Full steam ahead at the Greenland Climate Research Centre Published 23.11.2010

75 scientists and technicians from 8 different countries have just completed a three-day annual meeting at the Greenland Climate Research Centre. A large amount of results of the first year’s efforts were presented and the oncoming years’ work was coordinated in detail. Overall, the many field investigations have been executed satisfactorily. A number of scientific publications, popular books, newspaper articles, etc. have already been published (see publications), and many more are underway. An important aim of the meeting was to allow scientists from different research disciplines to meet and listen to talks on each other’s work and plan future cross-disciplinary activities.

In a few years’ time, the collective research effort is to provide answers to key questions, such as: What controls Ice Sheet melt, how are Arctic ecosystems changing, and how does climate change affect living conditions for people in Arctic areas?

At the end of 2010, the Climate Research Centre will distribute further funds to support new research projects and will then be supporting a total of 25 different projects. Furthermore, the Centre has initiated a close collaboration with the University of Manitoba and ArcticNet in Canada as well as the Nordic top research initiative DEFROST. This collaboration provides a unique opportunity to combine and develop Canadian and European Arctic expertise under the Climate Research Centre.

The Greenland Climate Research Centre is led by Professor Søren Rysgaard and Vice-head of Centre, Professor Torben Røjle Christensen. In addition, Søren Rysgaard has been appointed Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Arctic Geomicrobiology and Climate Change at the University of Manitoba, Canada. Torben Røjle Christensen is a professor at Lund University in Sweden and coordinator of the DEFROST project.

The Climate Research Centre is physically located at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources in Nuuk, where a new building, sponsored by the Aage V. Jensen Charity Foundation, is currently being taken into use.