Coldregionscience is a website describing my research in the High Arctic and Antarctica. Focus is given here to the influence of changing climate on hydrology, biogeochemistry and microbial activity in snow and ice.
DR AGA NOWAK
I am an environmental scientist specialising in hydrology and biogeochemistry of Polar Regions. My research focuses on investigation of short- as well as long-term effects of climate change on the terrestrial and marine ecosystems in the Arctic and Antarctica. Read more..
Currently, I have a split position at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS).
Therefore, I am the researcher on the BIOICE project, where we investigate Blue Ice Oases of microbial life on the Antarctic Ice Sheet.
I am also an Adjunct Associate Professor in Glacial Hydrology.
As in research, I am passionate about teaching, as I believe students are our future. Thus, I always strive to provide the highest quality of learning environment for my students using inquiry-based learning. Read more..
EVENTS
Travel to ANTARCTICA
Interview for RAI TV TG3 where I had a chance to talk about changing climate in Svalbard that is influencing hydrology, glaciers and the local community
LATEST RESEARCH
Carbon dynamics in the High Arctic catchments
In the past decade, glaciers have been recognised as biomes able to host a complex microbial ecosystem. Studies are beginning to show that autotrophic and heterotrophic communities living on ice surfaces contribute to the global C cycle by utilization and simultaneous production of CO2 and organic carbon (OC).
The role of Antarctic snowpack in global carbon cycle
Predictions of climate change draw increasing scientific attention to the fertilisation potential of the Antarctic Peninsula for the Southern Ocean and consequently global ecosystems. Although the scientific community is becoming aware of a marked heterogeneity in the chemical signature of meltwaters and the snowpack across Antarctica, we are still estimating nutrient fluxes from the Antarctic continent based on..
Consultancy: Water supply to Longyearbyen
Longyearbyen is a growing Arctic community whose water supply is directly dependent upon a sensitive and to a large degree, climatically controlled resource: glacial and snow meltwater. The implementation of a new monitoring programme in the Isdammen watershed is essential for future water supply planning due to the pressures imposed by a growing, transient population, climate change and the influences of coal mining and glacial sediment transfer upon water quality.
LATEST PUBLICATIONS
2019 Hodson A, Nowak A., Holmlund E.S., Redeker K., Turchyn AV., Christansen H. Seasonal Dynamics of Methane and Carbon Dioxide Evasion From an Open System Pingo: Lagoon Pingo, Svalbard. Frontiers in Earth Science: DOI: 10.3389/feart.2019.00030
2018 Nowak A., Hodson A., Turchyn AV. Spatial and temporal dynamics of dissolved organic carbon, chlorophyll, nutrients and trance metals in maritime Antarctic snow and snowmelt. Frontiers in Earth Science, 6: DOI: /10.3389/feart.2018.00201
2017 Hodson A., Nowak A., Cook J., Sabacka M., Wharfe E., Pearce D.A., Convey P., Vieira G. Microbes influence the biogeochemical and optical properties of maritime Antarctic snow. Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeosciences: DOI: 10.1002/2016JG003694