Synoptic description of site:

Fjord

Extensive description of site:

Kongsfjorden is located on the north-west coast of Svalbard. The fjord is approximately 25 m long and 5-10 km wide. At the head of the fjord is an active tidal glacier that causes marked environmental gradients in salinity, temperature and sedimentation rates, as well as bottom sediment composition. Kongsfjorden represents a border area between Atlantic and Arctic biogeographical zones. There is a wide range of habitats in the area and the bottom is very heterogenous, ranging from muds to boulders and rock substrates. Glacial deposits and drop-stones further increase habitat diversity.

Description of fauna and flora:

Above water, Kongsfjorden appears truly Arctic, with winter ice-cover in parts and resident populations of various ice-dependent marine mammals (seals, walrus and polar bears) and Arctic birds. However, because the water column is strongly influenced by Atlantic water masses, the benthic macrofauna contains a greater proportion of Atlantic than Arctic taxa. In the pelagic zone, there is a complex mix of Atlantic and Arctic organisms.

Pristiness: Moderate

Justification:

Kongsfjorden is subject to natural glacial stress in the inner parts, with more stable conditions in the outer parts. The fjord is representative of high-latitude fjord systems

Human impact:

The only settlement in Kongsfjorden is Ny Ålesund, which has an average of 40 residents. Coal mining was carried out there until 1962. Since then, the settlement has become a research facility. Rigorous waste management is carried out.

Facilities:

Kongsfjorden is accessible all year round by plane from Longyearbyen or by boat. There are fully equipped research facilities, run by Kings Bay AS, including laboratories, accommodation and catering.

Available database and website:

Norwegian data are stored by the University Courses on Svalbard, the University of Tromsø, the Norwegian Polar Institute and the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) and Akvaplan-niva. Databases also exist internationally (including Germany, Poland, UK and Russia).

Links:

• http://www.marbef.org/data/Questionnaires/Second_questionnaire_Cochrane_Kongsfjord.htm (Questionaire on the Site)
  

Commitment and ongoing research:

A wide range of European institutes conduct biodiversity research on Kongsfjorden. An agreed science plan exists between Norwegian and Polish institutes.

• Polar Environmental Centre; Akvaplan-niva; Biodiversity Group (Proposed the Biomare Site)
  • Cochrane,Sabine (Proposed the Biomare Site)