Project Information
Project name
E(ddies)GC
Project full name
Multifaceted Impacts of Eddy Activity on the East Greenland Current System
Disciplines (P08)
Atmosphere
(DS05)
Biological oceanography
(DS01)
Chemical oceanography
(DS02)
Cross-discipline
(DS06)
Cryosphere
(DS09)
Environment
(DS10)
Fisheries and aquaculture
(DS11)
Physical oceanography
(DS03)
Summary incl. objectives
The E(ddies)GC project investigates how mesoscale eddies influence the East Greenland Current (EGC) system between Denmark Strait and Fram Strait, a region of critical importance to the climate system that remains poorly studied. It examines the physical, biogeochemical, and ecological effects of eddies, including their impacts on the structure of the EGC system, volume transport, heat and salt fluxes, energy dissipation, nutrient cycling, the carbonate system, greenhouse gas exchange, and microplastic transport. The observational campaign ran from mid-July to late September and combined measurements from three research vessels, two ocean gliders, four SVP-B drifters, and one Argo float. A distinguishing feature of the campaign was its adaptive sampling strategy, which used near-real-time SWOT altimetry, sea-ice charts, satellite imagery, and model forecasts to direct observations toward the EGC and its interacting eddies and meandering fronts. Two VLIZ gliders, deployed from RV Kronprins Haakon in mid-July, operated for approximately six weeks. The core of the campaign was the Aquarius RI-funded cruise aboard RV Þórunn Þórðardóttir (25 August to 4 September), which comprised 85 CTD/LADCP stations, 35 XBT profiles, water sampling for 15 parameters (including dissolved gases, nutrients, chlorophyll, and eDNA), bio-optical and acoustic measurements, underway carbon and methane observations, and oceanic and atmospheric microplastic sampling. The field effort concluded with the deployment of an Argo float from RV Árni Friðriksson on 25 September.
Start Date
2026-08-25
End Date
2026-09-04
Lighthouse Region of interest
Atlantic-Artic
Keywords
Eddies, currents, Greenland sea, Greenland, Atlantic, North-Atlantic, western boundary currents, gliders, research vessel, ctd, rosette, seabird, teledyne, alseamar, ocean dynamics, East Greenland Current
Researchers
Andreas Macrander Marine and Freshwater Research Institute Augustin Lambotte Universite Catholique de Louvain, Department of Geography Chiara de Geeter Flanders Marine Institute Christophe Maier Flanders Marine Institute Coraline Leseurre Flanders Marine Institute Daniela Flocco University of Naples Federico II Eduard Scheiterer Flanders Marine Institute Elena Calvo Università degli Studi di Napoli 'Parthenope', Istituto di Meteorologia e Oceanografia Fernanda Carolina da Silva DTU Aqua, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark Fred Fourie Flanders Marine Institute Imke Sievers Danish Meteorological Institute, Oceanographic Section Jan Mirosław Darecki Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences Jeanett Hansen DTU Aqua, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark Laura Fortunato Università degli Studi di Napoli 'Parthenope', Istituto di Meteorologia e Oceanografia Leandro Ponsoni Flanders Marine Institute Maria Ursina Leimbacher DTU Aqua, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark Piotr Kowalczuk Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences Rita Cruz Novo Flanders Marine Institute Roeland Develter Flanders Marine Institute Wieter Boone Flanders Marine Institute Xiebe Stiers Flanders Marine Institute