(by cortomaltese)

(by cortomaltese)

Greenland. 

reflections on the arctic sea by wili_hybrid

Posted by: Chris Debicki, expedition leader 

Thick fog rolled in on Thursday afternoon, halting our progress once we’d completed our CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) studies in the Upernavik Icefjord. That made travel unsafe and we pulled into a small, protected cove for the night. 

The weather made it too risky to try to dodge the usual hazards of icebergs and sea ice. We’ve also discovered that charts in this region are missing critical information. Huge areas have not been sounded and many of the depth readings on our nautical charts are not accurate. This is a mountainous region of sharp cliffs and the sea bottom is similarly rugged. Shallow water appears without warning. 

After 24 hours of work, this break afforded Knut and I some time to seriously discuss the most recent ice reports. The reports do not look good. Melville Bay is not opening up in the way we had hoped. This year may turn out to be the “worst” ice year in a decade in this region. I put “worst” in quotations because it is obviously silly to attach a negative judgment to sea ice. This is the same ice cover that acts as one of the world’s most important cooling systems. That’s because sea ice, with its white surface, reflects much more of the sun’s radiation than does open water. 

The ice also protects migrating whales. Ninety percent ice cover is no obstacle to these marine mammals. What will happen to bowhead and narwhal migration patterns if the icescape continues to change so dramatically? What kind of industries will move in if these regions become accessible? What measures to protect this ecosystem will be in place before this happens? 

Even though there has been a pronounced decline in sea ice extent in this part of the Arctic over the last decade, we knew that climate modeling experts still predict great variability form year to year. This is turning out to be one of those years.  

Our experience with heavier than average sea ice –- at least for recent years — may also serve as a reminder that increased commercial activity in the Arctic must take into account these extreme shifts in ice conditions. That’s essential to lower the risk of accidents in an area without the infrastructure to respond.  

Fortunately, we planned for the possibility of insurmountable ice obstacles. We have plenty of work to do in this northwestern region of Greenland. Over the next few days, we are consulting with locals in the small communities between Upervanik and Melville Bay to learn more about ice conditions and the whale migrations that pass through.

reflections on the arctic sea by wili_hybrid

reflections on the arctic sea by wili_hybrid

(by alessandra meniconzi)

Greenland.

“© by Alessandra Meniconzi” 

Greenland

reflections on the arctic sea by wili_hybrid

Tasermiut Fjord, Greenland

Tasermiut Fjord, Greenland

Greenland (by ulla*)

Greenland (by ulla*)

Photo

Posted by: Chris Debicki, expedition leader 

Thick fog rolled in on Thursday afternoon, halting our progress once we’d completed our CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) studies in the Upernavik Icefjord. That made travel unsafe and we pulled into a small, protected cove for the night. 

The weather made it too risky to try to dodge the usual hazards of icebergs and sea ice. We’ve also discovered that charts in this region are missing critical information. Huge areas have not been sounded and many of the depth readings on our nautical charts are not accurate. This is a mountainous region of sharp cliffs and the sea bottom is similarly rugged. Shallow water appears without warning. 

After 24 hours of work, this break afforded Knut and I some time to seriously discuss the most recent ice reports. The reports do not look good. Melville Bay is not opening up in the way we had hoped. This year may turn out to be the “worst” ice year in a decade in this region. I put “worst” in quotations because it is obviously silly to attach a negative judgment to sea ice. This is the same ice cover that acts as one of the world’s most important cooling systems. That’s because sea ice, with its white surface, reflects much more of the sun’s radiation than does open water. 

The ice also protects migrating whales. Ninety percent ice cover is no obstacle to these marine mammals. What will happen to bowhead and narwhal migration patterns if the icescape continues to change so dramatically? What kind of industries will move in if these regions become accessible? What measures to protect this ecosystem will be in place before this happens? 

Even though there has been a pronounced decline in sea ice extent in this part of the Arctic over the last decade, we knew that climate modeling experts still predict great variability form year to year. This is turning out to be one of those years.  

Our experience with heavier than average sea ice –- at least for recent years — may also serve as a reminder that increased commercial activity in the Arctic must take into account these extreme shifts in ice conditions. That’s essential to lower the risk of accidents in an area without the infrastructure to respond.  

Fortunately, we planned for the possibility of insurmountable ice obstacles. We have plenty of work to do in this northwestern region of Greenland. Over the next few days, we are consulting with locals in the small communities between Upervanik and Melville Bay to learn more about ice conditions and the whale migrations that pass through.

(by adavies)

(by explorerscorner)

Greenland. 

(by adavies)

Greenland. 

“Jason Box’s (Ohio State University / Byrd Polar Research Center) research has shown that surface melt water production on the Greenland ice sheet has increased by 30 percent over the last 17 years.”

(by Siggidóri)

(by Siggidóri)

Greenland. 

Greenland (by HarveNYC)

Greenland (by HarveNYC)

Mark 11:23

“For two weeks during the summer of 2010, I traveled through the high arctic aboard a Russian icebreaker — primarily up the eastern coast of Ellesmere Island in Canada and then down the western coast of northern Greenland. This is an iceberg floating near Etah, Greenland. The sunset lasted for several hours, as the sun skimmed just slightly below the horizon.”

Ben H. 

Mark 11:23

(by elosoenpersona)

Even the money is green! (jk, it’s Danish Kroner and the bills I have are green, orange, and purple). They also spell “two” as “to” which is concerning to me, know your “two,” “too,” and “to!”

(by destination arctic circle)

Greenland. 

(by elosoenpersona)

Greenland. 

(by explorerscorner)

Whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says.

Mark 11:23

(by explorerscorner)

Greenland. 

_Zinni_

Uummannaq, North Greenland by _Zinni_ on Flickr.

one day….

(by adour garonne)

Greenland. 

_Zinni_

(by Andrew R Wilson)

(by Andrew R Wilson)

Greenland. 

Valley of the Flowers hike-Greenland by christine zenino on...

(by Siggidóri)

Greenland. 

Greenland

Valley of the Flowers hike-Greenland by christine zenino on Flickr.

Over the Greenland Coast by Peter S…. on Flickr.

Icebergs, near Ilulissat, Disco Bay, Greenland (by _Zinni_)

Ilulisat, Vestgronland, Greenland

Greenland 2007 by Mark Lukoyanichev on Flickr.

Rap Group Prussic from Greenland.

Posted by: Kristin Westdal, marine biologist

We arrived in Qeqertarsuaq from Ilulissat at 7:30 am this morning. We had beautiful weather for travelling last night, making the 12-hour crossing a pleasure for those sleeping — and those working the night shift. I had forgotten how comforting the gentle rocking of a boat can be!

Qeqertarsuaq is a quaint fishing village on Disko Island. It’s much smaller than Ilulissat but just as welcoming. Outi Tervo, a Finnish marine biologist and the final member of our expedition team, was at the dock to greet us when we arrived. The Arctic Endeavour had to pull in three boats away from the pier so we have to carefully pick our way up, over and through the crab fishing boats of various sizes to reach the dock.

We met as a full team for the first time this morning and are now ready to plan the scientific work for the coming week. Outi and I will spend this afternoon running through our combined acoustic equipment before the whole crew heads to Outi’s home in town for a much anticipated home cooked meal of Arctic Char and stuffed peppers.

Flying over Greenland on my way to Frankfurt.

History V, King Oscar Fjord, Greenland | photo by Alistair Knock

Over the Greenland Coast by Peter S…. on Flickr.

(by adour garonne)

(by _Zinni_ )

Kulusuk, Kulusuk Island, East Greenland (par _Zinni_)

Tasiilaq, Ammassalik Island, East Greenland (par _Zinni_)

Tasiilaq, Ammassalik Island, East Greenland (par _Zinni_)

Ice canyon in Greenland. Beautiful shape, stunning colors - amazing Earth! :)

(I think this photo is from National Geographic but I can’t remember for certain.)

Q. What if communism was built in Greenland?”

A. First snow would become available only through ration cards, and later snow would be distributed only to the KGB officers and their families.

Nature sculpture (by adour garonne)

02-15master by Christian Helweg on Flickr.

Kulusuk, Kulusuk Island, East Greenland by _Zinni_ on Flickr.

(by adour garonne)

Ice Flutes II - RØdefjord, Scoresbysund, Greenland |...

Melting Icescape (by Ben H.)

(by J Nielson)

Greenland

(by Intova)

Greenland. 

“A Greenland husky pup followed us on a hike to the Ilulissat icefjord on a misty morning this summer by Ron Condly-travel category-taken with SP880K”

Sisimiut, circa 1982.

Sisimiut, Kalaallit Nunaat

(by adour garonne)

Melting Icescape by Ben H. on Flickr.

Ice Flutes II - RØdefjord, Scoresbysund, Greenland | photo by Alistair Knock