OS2.7 | Physical and biogeochemical hydrographic conditions and processes in fjords and coastal seas of Greenland
Physical and biogeochemical hydrographic conditions and processes in fjords and coastal seas of Greenland
Co-organized by BG4
Convener: Eugenio Ruiz-Castillo | Co-conveners: Josefa VerdugoECSECS, Laura Gillard, Johnna Holding

Impacts of climate change are converging in Greenland fjords. The Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) is the second-largest mass of fresh ice on Earth and has been accelerating in mass loss since the late 1990s. This ice loss is causing an increase in freshwater discharge to the ocean, and glacier retreat is inflicting morphological changes to fjords which alter circulation patterns. Fjords, glacially carved channels, are a gateway between the the fresh GrIS meltwater run-off and the oceanic waters of the Greenland shelf. Fjord bathymetric and hydrographic conditions are greatly variable and set unique dynamics and ecosystem functioning for each fjord system. In addition, other environmental changes such as sea ice loss, and freshening and warming of coastal waters have the potential to alter the physical, biogeochemical and biological processes in fjords and coastal seas. However, the remote location of fjords and harsh weather conditions make research around Greenland difficult resulting in many unknowns about the environment and dynamics in these locations. The objective of this session is to assess the state of art of the oceanographic conditions and processes occurring in fjords and seas of Greenland from a physical, biogeochemical, and biological perspective. We invite observational and model studies with the following topics to apply: glacier-ocean interface; freshwater runoff; marine-biogeochemistry; marine biology; heat/freshwater content and fluxes; and ocean water mass dynamics.

Impacts of climate change are converging in Greenland fjords. The Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) is the second-largest mass of fresh ice on Earth and has been accelerating in mass loss since the late 1990s. This ice loss is causing an increase in freshwater discharge to the ocean, and glacier retreat is inflicting morphological changes to fjords which alter circulation patterns. Fjords, glacially carved channels, are a gateway between the the fresh GrIS meltwater run-off and the oceanic waters of the Greenland shelf. Fjord bathymetric and hydrographic conditions are greatly variable and set unique dynamics and ecosystem functioning for each fjord system. In addition, other environmental changes such as sea ice loss, and freshening and warming of coastal waters have the potential to alter the physical, biogeochemical and biological processes in fjords and coastal seas. However, the remote location of fjords and harsh weather conditions make research around Greenland difficult resulting in many unknowns about the environment and dynamics in these locations. The objective of this session is to assess the state of art of the oceanographic conditions and processes occurring in fjords and seas of Greenland from a physical, biogeochemical, and biological perspective. We invite observational and model studies with the following topics to apply: glacier-ocean interface; freshwater runoff; marine-biogeochemistry; marine biology; heat/freshwater content and fluxes; and ocean water mass dynamics.