Phthalates are a series of widely used chemicals in a large range of products and have endocrine disruption potentials being detrimental to human health. To our knowledge, there are no reports on phthalate exposure in the general population in Greenland. This study evaluates the phthalate exposure profiles and the influence of characteristics of 602 adults across Greenland recruited during 2000-2019. The urinary concentrations of eleven metabolites of phthalates and the phthalate alternative di-(iso-nonyl)-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) were measured using solid phase extraction prior to ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in negative electro-spray mode and standardized by the urinary creatinine concentration. Health risk assessment was performed by comparison of urinary metabolite levels of phthalates and DINCH using available health-based human biomonitoring guidance values (HBM-GV). The influence of characteristics on metabolite levels was assessed by multiple linear regression models. Metabolites of phthalates and DINCH were detected in more than 25 % of the spot urine samples. For certain phthalate metabolites, less than 3 % exceeded HBM-GV. Females had higher concentrations of phthalate metabolites than males. Participants from east and west regions had higher concentrations of some phthalate metabolites than those from north, Disko Bay and south regions. Age positively associated with metabolites concentrations of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and diethyl phthalate (DEP). DEHP metabolites concentrations increased with BMI and biomarker of marine food intake. Pregnancy and parity may influence the concentrations of phthalate metabolites. The phthalate exposure was age- and sex-dependent likely due to differences in lifestyle habits. Urinary concentrations of DINCH metabolites were higher in Greenlandic adults compared to other populations.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114695

Macroalgal carbon export estimates make assumptions about lateral transport away from the coast and vertical export to deep ocean sinks. Yet, few studies have resolved these pathways. This paper tests lateral surface transport and vertical export assumptions using the Southwest Greenland continental shelf and the Labrador Sea as a testbed. Macroalgae grow on Greenland's rocky shoreline and previous studies have documented oceanographic connectivity between coastal and offshore regions. This study analyzed 1380 Sentinel-2 satellite images to find 7973 patches of floating macroalgae on the SW Greenland shelf and in the Labrador Sea, providing evidence of their presence on the shelf and offshore waters. Since satellite imagery provides a snapshot of macroalgal positions at a given time, 305 surface drifter trajectories and a Lagrangian particle tracking model (LPTM) are used to quantify residence times and transport pathways. The average drifter-derived surface residence times on the SW Greenland shelf and the Labrador Sea are 12.1 days and 63.6 days, respectively. Applying results from studies of macroalgal longevity, the drifter-derived residence times suggest that macroalgae can remain intact during their transit of the shelf, allowing them to sink in deeper water offshore. The LPTM traced the origins and pathways of selected patches in June 2018. To explore vertical export mechanisms, a Large Eddy Simulation revealed that deep convection can transport buoyant macroalgae to depths where their gas vesicles implode, expediting sinking. These interdisciplinary findings indicate that Greenland's macroalgal ecosystems can supply detrital carbon to the adjacent shelf and open ocean and highlight the importance of testing key transport assumptions used to estimate macroalgal contributions to carbon sequestration.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.181247 

Arctic ecosystems are undergoing major changes as a result of climate change that in many cases results in habitat loss for many species. However, glacial retreat also creates new habitats, such as lakes and ponds, providing an opportunity to test how communities and food webs assemble. Here, we studied the topology of the food webs and analyzed potential drivers such as environmental variables in 16 fishless ponds of contrasting age (8 young < 50 years, 8 old > 150 years) located in an area of rapid glacial retreat on the west coast of Greenland. We tested for differences in beta diversity and nestedness of prey and consumers related to the age class of the ponds. Based on gut content analysis of zooplankton and benthic macroinvertebrates we constructed food webs and investigated the extent to which food web metrics related to pond age and environmental variables. The food items of zooplankton and benthic macroinvertebrates in the young ponds represented a subset of those present in the old ponds' food webs. Food webs of old ponds had higher taxonomic richness, higher linkage density and lower connectance, indicating higher stability. Pond age class was the main explanatory factor for most food web metrics followed by productivity, here assessed by proxies, total nitrogen (TN) and phytoplankton chlorophyll-a (Chl-a). Food webs in old ponds did not show any significant association with environmental factors. In contrast, in young ponds, connectance and trophic niche overlap were significantly related to TN and Chl-a. The different complexity patterns indicate that food web topology in newly created ponds becomes more complex and independent of environmental conditions as ponds age. These differences likely make food webs of young ecosystems more unstable and vulnerable to external disturbances than those of older ecosystems.

https://doi.org/10.1002/oik.11415 

Deposits of a giant (more than 1 km³) rock-ice avalanche with a runout of 15.8 km and an associated failure scar have been discovered in Tupaasat Valley, South Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat). To study its formation, a geomorphological map of the area has been produced using mainly remote sensing, while the age of the landforms has been constrained based on ¹⁰Be cosmogenic nuclide exposure dating. The rock-ice avalanche landforms include a 1100 m wide mound of displaced material located approximately 6.4 km from the scar, at a change in slope from around 4° to 1.5°. A boulder field containing boulders up to 45 m across lies 0.5 km farther down the valley. Beyond the boulder field are kettle holes up to 45 m in diameter and debris cones interpreted as molards reaching heights up to 36 m and diameters up to 140 m. The source area of the rock-ice avalanche is on a mountain crest above a present-day glacier. The rock-ice avalanche landforms yielded ¹⁰Be ages ranging from c. 12.3 to 9.5 ka with a weighted mean of 10.9 ± 0.5 ka, which coincides with the generally known deglaciation age of the valley. Based on our results, we suggest that the rock-ice avalanche was preconditioned by glacial debuttressing during the deglaciation of the valley and created a tsunami when it impacted a nearby fjord. Such events are expected to be more frequent due to climate change and future ice loss and pose a hazard for populations located near glaciated valleys. A better understanding of past events can help mitigate future large rock-slope failures.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110057

Marine megafauna species are affected by a wide range of anthropogenic threats. To evaluate the risk of such threats, species vulnerability to each threat must first be determined. We build on the existing threats classification scheme and ranking system of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species by assessing the vulnerability of 256 marine megafauna species to 23 at-sea threats. The threats we considered included individual fishing gear types, climate-change-related subthreats not previously assessed, and threats associated with coastal impacts and maritime disturbances. Our ratings resulted in 70 species having high vulnerability (v > 0.778 out of 1) to at least 1 threat, primarily drifting longlines, temperature extremes, or fixed gear. These 3 threats were also considered to have the most severe effects (i.e., steepest population declines). Overall, temperature extremes and plastics and other solid waste were rated as affecting the largest proportion of populations. Penguins, pinnipeds, and polar bears had the highest vulnerability to temperature extremes. Bony fishes had the highest vulnerability to drifting longlines and plastics and other solid waste; pelagic cetaceans to 4 maritime disturbance threats; elasmobranchs to 5 fishing threats; and flying birds to drifting longlines and 2 maritime disturbance threats. Sirenians and turtles had the highest vulnerability to at least one threat from all 4 categories. Despite not necessarily having severe effects for most taxonomic groups, temperature extremes were rated among the top threats for all taxa except bony fishes. The vulnerability scores we provide are an important first step in estimating the risk of threats to marine megafauna. Importantly, they help differentiate scope from severity, which is key to identifying threats that should be prioritized for mitigation.

https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.70147

This is chapter 7 of the State of Environmental Science in Svalbard (SESS) report 2024 (https://sios-svalbard.org/SESS_Issue7).  Invertebrates are ubiquitous. Diverse in form and function, they play crucial roles in ecosystems: for example as food for other organisms, as pollinators, and as decomposers. Invertebrate species vastly outnumber vascular plants, birds and mammals combined, but we know little about them and their roles due to challenges in identification, sampling, access, and funding. One of the worlds fastest changing environments, Svalbard is also a hotspot for multidisciplinary environmental research, ideal for studying responses to change. Nonetheless, comprehensive biodiversity surveys across Svalbard are still needed, to better inform governance actions aimed at protecting this unique environment. Research on Svalbards terrestrial and freshwater invertebrate community is key to understanding resilience and vulnerability to environmental change. Upscaling results from Svalbard will help us assess threats and consequences across the whole Arctic.

https://zenodo.org/records/14425803 

Kelps have an extensive distribution in Arctic coastal waters. However, quantifying their role in the Arctic food web and carbon cycle is challenged by the scarcity of documented geographical distribution, standing stocks and production. Here we present a framework based on an empirical function to predict the potential kelp distribution and their summer biomass as a function of seafloor irradiance and bathymetry. Predictions of biomass were limited to the lower-depth, light-limited range of the kelp distribution, where the fit of the empirical function was significant (from the depth of maximum biomass to the deepest kelp extent). The model was developed and tested in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, and applied in six additional fjords in the Arctic. The predicted potential kelp biomass in the fjords ranged from 0.6 to 4.7kg WW m2 and was in good agreement with published values. The resulting kelp standing stock ranged from 0.4 to 300 Gg DW, corresponding to 0.2109 Gg C. These potential estimates account for light limitation, but do not consider substrata or other factors limiting the kelp distribution area. We identified fjord-specific dependencies between predicted standing stocks and seafloor irradiance and between seafloor irradiance and its drivers (surface irradiance and water column light attenuation) but found no significant change between 2004 and 2022. Our framework provides a baseline for estimating potential kelp biomass from seafloor irradiance, which is expected to change with increasing sediment runoff causing coastal darkening.

https://doi.org/10.1002/lom3.70018

Please see below. It is time for the 2026 Annual Greenland Ice Sheet Seminar. As always, it is a great way to get an overview of what goes on where (at, e.g., AU, KU, DTU, DMI, GEUS) and to network.

Normally, it is on the first Thursday in the new year but Jan 1^st is a bit early so this time it is 

Thursday January 8 2026, 9:00-15:00

It rotates between institutes and this year it is the ice and climate group at NBI/KU who are organizing it (Niels Bohr Building, Jagtvej 132, 2200 Copenhagen N). Christine doesnt say in her message below, but there is usually also an online option.

Please consider signing up using the link below. If you have a slide with relevant GrIS research you want to show, please let me (plangen@envs.au.dk), Alex (ama@envs.au.dk) and Christof (christof.pearce@geo.au.dk) know and we will coordinate AUs 30 minutes.

So for now, please,

• Sign up by 19 Dec using this link.
• If you have something you want to present:
  • Let us (plangen@envs.au.dk, ama@envs.au.dk, christof.pearce@geo.au.dk) know asap (just a one-liner).
  • Be prepared to have slides ready to be compiled just after New Years.
• Distribute this info to anyone you think it is relevant for.

Cheers,

Peter

Proxy-based reconstructions are imperative for understanding long-term ice dynamics, ecological conditions, and oceanographic variability following the deglaciation due to the temporal limitation of instrumental records. This study examines the response of benthic foraminiferal assemblages to the deglaciation of the Northeast Greenland shelf based on three sediment cores from the Belgica Trough (77°N), testing to which degree the foraminifera show a consistent response to environmental change. Recent studies from the Belgica Trough reveal that the shelf edge was deglaciated before 16.6 cal ka BP through a stepwise ice retreat, followed by a rapid retreat through the inner shelf, likely before 12.5 cal ka BP. The results of this study reveal the subsequent development of the deglaciated marine environment to exhibit a consistent time-transgressive foraminiferal assemblage succession across the core sites, delineated by three distinct foraminiferal zones. This allows us to further improve previous reconstructions of the deglacial-Holocene paleoenvironmental and paleoceanographic development of the shelf. It also highlights the sensitivity of benthic foraminifera towards the complex interaction between ice dynamics, ecological conditions, and oceanographic variability, proving their reliability and consistency as a proxy. Comparisons with other Arctic deglacial successions suggest the potential for identifying standard assemblages to recognize specific stages in a deglacial succession: Assemblages characterized by the species Stetsonia horvathi, Stainforthia concava, and Glomulina oculus appear as a reliable indicator of sub-ice shelf conditions following deglaciation, while stable higher salinity conditions often found during periods of influx of Atlantic-derived water is characterized by Cassidulina neoteretis, Cassidulina reniforme, and Islandiella norcrossi. High-productivity environments are advantageous for Melonis barleeanus, Stainforthia feylingi, and other eutrophic species, and these species thus make out a reliable standard for recognizing productive paleoenvironments often linked to ice edges or seasonal sea ice. Dissolution of calcareous taxa, and dominance of agglutinated taxa characterize cold, corrosive bottom water conditions and/or periods of brine formation.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2025.109407