VATNAJÖKULL

Crossing iceland's largest glacier

We teamed up with Tommaso Fusco, a biologist from the university of Padua, to study the Vatnajökull. Before we even reached the glacier, we began by collecting data from the meltwater lakes on the north side.

On the glacier we started our crossing at Skalafellsjökull with the plan to head northwest to sample the Hveragil geothermal area. We got within 10km of the hot springs, but the weather turned. Heavy snow made it impossible to reach Hveragil, so we had to pull the plug on that site. Instead, we shifted our focus to the Grímsvötn area. During the whole expedition, we successfully collected 35 eDNA samples, 30 samples for whole-genome sequencing, and 9 bacterial cultures.

Research Field

  • biodiversity monitoring
  • location-dependent biodiversity gradient
  • anti-contamination protocol testing
  • phylogenetic analysis of bacterial communities

Year

  • 2025
"A scientist uses a syringe to filter bacterial samples from meltwater
Tommaso Fusco uses a syringe to filter bacterial samples from meltwater

This study aims to investigate bacterial survival and adaptation in extreme environments through the analysis of ice and geothermal samples from the Vatnajökull glacier. Specifically, we seek to assess the impact of climate change on microbial life and explore the potential discovery of novel microalgae species. The collected samples will be analyzed by a team of microbiologists from the University of Padua.

Researchers collecting water samples with a mountain range in the background.
A men next to two sleds
A drone shot an expedition across an icefield
Snow Wall with base camp infront of it
Don’t let the scenery fool you, the weather changed so quickly that we were forced to build a snow wall almost every night for protection.
Two people with head lamps over a map

Planning a scientific research expedition on Vatnajökull in winter requires careful preparation and attention to detail. Winter conditions on the glacier are harsh, with cold temperatures, limited daylight and the risk of hidden crevasses, making thorough safety planning critical. Logistics must account for remote access, transport of scientific equipment, and reliable communication systems. Specialized gear, including cold-weather clothing, glacier safety equipment, and scientific instruments, is necessary for both research and survival. Planning, realistic budgeting, team training, and close coordination with local transport support ensure both safety and success.

two men infront of a snow wall
Two men skiing towards a mountain covered with snow

The main sampling technique involved filtering liquid water using a Sterivex filter coupled with a manual syringe. To obtain liquid water for filtration in areas where surface meltwater was unavailable, a specific melting protocol was developed to balance fieldwork speed with eDNA preservation. To preserve environmental DNA integrity and trade off with time, the melting process was conducted at 20 °C. Following collection, a strategy was adopted to prevent the filters from being contaminated and compromised by humidity.

Scientists collecting samples
At the core of the Grímsvötn crater, Jan Rasmussen and Tommaso Fusco worked to isolate a unique biological entity.
Man in orange working across a mountain
Vulcano earth closeup

During the whole icecap traverse, and especially around the Grímsvötn volcano area, every suspected biological entity (such as vegetation, algal blooms, microbial films, and bird droppings) was sampled and dried for subsequent DNA sequencing. The decision to conduct sampling in April, primarily driven by a safety-focused risk assessment, limited the likelihood of algal blooms and surface microbial activity encounters, but reduced the risks of falling into crevasses during the samplings, so the tradeoff was positive.

Aurora Borealis

A huge thanks to Helly Hansen, Fortis Watches, and Nitecore for supporting us on this project!

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