Doctoral student Linnea Henriksson studies methane in the coastal ocean
Linnea Henriksson is a new doctoral student at the Department of Marine Sciences. She will study the carbon cycle in coastal ocean, with a main focus on methane in different aquatic ecosystems in the same place where she did both her master’s project and internship - in Isaac Santos' research group.
What will you work on here?
"I will study the carbon cycle in coastal seas, with a main focus on methane in different aquatic ecosystems. Although many ecosystems have traditionally been considered carbon sinks, their ability to emit methane has been questioned recently, which would reduce their trusted sink. So quantifying and understanding what affects these greenhouse gas fluxes is timely and necessary to try to mitigate climate change. Among other things, I will look at how much groundwater contributes to methane fluxes in these ecosystems. With my supervisor Isaac Santos and the research group he has built, there are many chances to conduct extensive field operations to draw more general conclusions."
What did you do before?
"I completed both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Department of Marine Sciences. In my master's thesis I focused on seasonal variations of methane emissions from seagrass meadows to the atmosphere. The goal was to investigate whether methane emissions varied over the year, which variables affected the amount of methane, and how this affected the total carbon sink. I also had the opportunity to carry out similar series of measurements both in Iceland and Tanzania, as well as a comprehensive spatial survey in the Baltic Sea. The experience I have gained and the large amount of data I have collected will be valuable to me during my doctoral studies."
What do you do when you are not working?
"In my free time, like most of us, I like to enjoy nature through hiking and taking a nice swim. I also find joy in being creative through crafts and games. But best of all is sharing good food and good times with friends and family."
Anything else you want to share?
"When I started thinking about doing a PhD, most people said that the most important thing is the people around you. The fact that both my master's project and my internship were with the same research group that I will work with now, gives me both security and strength. In addition, I am extremely curious about where the future will lead me."
