Results from citizen science during the ISLAS2022 fieldwork
Citizen science during ISLAS2022 provides a broader context to local measurements
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Water is a resource of fundamental value for society, for example in enery production. However, forecasting where and when it rains or snows, and how much, is still very challenging. In the ISLAS project, we investigate how water moves through the atmosphere, from oceans to land. In order to determine the pathways and ultimately the origin of rain and snow falling in Norway, we make measurements of physical properties of water samples in the field and laboratory.
In spring 2022, ISLAS scientists arranged large field measurements in Northern Scandinavia. Based in Kiruna, Andøya and Ny Ålesund, we collected unique measurements from different instruments, including a research aircraft. However, our ability to take samples of surface snow was limited to the road connecting Andøya and Kiruna. Additional sampling would clearly help to obtain a more complete picture of snowfall events encountered during the campaign.
We therefore reached out to citizens in Tromsø using contacts at the University of Tromsø and the Polar Institute, asking voluntary participants to collect surface snow from different locations during the upcoming Easter vacations. In total 19 citizen scientists joined our efforts, picked up the necessary sampling equipment consisting of small sampling bags, glass vials and a spoon, and registered at the project website to receive updates and instructions.
Easter 2022 was warmer and milder than usual in Northern Norway. With up to 5 samples collected from each participant, we received in the end 71 water samples that we could analyse in the laboratory in Bergen. During the analysis, small amounts of the water were first turned into water vapour in a small oven, and then guided into a laser analyzer to measure the amount of stable water isotopes in the sample.
The 71 samples have been collected over a wide area of Northern Scandinavia (Figure 1). Most samples came from the vicinity of Tromsø. Some samples however were collected in Northern Finnmark, on the Lofoten archipelago, in Finland, and even down to Sunnmøre. It is clear from the large spatial distribution of samples that the citizen science activity was highly complementary to the sampling done by ISLAS scientists. In particular, the project scientists would never have been able to visit a similar range of sampling locations in such a short time, adding information on how representative their more local measurents are.
Figure 2: The range of values encountered in snow samples from citizen scientists is more limited, typical for coastal conditions
Most samples were collected in proximity to coastal regions. In comparison to the samples from ISLAS scientists, the water the airmasses had on yet travelled over the mountain range. The samples are therefore overall more similar to ocean water than the samples collected by ISLAS scientists further inland, and have less negative isotope values (Figure 2). The consistency among the citizen science samples is an indication that the sampling approach worked as we hoped. In subsequent work, we will use all measurements to draw maps and to compare with weather prediction models.
The ISLAS scientists would like to express their deep gratitude to all participants in the ISLAS2022 citizen science activity for their diligent work in collecting valuable scientific samples from remote locations. It would have been impossible for us to obtain a similar dataset without the help of all the citizen scientists.
Overview tables over all collected samples
Some samples were not returned, or could for various reasons not be analysed in the laboratory.
Samples 1-25
Samples 26-50
Samples 51-72