Svalbard Research
Academic studies with Svalbard as their subject. 753 studies since January 2025.
How this list is made
The list comes from OpenAlex, an open index of scholarly works.
Preprints and data sets are left out.
Each summary is the Wire's own sentence, written from the study's abstract and checked against it. A study with no abstract in the index has none.
Atmospheric radionuclides accumulation in supraglacial sediments and mosses on two Arctic glaciers in Svalbard
Samples from two Svalbard glaciers found artificial and natural radionuclides in both cryoconite and glacier mice, with cryoconite holding higher levels, and global fallout identified as the main source.
Sequence-based identification and characterization of mer operon-related genes from Kongsfjorden sediments
Metagenomic screening of Kongsfjorden sediments identified putative mer operon mercury-resistance genes (merR, merT, merP) with sequence and structural similarity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Spatial and vertical distribution of microplastics in Arctic waters around Svalbard
Chronologically constrained marine Spheroidal Carbonaceous Particle (SCP) record for Svalbard (Greenland Sea, Arctic Ocean)
Marine sediment cores from Svalbard's surrounding seas show a dated record of fly-ash spheroidal carbonaceous particles, first appearing around 1856 and peaking in the 1950s-70s, tied to coal burning.
Glacier-driven microplastic dynamics in the high Arctic: Evidence from icebergs and proglacial sediments of Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden, Svalbard
Assessment of ecological risk of heavy metal load in the Kongsfjorden, Fjord, Svalbard in the Arctic environment using multivariate pollution indices
Aeromycota of Barentsburg (Spitsbergen Archipelago) and Adjacent Territories
Airborne fungi sampled in Barentsburg buildings, streets and tundra show higher spore abundance in the settlement, with many opportunistic human-associated species present.
Bentho-Pelagic Decoupling Shapes Mercury Biomagnification in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard
Goslings, but not adults, show physiological alterations associated with mercury contamination in wild Arctic barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis)
Blood mercury in wild barnacle geese breeding in Svalbard was linked to oxidative damage, metabolites and telomere length, with effects seen in goslings but not adults.
Investigation of factors controlling the mercury geochemical cycle in Kongsfjorden (Svalbard) under contrasting climatic conditions
Compares mercury deposition, bromine in snow, and atmospheric mercury depletion events at Ny-Ålesund between a cold 2020 winter with extensive sea ice and a warm 2018-2019 winter.
Insights into exogenous sources and localized secondary release of polychlorinated biphenyls in Ny-Ålesund
Marine carbohydrates and other sea spray aerosol constituents across altitudes in the lower troposphere of Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard
Balloon-borne and ground measurements at Ny-Ålesund show sea spray aerosol and marine combined carbohydrates vary with altitude, with long-range transport and in-situ formation shaping their distribution.
The high Arctic resistome: stress-response genes, virulence determinants, and microbial populations in human-impacted environments of Spitsbergen
Metagenomic snapshot of Spitsbergen wastewater outflows, fjords and glacial ice finds antibiotic, metal and virulence resistance genes elevated downstream of sewage discharges.
Unprecedented radioactive pollution in Spitsbergen's air – first data of the 21st century
Measured plutonium, americium and neptunium in Hornsund surface air 2007–2021, finding unusually high 241Am and unexplained 237Np and 238Pu, suggesting possible recent anthropogenic emissions.
Emerging contaminants during arctic rain-on-snow events: A case study from the 2023-24 Ny-Ålesund campaign
Measures emerging contaminants (benzothiazoles, TCEP, pesticides, haloacetic acids) in aerosols and wet deposition during four rain-on-snow events at Ny-Ålesund, testing whether such events scavenge pollutants.
Seasonal Shift in Exposure and Accumulation of PFAS and Heavy Metals in High Arctic Reindeer
Svalbard reindeer liver and muscle sampled in August and October show higher mercury, cadmium and several PFAS in October, with PFAS mostly from long-range transport.
Glacial bay as a local hot spot for retention and accumulation of heavy metals transported with glacier meltwater (Hornsund, Svalbard
Hansbukta, a Hornsund glacial bay isolated by an underwater sill, retains suspended particles and heavy metals from melting Hansbreen meltwater, so over half of metals stay in the bay in most months.
Accumulation and secondary release of legacy Pb in high Arctic glaciers of Svalbard: Insights from Pb isotopes
Lead isotopes in Ny-Ålesund media and compiled Svalbard data show long-range atmospheric Pb is stored in glaciers and cryoconite, and glacier melt releases about 167 t/yr of mostly particulate Pb to fjords.
Microplastic and other anthropogenic particles in surface waters of the Isfjorden system (Svalbard)
Surface waters of Isfjorden and Adventfjorden near Longyearbyen were sampled for microplastics and other anthropogenic particles, finding 20–26 particles per litre and linking distribution to wastewater and ocean currents.
Benzotriazole UV stabilisers in ingested plastics and plasma of an Arctic seabird across a 24-year span
Benzotriazole UV stabilisers were found in plastics ingested by northern fulmars and in their blood plasma in Svalbard, with plastic-contamination trends examined across 1997 to 2021.
Secondary organic aerosol formation in the arctic (Ny-Ålesund) atmosphere during summer: inferences from water-soluble dicarboxylic acids and related compounds
Seasonal and interannual variability on the chemical composition of the Svalbard surface snowpack
Snow chemistry sampled 2018–2021 at Gruvebadet in Ny-Ålesund shows ion and element levels driven by sea spray during a cold, sea-ice-rich winter, contrasting with warmer years.
Arctic macrosources of the microplastic pollution (Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen): Spectral characterization and first insight into the fungal diversity on the arctic plastisphere
Macroplastic litter on Longyearbyen beaches was found to fragment into microplastics, and fungi were isolated from the plastic surfaces, including four taxa not previously recorded on Svalbard.
Legacy of Coal Mining: Trace Element Contamination in Soils from Billefjord, Svalbard
Unprecedented Radioactive Pollution in Spitsbergen Air during the 21st Century
Assessment of Anthropogenic Pollution Associated with Intensified Tourist Activity in the Longyearbyen Area (Svalbard, Arctic)
Variability of Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Concentrations in the Snow Cover of a Non-glaciated Catchment in Svalbard
Tracing natural, anthropogenic, and biomass burning contributions to Arctic aerosol combining daily chemical characterization and receptor modeling analysis
Daily PM10 samples at Ny-Ålesund from February to October 2015 were chemically analysed and source-apportioned, finding mostly natural sources, Arctic Haze anthropogenic peaks, and episodic wildfire smoke.
Influence of climate change on the distribution of mercury and selected toxic metals in an Arctic Fjord
Surface sediments of Kongsfjorden sampled 2017–2019 show higher toxic metal levels in the outer fjord; Hg and Pb mainly from long-range transport, with As and Cd of moderate ecological risk.
Unraveling Arctic submicron organic aerosol sources: a year-long study by H-NMR and AMS in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard
A year-long PM1 filter study in Ny-Ålesund found organic aerosol is mainly Eurasian pollution in winter-spring and marine biogenic plus wildfire material in summer.
Submarine groundwater discharge and gas hydrate dissociation fuel organic matter formation in Arctic fjord sediments
Sediments from 24 stations in three West Spitsbergen fjords show porewater freshening from meteoric water or gas hydrates, with unusual organic carbon and nitrogen isotopes suggesting microbial methane use.
Bisphenol A and selected alkylphenols in macrozoobenthos from the Arctic fjords of Spitsbergen (Svalbard Archipelago)
Tracing emerging contaminants in the Arctic cryosphere: Insights from Spitsbergen (Svalbard Archipelago)
Chemical Composition and Mixing State of Wintertime Aerosol from the European Arctic Site of Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard
Microspectroscopy of 25,254 wintertime aerosol particles at Ny-Ålesund finds sea salt dominates (~85%), with aged sea salt, sea salt-dust mixtures, and sulphur/nitrogen uptake affecting cloud and ice nucleation.
Spatial distribution, temporal trends, and environmental fate of legacy contaminants in the cryosphere of Spitsbergen, Svalbard Islands
Measures PCBs and legacy and current-use pesticides in snow and ice cores from three Spitsbergen glaciers over two spring campaigns, and estimates contaminant release from melt.
«Arktisk blokade»: en russisk informasjonsoperasjon mot Norge
Case study of a 2022 Russian information operation against Norway, targeting Norwegian sovereignty over Svalbard and the Barents Sea delimitation agreement.
Metal bioaccumulation and physiological responses of Arctic lichens under climate change and pollution
Lichens collected in Svalbard in 1985 and 2023 were compared for metal content and usnic acid, revealing rising manganese and nickel in several samples, and usnic acid linked to photosynthetic activity differently across two species.
Comparative analysis of sea salt species in snow samples from Svalbard using ICP-QMS and IC techniques
Compares ICP-QMS and ion chromatography methods for measuring sea salt ions (Na, K, Mg, Br) in Svalbard surface snow, testing agreement where dust is high.
Mercury labile and stabile fractions in marine sediments from the Spitsbergen region
Anthropogenic compounds in the northernmost Atlantic puffin population
Microplastic pellets in Arctic marine sediments: a common source or a common process?
A reconstruction of radioactive and chemical pollution of the Grønfjorden (bay), West Spitsbergen Island (Svalbard archipelago)
Haloacetic Acids as Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Arctic Aerosol
Year-long aerosol sampling at Ny-Ålesund found 12 haloacetic acids in Arctic particulate matter, mostly monohaloacetic acids, with long-range anthropogenic transport as the main source.
Bioaccumulation and Trophic Transfer of Organophosphate Esters (OPEs) in Arctic Terrestrial and Benthic Marine Ecosystems
Measures organophosphate ester flame retardant levels in Svalbard soil, plants, sediment and biota, finding bioaccumulation on land and trophic dilution in the marine food web.
Depletion of crude oil and fuel in the Arctic. Summer and winter field studies with immobilized oil in seawater at Svalbard
Field experiments in Svalbard seawater compared summer and winter natural depletion of three crude oils and their bacterial communities, finding extensive seasonal differences in oil breakdown.
Man-made emerging contaminants in the High-Arctic fjord Kongsfjorden (Svalbard Archipelago, Norway): Occurrence, sources and risk assessment
Proglacial methane emissions driven by meltwater and groundwater flushing in a high-Arctic glacial catchment
Methane concentrations in a central Svalbard glacier's meltwater rivers and springs were measured over two summers, estimating about 1 ton of melt-season methane emissions from one catchment.
Methane in Svalbard (SvalGaSess)
Review of methane sources, sinks and emissions in Svalbard, including ancient geogenic methane under glaciers and permafrost and younger microbial methane from wetlands, and why reliable emission estimates are needed.
Pharmaceutical residues and caffeine in Arctic fjord waters (west Spitsbergen)
Environmental Monitoring of Total Hydrocarbon Contents in Fjords of Svalbard, Grönfjord
Measured total hydrocarbon levels in Grönfjord water and sediments over 2012-2022, finding interannual variation, possible natural seeps, and some signs of industrial petroleum input.
Footprints of magnetic particulate matter and black carbon in the Ny-Ålesund area, the Arctic
Study finds magnetic particulate matter and black carbon around Ny-Ålesund, with higher levels near research facilities and tourist sites, likely from combustion and mechanical sources.
Fate of trace elements and emerging environmental pollutants (benzotriazoles and benzothiazoles) from a glacier-fed river in the mixing zone of an Arctic fjord system
Measured trace metals and benzotriazole/benzothiazole pollutants in a glacier-fed river and Ny-Ålesund fjord water and sediment, finding higher levels near the former-mining town.