Research topics

Research and monitoring in polar regions is an important part of understanding the global environmental changes and the effects that they will have. The Norwegian Polar Institute advises the Norwegian government in polar questions, and this knowledge contributes to better environmental protection in northern and polar regions. Better monitoring and understanding climate and environment will also enable Norway to administer its areas and resources in a better way. The Polar Institute's research also provide increased knowledge of the protected areas on Svalbard, which contribute to better management and protection of these vulnerable areas.

Biodiversity

The institute aims to provide research data that can be the basis for a sound management of polar regions and to increase the general knowledge of flora and fauna in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Geology

Institute research on areas where we lack knowledge about the geological conditions, and is responsible for geological mapping in the Norwegian polar areas.

Sea ice

The Arctic sea ice melts and becomes both thinner and cover a smaller area. Norwegian Polar Institute research on sea ice and snow, especially how the sea ice and snow affect and are affected by climate conditions.

Glaciers

We study the glacier mass and distribution, and how climate change affects them from year to year. Old ice from glaciers can also be used as a climate archive, and as indicators of the spread of pollutants.

Climate

Climate is what takes up most of the Norwegian Polar Institute researchers, since climate change affects most of the conditions in the polar regions. We research both past and present climate physical processes in the ocean, sea ice and land ice.

Marine ecosystems

A warmer Arctic is affecting wildlife and the marine environment. The Norwegian Polar Institute conducts scientific research on species particularly vulnerable to climate change, especially those that depend on ice for survival.

Pollutants

Our scientists gather knowledge about the causes and consequences of pollution in the European Arctic. The main focus is on persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which accumulates up the food chain.

Oceanography

We gather knowledge about the peculiarities of havforholdene in the Arctic Ocean, its role in climate and climate change, and how variations in sea level and changes in ocean climate may affect marine life.