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| Explorers begin epic Arctic trek | Explorers begin epic Arctic trek |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A British team has begun a gruelling trek to the North Pole to discover how quickly the Arctic sea-ice is melting. | A British team has begun a gruelling trek to the North Pole to discover how quickly the Arctic sea-ice is melting. |
| Renowned Arctic explorer Pen Hadow and two companions were dropped onto the ice by plane some 1,700km (670 miles) north of Canada on Saturday night. | |
| During their 1,000km journey, they plan to take measurements of the thickness of the ice. | During their 1,000km journey, they plan to take measurements of the thickness of the ice. |
| It will be the most detailed survey to date and the team is expected to reach the North Pole in late May. | |
| Global warming | Global warming |
| BBC environment correspondent David Shukman said that where there were gaps in the ice, the team would put on survival suits and swim, all the time dragging a radar system which will measure the thickness of the ice. | BBC environment correspondent David Shukman said that where there were gaps in the ice, the team would put on survival suits and swim, all the time dragging a radar system which will measure the thickness of the ice. |
| He said satellites had tracked how the area of Arctic ice was shrinking but this expedition should reveal how thin the ice was becoming. | He said satellites had tracked how the area of Arctic ice was shrinking but this expedition should reveal how thin the ice was becoming. |
| The ice cap is widely believed to be melting at an increased rate because of global warming. | The ice cap is widely believed to be melting at an increased rate because of global warming. |
| Only a few years ago, scientists predicted that by the end of this century the Arctic could be free of ice in summer. Some now say that could come far sooner. | Only a few years ago, scientists predicted that by the end of this century the Arctic could be free of ice in summer. Some now say that could come far sooner. |
| If, as scientists tell us, the ice is thinning quickly, then it should set alarm bells ringing around the world Pen Hadow Arctic diary: Explorers' ice quest | If, as scientists tell us, the ice is thinning quickly, then it should set alarm bells ringing around the world Pen Hadow Arctic diary: Explorers' ice quest |
| Mr Hadow, 46, and the other members of the British Catlin Arctic Survey group, Ann Daniels, 44, and Martin Hartley, 40, will attempt to gather important new data about the state of the ice in winter and early spring - when the ice reaches its greatest extent. | Mr Hadow, 46, and the other members of the British Catlin Arctic Survey group, Ann Daniels, 44, and Martin Hartley, 40, will attempt to gather important new data about the state of the ice in winter and early spring - when the ice reaches its greatest extent. |
| It is intended to give scientists the very latest "ground truth", to better constrain their models and their interpretation of the observations coming from satellites. | It is intended to give scientists the very latest "ground truth", to better constrain their models and their interpretation of the observations coming from satellites. |
| Arctic ice modeller Professor Wieslaw Maslowski, a science adviser to the survey, hopes the data will enable him to refine his forecast of when the first ice-free summer might arrive. | Arctic ice modeller Professor Wieslaw Maslowski, a science adviser to the survey, hopes the data will enable him to refine his forecast of when the first ice-free summer might arrive. |
| Currently, he has it down for 2013 - but with an uncertainty range between 2010 and 2016. | Currently, he has it down for 2013 - but with an uncertainty range between 2010 and 2016. |
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| Polar trio due to set off | Polar trio due to set off |
| Mr Hadow, a father-of-two from Hexworthy, Devon, became the first person to trek solo and without support from Canada to the North Pole in 2003. | Mr Hadow, a father-of-two from Hexworthy, Devon, became the first person to trek solo and without support from Canada to the North Pole in 2003. |
| He said this expedition would be about science and discovery. | He said this expedition would be about science and discovery. |
| "I think this time does feel different," he said. "We're only doing this because there is such an urgent need for more ground-truthing data about the permanent floating sea-ice. | "I think this time does feel different," he said. "We're only doing this because there is such an urgent need for more ground-truthing data about the permanent floating sea-ice. |
| "If, as scientists tell us, the ice is thinning quickly, then it should set alarm bells ringing around the world." | "If, as scientists tell us, the ice is thinning quickly, then it should set alarm bells ringing around the world." |
| Both Mr Hadow and expedition photographer Mr Hartley, from Hackney, east London, will celebrate their birthdays during the trek. | Both Mr Hadow and expedition photographer Mr Hartley, from Hackney, east London, will celebrate their birthdays during the trek. |
| Ms Daniels, a mother-of-four from Whimple, Devon, will be navigating. | Ms Daniels, a mother-of-four from Whimple, Devon, will be navigating. |
| They will be re-supplied every 20 to 25 days on their mission but have had to put on excess weight because, although they will be taking in 6,000 calories a day, they will be using up around 7,500. | They will be re-supplied every 20 to 25 days on their mission but have had to put on excess weight because, although they will be taking in 6,000 calories a day, they will be using up around 7,500. |