Sebastian H. Mernild

Dr. Sebastian H. Mernild
IPY Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Dr. Sebastian H. Mernild

Contact Information:
Dr. Sebastian Mernild
Water and Environmental Research Center
Institute of Northern Engineering
University of Alaska Fairbanks
P.O. Box 755860
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-5860

Phone: 907-474-2783
Fax: 907-474-7979
Office: 485 Duckering
E-mail Dr. Mernild

Research Interests:

The effect on Climate Change now and in the future on: the Greenland Ice Sheet, local glaciers in Greenland and Alaska, Arctic snow distribution, and Arctic freshwater runoff from land to the ocean in light of global sea level change. Glacier and snow modeling (SnowModel), and freshwater runoff modeling (MIKE SHE, MIKE11, and NAM).

Ongoing external financed research projects:

2006-2009: Snow, glacier, and freshwater runoff modeling from Greenland and Alaska in the light of Climate Change.

I intend to contribute to the present understanding of the environmental status of circumpolar regions, emphasizing the entire Greenland icesheet (East and West Greenland), glacier watersheds located between the sheet and the coast (East and West Greenland), and for complementary watersheds in southeast, western and northern Alaska and in Russia. Through field research and modeling analyses, I will quantify their spatial and temporal variability in snow cover, snow and glacier melt, water balance components including freshwater runoff to the Arctic Oceans, to better understand hydrological-cryospheric processes in the Arctic. I am particularly interested in quantifying the changes in freshwater flux from ice and snow (ephemeral and prolonged) dominated basins over the past century and projecting changes over the next century. On East Greenland the Sermilik and Zackenberg Catchments will be the key-places, and on West Greenland an almost new started field station near Nuuk will be one of the key-places.

Modeling activities will be conducted both at the small scale in support of process studies, and at the intermediate and lager scale; from hydraulic flow processes in snow and ice to basin output freshwater fluxes, both for small catchments and large catchments. An upscale of previously developed snow and melt models, and hydrological models for Sermilik (SE Greenland) and Zackenberg (NE Greenland) to ungauged basins on E Greenland and W Greenland will be conducted to estimate and to give a better understanding of the variation in hydrological-cryospheric processes e.g.: 1) freshwater runoff/fluxes from snow and glacier melt; and 2) from precipitation events. Snow models and runoff models will also be established for catchments in Alaska to estimate spatial and temporal variation in hydrological-cryospheric processes and fluxes, which will be compared with results from Greenland. Furthermore, the goal is to quantify, and understand, past and present environmental change in hydrological fluxes: evaporation, sublimation, runoff, and storage in the Polar Regions (Greenland and Alaska) in order to improve predictions. Hydrological-cryospheric processes and fluxes will be quantified based on data from the Danish Met Institute (station data), ASIAQ (station data) and the NCEP North American Regional Reanalysis data (grid data) for the period 1970-2005, and by the IPCC climate scenarios A2 and B2 modeled in HIRHAM RCM for the periods: 1961-1990 and 2071-2100.

Scientific Articles & Dissertations: Published, accepted and in press:

2008

Mernild, S. H., Liston, G. E., Hiemstra, C. A., and Steffen, K. (2008): Surface Melt Area and Water Balance Modeling on the Greenland Ice Sheet 1995–2005. In Press Journal of Hydrometeorology.

Mernild, S. H., Liston, G. E., and Hasholt, B. (2008): East Greenland freshwater runoff to the North Atlantic Ocean 1999–2004 and 2071–2100. Hydrological Processes. DOI: 10.1002/hyp.7061.

Mernild, S. H., Hasholt, B., and Liston, G. (2008): Climatic control on river discharge simulations, Zackenberg River Drainage basin, NE Greenland. Hydrological Processes, 22: 1932–1948. DOI: 10.1002/hyp.6777.

Mernild, S. H., Kane, D. L., Hansen, B. U., Jakobsen, B. H., Hasholt, B., and Knudsen, N. T. (2008). Climate, glacier mass balance, and runoff (1993–2005) Mittivakkat Glacier catchment, Ammassalik Island, SE Greenland, and in a long term perspective (1898–1993). In Press Hydrology Research.

Mernild, S. H., Hasholt, B., Jakobsen, B. H., and Hansen, B. U. (2008): Climatic conditions at the Mittivakkat Glacier catchment (1994–2006), Ammassalik Island, SE Greenland, and in a 109 years term perspective (1898–2006). Danish Journal of Geography, 108(1): 51–72.

Mernild, S. H., Liston, G. E., Kane, D. L., Hasholt, B., and Knudsen, N. T. (2008): Spatial snow distribution, runoff, and mass balance modelling for entire Mittivakkat Glacier (1998–2006), Ammassalik Island, SE Greenland. Danish Journal of Geography, 108(1): 121–136.

Mernild, S. H., Hasholt, B., Hansen, B. U., and Jakobsen, B. H. (2008): Meteorological observations 2006 at the Sermilik Station, Ammassalik Island, Southeast Greenland. Danish Journal of Geography, 108(1): 153–161.

Hasholt, B., and Mernild, S. H. (2008): Hydrology, sediment transport, and water resources of Ammassalik Island, SE Greenland. Danish Journal of Geography, 108(1): 73–95.

Hasholt, B., Mernild, S. H., Sigsgaard, C., Elberling, B., Petersen, D., Jakobsen, B. H., Hansen, B. U., Hinkler, J. and Søgaard, H. (2008): Hydrology and Transport of Sediment and Solutes at Zackenberg. In High-Arctic Ecosystem Dynamics in a Changing Climate: Ten years of monitoring and research at Zackenberg Research Station, Northeast Greenland. (eds) Meltofte H., Christensen, T. R., Elberling, B., Forchhammer, M. C.& Rasch, M. Hydrology and Transport of Sediment and Solutes at Zackenberg. Advances in Ecological Research, 40: 111–149.

Hansen, B. U., Sigsgaard, C., Hinkler, J., Mernild, S. H., Petersen, D., Rasch, M., Tamstorf, M. P., Hasholt, B., Rasmussen, L. and Cappelen, J. (2008): Present day climate at Zackenberg. In High-Arctic Ecosystem Dynamics in a Changing Climate: Ten years of monitoring and research at Zackenberg Research Station, Northeast Greenland. (eds) Meltofte H., Christensen, T. R., Elberling, B., Forchhammer, M. C.& Rasch, M. Hydrology and Transport of Sediment and Solutes at Zackenberg. Advances in Ecological Research, 40: 197–221.

Mernild, S. H. (2008) Indlandsisen sveder. Aktuel Naturvidenskab, 2: 13–16.

Mernild, S. H. (2008): Climate changes in the Arctic. Greenland Today, 1: 79–85.

Mernild, S. H. (2008): Menneskelig klimakontrol. Chronicle in Danish newspaper 'JyllandsPosten', 28 May.

Mernild, S. H. (2008): Den simple klimaløsning findes ikke. Chronicle in Danish newspaper 'JyllandsPosten', 17 March.

Mernild, S. H. (2008): Tag de store briller på i klimadebatten. Chronicle in Danish newspaper 'Fyens Stiftstidende', 12 February.

Mernild, S. H. (2008): Klimaforandring gør nordpolsolie hot. Chronicle in Danish newspaper 'JyskeVestkysten', 20 January.

2007

Mernild, S. H., Liston, G. E., and Hasholt, B. (2007): Snow-distribution and melt modeling for glaciers in Zackenberg River drainage basin, NE Greenland. Hydrological Processes. 21: 3249–3263. DOI: 10.1002/hyp.6500.

Mernild, S.H., Sigsgaard, C. Rasc,h, M., Hasholt, B., Hansen, B.U. Stjernholm, M. and Petersen, D. (2007): Climate, river discharge and suspended sediment transport in the Zackenberg River Drainage Basin and Young Sund/Tyrolerfjord, Northeast Greenland, 1995-2003. In Rysgaard, S.& Glud, R. N. (Eds.), Carbon cycling in Arctic Marine ecosystems: Case study Young Sound, Meddr. om Grønland, BioScience 58: 24–43.

Mernild, S. H., Hasholt, B., Hansen, B. U. and Knudsen, N. T. (2007): Climate, glacier mass balance, and freshwater runoff 1993-2005, and in a 106 years perspective, Mittivakkat Glacier catchment, Ammassalik Island, SE Greenland. Proceedings, 16th International Northern Research Basins Symposium and Workshop, pp. 90–109.

Mernild, S. H., Hasholt, B., Hansen, B. U., and Jakobsen, B. H. (2007): Meteorological observations 2005 at the Sermilik Station, Ammassalik Island, Southeast Greenland. Danish Journal of Geography, 108(1): 59–67.

Mernild, S.H. (2007): Freshwater runoff from Eastern Greenland 1997–2005 and 2071–2100. The 7th International Conference on Global Change: Connection to the Arctic (GCCA-7), 19–20 February 2007, Fairbanks, Alaska: 20–25.

Hasholt, B., & Mernild, S. H. Jøkelløb – et voldsomt naturfænomen. Aktuel Naturvidenskab, nr. 6, 8–11.

Mernild, S. H. (2007): Fred Nordpolen som arktisk laboratorium. Chronicle in Danish newspaper 'JyllandsPosten', 7 September.

Mernild, S. H. (2007): Varmere og vådere. Chronicle in Danish newspaper 'Fyens Stiftstidende', 29 October.

Mernild, S. H. (2007): Klimaet har brug for politisk handling. Chronicle in Danish newspaper 'JyllandsPosten', 5 November.

2006

Mernild, S. H., Liston, G. E., Hasholt, B. & Knudsen, N. T. (2006): Snow distribution and melt modeling for Mittivakkat Glacier, Ammassalik Island, SE Greenland. Journal of Hydrometeorology, 7: 808–824.

Mernild, S. H. & Hasholt, B. (2006): Climatic control on river discharge simulations, Mittivakkat Glacier catchment, Ammassalik Island, SE Greenland. Nordic Hydrology, 37(4–5): 327–346.

Hasholt, B., Bobrovitskaya, N., Bogen, J., McNamara, J., Mernild, S. H., Milbourn, D. and Walling, D. E. (2006): Sediment transport to the Arctic Ocean and adjoining cold oceans. Nordic Hydrology, 37(4-5): 413–432.

Mernild, S. H. (2006): Freshwater discharge from the coastal area outside the Greenland Ice Sheet, East Greenland, - With focus on Mittivakkat, Ammassalik Island (low Arctic) and Zackenberg (High Arctic). PhD dissertation. Institute of Geography, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, pp. 394.

Mernild, S. H., Hasholt, B. & Liston, G.E. (2006): Water flow through Mittivakkat Glacier, Ammassalik Island, SE Greenland. Danish Journal of Geography, 106(1): 25–43.

Mernild, S. H. (2006): The internal drainage system of the lower Mittivakkat Glacier, Ammassalik Island, SE Greenland. Danish Journal of Geography, 106(1): 13–24.

Hasholt, B. and Mernild, S. H. (2006): Glacial erosion and sediment transport in the Mittivakkat Glacier catchment, Ammassalik island, southeast Greenland, 2005. Sediment Dynamics and the Hydromorphology of Fluvial Systems (Proceedings of a symposium held in Dundee, UK. July

2006) IAHS Publ. 306, pp 45–55.

2005

Mernild, S. H. and Hasholt, B. (2005): Climatic control on river discharge simulations from the Mittivakkat Glacier catchment, Ammassalik Island, SE Greenland. Proceedings, 15th International Northern Research Basins Symposium and Workshop, Luleå to Kvikkjokk, Sweden, 29 Aug. - 2 Sept. 2005, pp 141–164.

Mernild, S. H., Hasholt, B., and Hansen, B. U. (2005): Meteorological observations 2003 at the Sermilik Station, Ammassalik Island, Southeast Greenland. Danish Journal of Geography, 105(2): 49–56.

2004

Hasholt, B., and Mernild, S. H. (2004): Estimation of water balance in and around the Mittivakkat Glacier basin, Ammassalok Island, southeast Greenland pp 129–142 in: Northern Research Basins Water Balance, Edited by Douglas L. Kane & Daqing Yang. - Wallingford, UK. IAHS (IAHS publications, no. 290) - ISBN 1-901502-82-1.

Hasholt, B., Hansen, B. U., Humlum, O. and Mernild, S. H. (2004): Meteorological stations at the Sermilik Station, southeast Greenland – physical environment and meteorological observations 2002. Danish Journal of Geography, 104(2): 47–58.

Balstrøm, T., Mernild, S. H. and Hasholt, B. (2004): Linear referencing to assist the classification of Danish river systems. Proceedings, 19th European & Scandinavian Conference for ESRI Users, 9 p.

Mernild, S. H. and Hasholt, B. (2004): Naturlig vandløbsudvikling i tre geomorfologiske landskabstyper. Vand & Jord, nr.4, 137–142.

2003

Mernild, S. H. and Hasholt, B. (2003): A test of classification and regionalisation of Danish watercourses. Danish Journal of Geography, 103(2): 13–25.

Mernild, S. H. (2003): Hydrological modeling at Sermilik and Zackenberg, Eastern Greenland. Campbell Scientific News, December, 6–7.

Mernild, S. H. (2003): Hydrologisk-morfologisk klassifikation. Vand & Jord, nr. 3, 117–118.

Mernild, S. H. and Hasholt, B. (2003): Klassifikation af vandløb og ådale. Vand & Jord, nr. 1, 21–23.

2002

Mernild, S. H. (2002): Hydrological and morphological classification of watercourses and watersystems - used in water resources management. Pub. Prize dissertation in Geography 2001 at The University of Copenhagen.[Awarded with The University of Copenhagen Silver Medal], pp. 194.

2001

Mernild, S. H. (2001): Regime theory and river classification – a temporal and a spatial analysis of natural rivers in Denmark. Unpub. master thesis, Institute of Geography, University of Copenhagen.

Mernild, S. H. and Hasholt, B. (2001): Vandløbsdimensioner og regimeformler. Vand og Jord, nr. 3, 106–110.

In review

Mernild, S. H., Liston, G. E., Hiemstra, C. A., Steffen, K., Hanna, E. and Christensen, J. H. (in review): Greenland Ice Sheet surface mass-balance modeling and freshwater flux for 2007, and in a 1995–2007 perspective. Hydrological Processes.

Mernild, S. H., Hasholt, B., Kane, D. L., and Tidwell, A. C. (in review): Recorded Jøkulhlaup at Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland, August 2007. EOS.

Mernild, S. H., Liston, G. E., Hiemstra, C. A., and Steffen, K. (in review): Record 2007 Greenland Ice Sheet surface melt-extent and runoff. EOS.

In prep.

Mernild, S. H. and Liston, G. E. (in prep.) The influence of air temperature inversion on snow melt and glacier surface mass-balance simulations, SW Ammassalik Island, SE Greenland.

Mernild, S. H. (in prep.) Runoff and mass balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet: 1950–2080.

Mernild, S. H. (in prep.): Spatial and temporal analysis of changes in local glacier mass and distribution on East Greenland based on satellite images, 1995–2007.

Mernild, S. H., Hasholt, B., Hansen, B. U., and Jakobsen, B. H. (in prep): Meteorological observations 2007 at the Sermilik Station, Ammassalik Island, Southeast Greenland. Danish Journal of Geography.

Mernild, S. H., Greve, R., and Liston G. E. (in prep): Freshwater flux modeled by SnowModel and SICOPOLIS.

Mernild, S. H. (in prep) Indlandsisens dynamik for perioden 2000-2080. Aktuel Naturvidenskab.

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