Rolf Birger Svarstad Pedersen

Rolf Birger Svarstad Pedersen is a Professor in the Department of Earth Science at the University of Bergen, affiliated with the Centre for Deep Sea Research. His research focuses on seafloor spreading, hydrothermal systems, deep-sea geobiology, and CO2 storage in oceanic lithosphere. He has organized international expeditions to study ultraslow-spreading ridges and Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridges (AMOR), collaborating with marine technology institutions to develop robotics and sampling tools.

Key research areas include volcanic crust formation, water-rock-microbe interactions, and CO2 sequestration. Notable projects include the 'GoNorth' initiative exploring Arctic Ocean geology and the 'H2DEEP' project investigating hydrogen-based deep biospheres. Pedersen has also contributed to studies on caprock integrity for CO2 storage and microbial communities in hydrothermal vent fields like Loki’s Castle.

His work spans over 40 years, with contributions to volcanic hazard modeling (e.g., Jan Mayen eruptions), sediment provenance analysis, and geochemical investigations of oceanic crust alteration. Collaborations include institutions like the Centre for Geobiology (FME-SUCCESS) and NORMAR facility for deep-sea exploration.

Publications emphasize Arctic hydrothermal systems, mineral deposits, and environmental impacts of sub-seafloor CO2 leakage. His research integrates geology, microbiology, and engineering to address challenges in deep-sea exploration and climate mitigation strategies.