Arctic Carbon Project
Augmentum is proud to announce a generous contribution to support the National Oceanography Centre’s (NOC) Arctic Carbon Project. This collaboration will advance vital research into carbon dynamics in the Arctic, a region critical to understanding climate change.
Through this partnership, Augmentum has committed funding over the next year, enabling scientists to conduct groundbreaking fieldwork. Additionally, Augmentum is providing access to the vessel MY AKULA, allowing researchers to gather essential data directly from Arctic waters.
The National Oceanography Centre is an independent, self-governing charitable organisation and a leading UK institution for ocean research, technology, and innovation. Operating from Southampton and Liverpool, with over 650 staff, NOC specialises in deep-sea and climate research, focusing on the ocean’s role in climate change, carbon storage, and marine ecosystems. It also develops and operates marine robotics and autonomous underwater vehicles for ocean exploration and manages research vessels such as RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook for global scientific expeditions.
Scheduled for August 2025, the Arctic Carbon Project will investigate the impact of glacial melt on Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) cycling and microbial biodiversity in Greenland’s Sermilik, Narsarsuaq, and Qaqortoq fjords.
As Arctic glaciers melt, they release DOC, which alters marine ecosystems and carbon flux. This study aims to characterise DOC sources, assess microbial biodiversity, and examine DOC’s role in fjord ecosystems.
Fieldwork will take place aboard MY AKULA, with sampling across marine- and land-terminating glacier fjords. Using CTD sensors, eDNA metabarcoding, fluorescence spectroscopy, and imaging systems, researchers will analyse DOC composition, microbial communities, and hydrographic conditions. Samples will be collected at various stations, from glacial termini to fjord mouths.
Findings will enhance scientific understanding of Arctic carbon cycling, microbial interactions, and climate impacts. The study will contribute to global research initiatives like Biopole and ReBELS, with results shared through open-access publications and reports. This research will also support policy development and improve predictions of Arctic ecosystem responses to climate change.
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