Freshwater is a key player in our climate system and small changes in the freshwater budget of the oceans can potentially induce large changes in our climate. This is because freshwater is lighter than seawater and it can dramatically increase the ocean’s vertical stability and contribute to sea-ice formation. Changes in the freshwater flowing into the North Atlantic have been identified as one of the potential triggers for changes in the overturning circulation and in the poleward heat transport.

Research by our group focuses on:

• Hudson Strait – a major contributor of freshwater to the subpolar North Atlantic
• Discharge of freshwater from Greenland in the form of glacial melt, icebergs and runoff
• Transport of freshwater in SE Greenland