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Uncertain ground - post 1 | 27 July 2026 |
| What’s in a name. In this case the truth. The past days the frontrunners of the team from Wageningen University (Wieger Joustra and Juul Limpens) together with close collaborator Simone Lang from UNIS, have started fieldwork on this new exciting project. Uncertain ground focusses on the potential of arctic vegetation to stabilize steep slopes. We know some plant species manage this in the Alps – but what about the Arctic? Wieger Joustra will spend his PhD finding this out. | |
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North slope of Zeppeling Fjellet (left). Simone Lang searching for the perfect plot (right) Like any project we started out with searching the perfect plot. Which, of course we did not find. A day of intense discussions on slope and on line with Rúna Magnùsson, PI on the project fortunately lead to an acceptable alternative. We happily established 36 plots on 9 locations on the north slope of Zeppelin Fjellet, between the middle snow field and the cables of the cable cart. The advantage: a real slope and a beautiful view while watching bears. The disadvantage – well it is uncertain ground. | |
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On bear watch (left) and uphill struggle transporting equipment (right) Then the real work started with getting drilling equipment up the slope to make holes in the plots for establishing sensors that will record temperature and soil moisture through time at different depths. This will enable us to explore how the temperature profiles change in relation to vegetation composition and cover. Keeping soils moist and cool both help in keeping slopes stable. A lot still needs to be done after establishing the sensors. We will record the vegetation composition and then start with removing certain species to be able to further narrow down differential insulative effects between for example polar willow (Salix polaris) and mat forming mosses such as Sanionia unciata. More news will follow later! Wieger hammering in a 90 cm deep hole with a pilot rod, with Juul lending a hand Juul, Simone & Wieger |
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