Climate and Anthropogenic Changes in the Arctic

Department

Department of Physics and Astronomy- DIFA, School of Science

Main research activities/topics/projects

Research lines and projects available for visiting stays are focused on:

High-Resolution Observational Oceanography. Focus: Deciphering the "Atlantification" and Biogeochemical Pulse of Arctic Gateways and Arctic fjords.

Researchers will utilize multi-decadal time series from long-term mooring arrays positioned in key Arctic fjord zones and gateways to decode the shifting dynamics of the High North. By applying multiparametric fingerprinting—integrating physical and biogeochemical  drivers—researchers will identify the pulsed intrusion of Atlantic Water (AW) and quantify its modification as it moves through Arctic gateways into fjords.

Marine Paleoclimatology & Biogeochemical Archives. Focus: From the Last Glacial Cycle to the Anthropocene -  Learning from the Past.

High-resolution sediment cores are used to decouple natural climate variability from anthropogenic forcing as preserved in the seafloor record of the Arctic. Researchers will map the spatiotemporal extent of sea ice and reconstruct water temperatures by combining sea-ice biomarkers with organic paleothermometers to track historical Atlantification.

Quantification of biogenic silica within sedimentary records allows for the reconstruction of past nutrient utilization and the efficiency of the Arctic biological pump. To ensure the integrity of these proxies, researchers will investigate how iron-carbon (Fe-C) coupling regulates organic carbon diagenesis, effectively separating primary paleoclimatic 

signals from secondary post-depositional alteration.

Integration & Training

Visiting Master’s students, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral researchers will be fully integrated into UNIBO (DIFA) and CNR-ISP (Institute of Polar Sciences) infrastructures.

Training Provided: Candidates will receive training in advanced laboratory protocols, field sampling, and oceanographic data processing.

Preferred Background: Prior experience in biogeochemical laboratory work, marine-based fieldwork, or numerical ocean data analysis is advantageous.

Requirements: A strong command of the English language is essential for collaboration within international, multi-institutional teams.

 Relevant projects&websites

The Kongsfjorden System Flagship https://nyalesundresearch.no/research-and-monitoring/kongsfjorden-system/

SIOS - Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System https://sios-svalbard.org/

Italian Integrated Environmental Research Infrastructures System (ITINERIS)

Fresh water Input in the KOngsfjorden (FIKO). P.I. Federico Giglio.

TRACing Atlantic WatEr Masses in Arctic fjords using Uranium-236 and Iodine-129: A novel approach to detect AtlantifICation (TRACE-AtlantIC). (P.I. Roberta Guerra)

ATTRACTION, ATlantificaTion dRiven by polAr-subpolar ConnecTIONs in a changing climate: integrating observational evidence, paleo-oceanography and modelling over the last thousand years at the gateway of the Arctic Ocean (P.I., T. Tesi, PRIN project)

Duration in months (min-max)

Master Research: : 6-12

PhD sandwich: 6-12

Post Doc: 6-12