Jarosław Welcel is one of the beneficiaries of the competition for funding student and PhD candidates mobility within the HarSval project. He received 8533 PLN funding for the research trip: Electrical resistivity research in an area of historic coal mining, Svalbard, Longyearbyen.

Enjoy reading his report below:

“From August 19 to 29, 2024, we took part in a research trip to Svalbard. As part of the expedition, electrical resistivity surveys were conducted at five locations: Longyearbyen, Endalen, Bjorndalen and Nybyen. We surveyed the tailings using the electrical resistivity method to, among other things, assess the condition of the soil in terms of contamination. The study showed a large impact of former coal mining on the presence of contaminants, especially pyritic sulfur and sulfates.
The goal of the research expedition was to detect soil contamination by post-mining precipitation using the ERT method in the Longyearbyen area. Conducted electrical resistivity tests, were conducted at several locations. At one of them, it was possible to demonstrate a clear correlation of the presence of contamination with former mining activities.
The results of the electrical resistivity survey provided interesting conclusions about the state of soil contamination in Longyearbyen. In coal mining regions, geological centers characterized by low resistivity can identify themselves with contaminated areas.
These results not only allowed me to expand my skills in operating new apparatus and conducting research in a new environment, but also highlight the persistence of the impact of mining activities on the Arctic environment. They also suggest the need for further research and monitoring. Longyearbyen. While a haven for nature lovers on the one hand, it is a testament to global environmental challenges on the other. Conducting further measurements is necessary to preserve the unique appearance of the Arctic environment.”