Trial lecture and PhD defense for MSc Lukas Frank

Frank has been following the PhD programme at the University of Bergen, and is defending his doctoral thesis at UNIS 23 October 2025:

«From Shelf to Fjord to Atmosphere: Oceanic Heat Transport and Atmospheric Drivers of Oceanic Heat Loss in West Spitsbergen»

The doctoral thesis is available for public review here:

Public summary:

The Atlantic water flowing northward along Svalbard carries warmth all the way into the Arctic. The new doctoral thesis shows how wind plays a key role in how this heat is distributed between the ocean, fjords, and atmosphere. The study combines high-resolution ocean and atmospheric models to map how some of this warm Atlantic water flows from the West Spitsbergen Current onto the continental shelf west of Svalbard and further into Isfjorden. The heat in the water contributes to sea ice melt, affects local marine ecosystems, and alters local weather conditions when it is released into the atmosphere.

The research shows that local wind conditions are crucial both for the inflow of warm water into the fjords and for how heat is transferred from the sea to the atmosphere. In addition to the insulating effect of the fjord’s seasonal ice cover, heat exchange is influenced by topography and the transport of cold air from the surrounding land areas. The thesis emphasizes that the continental shelf, fjord, and atmosphere must be understood as a connected system. The distribution of Atlantic water from the ocean current off the west coast of Svalbard into fjords such as Isfjorden leads to a net heat loss from the water on its way toward the Arctic Ocean. Thus, local processes around Svalbard have significance for the entire Arctic.