Dissolved organic matter (DOM) consists of a complex mixture of molecules generated from the degradation of living organisms. Surface waters of the Arctic Ocean (AO) have high concentrations of DOM and freshwater (FW) due to the massive supply from large rivers. Great part of it is exported to the Atlantic Ocean through the Fram Strait (FS).

Climate change is expected to increase riverine FW and terrestrial DOM supply, with consequences to the hydrological and carbon cycles. However, such changes remain poorly understood and CarbEx will contribute to rectifying this.

The three central goals are to:

• estimate the DOM and FW fluxes from the Arctic to the Atlantic Ocean through the FS,
• assess their variability, and
• develop an approach to assess the amount of both terrestrial DOM and FW, from optical measurements of DOM.

CarbEx also has a non-academic character and will provide the necessary foundation to develop new technologies to monitor the FW and carbon dynamics in the AO and aquaculture sites, i.e. in situ multi-channel fluorometers. This aligns with the host’s strategy to develop observational technology and Arctic research, and with the EU’s goal for the IF programme about stimulating the creative and innovative potential through advanced training and international and intersectoral mobility.

FUNDING: CarbEX has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No 839311.