.
• Communication of possible risk (if any) identified in work packages 1 and 2.

Year 1

• Literature review and production of a PhD work plan.
• Design of fieldwork sampling strategy.
• First field season in Sápmi.
• Initial conversations with local stakeholders.
• Training in geochemical analysis techniques using samples collected in year 1.

Year 2

• Second field season on Sápmi.
• Risk mapping with local stakeholders.
• Geochemical analysis of samples from year 2.
• Sediment fingerprinting.
• Begin writing of thesis and papers.

Year 3

• Modelling contaminant release under future climate scenarios.
• Communication of project outcomes with local stakeholders.
• Continue writing of thesis and papers.

Year 3.5

• Completion of thesis writing.
• Thesis submission and preparation / submission of papers.

This project is suitable for students who have studied subjects such as Geography or Environmental Science, and the successful applicant will gain a broad interdisciplinary skillset, including training in geochemical analytical techniques, field research, engaging with stakeholders to communicate and understand risk, and the application of computer models. The supervisory team, who have expertise in glaciology, biogeochemistry, and environmental and health risk will oversee project-specific training, ensuring that the candidate develops the skills required to address the objectives of this project.

The student will be supported in the development of transferable skills, fostering professional development and employability post-PhD. The student will present their research nationally and internationally, and will be encouraged to drive the direction of their research throughout the project, contributing to their development as an independent researcher.