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Arctic research vessel set adrift to study sea ice decline Arctic research vessel set adrift to study sea ice decline
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A research vessel is adrift in the Arctic to study why sea ice is retreating faster than expected.A research vessel is adrift in the Arctic to study why sea ice is retreating faster than expected.
Ice cover across the northern ocean fell to a new low last month, reaching just over 14.5m sq km at its winter peak, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Centre, in Colorado.Ice cover across the northern ocean fell to a new low last month, reaching just over 14.5m sq km at its winter peak, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Centre, in Colorado.
That was 130,000 sq km smaller than the previous winter low set in 2011 – confounding scientific predictions about the decline of sea ice under climate change.That was 130,000 sq km smaller than the previous winter low set in 2011 – confounding scientific predictions about the decline of sea ice under climate change.
“We are obviously missing something,” said Harald Steen, a biologist from the Norwegian Polar Institute, and the leader of the international expedition. “We are underestimating the rate of ice disappearance in the north.”“We are obviously missing something,” said Harald Steen, a biologist from the Norwegian Polar Institute, and the leader of the international expedition. “We are underestimating the rate of ice disappearance in the north.”
The RV Lance set out on 11 January with 30 scientists and crew, who planned to spend an entire season on the sea ice, from winter freeze to break-up in early summer.The RV Lance set out on 11 January with 30 scientists and crew, who planned to spend an entire season on the sea ice, from winter freeze to break-up in early summer.
A separate expedition to the high Arctic, using a hovercraft, has spent six months crossing the Lomonosov ridge, a submarine mountain range near the north pole with peaks as high as the Alps.A separate expedition to the high Arctic, using a hovercraft, has spent six months crossing the Lomonosov ridge, a submarine mountain range near the north pole with peaks as high as the Alps.
The researchers on the RV Lance are trying to understand how snow, sea water, wind and ocean currents drive the formation and break-up of younger, thinner sea ice.The researchers on the RV Lance are trying to understand how snow, sea water, wind and ocean currents drive the formation and break-up of younger, thinner sea ice.
For the first six weeks, the RV Lance crew operated in the absolute darkness of the polar night, venturing out at temperatures approaching minus 40C to explore surrounding ice floes on foot, skis or snowmobiles.For the first six weeks, the RV Lance crew operated in the absolute darkness of the polar night, venturing out at temperatures approaching minus 40C to explore surrounding ice floes on foot, skis or snowmobiles.
“You have an environment that is pitch dark and it is cold – minus 35, minus 37 – and there is a little bit wind and it is rather hostile,” Steen said. “You have an environment that is pitch dark and it is cold – minus 35, minus 37 – and there is a little bit of wind and it is rather hostile,” Steen said.
The ship has got stuck in pack ice on at least two occasions and had to be towed out by the Norwegian coast guard. There were a few close encounters with polar bears.The ship has got stuck in pack ice on at least two occasions and had to be towed out by the Norwegian coast guard. There were a few close encounters with polar bears.
The scientists rotate through on six-week shifts. The RV Lance will make only occasional use of its engines, Steen said. Otherwise, the ship will just go with the ice floes drifting in a clockwise direction across the ocean at a speed of 0.2 knots: about the pace of a very lazy stroll.The scientists rotate through on six-week shifts. The RV Lance will make only occasional use of its engines, Steen said. Otherwise, the ship will just go with the ice floes drifting in a clockwise direction across the ocean at a speed of 0.2 knots: about the pace of a very lazy stroll.
Much remains unknown about the Arctic, about what causes ice to form and break up, and about how the changes in the sea ice affect wider climate system.Much remains unknown about the Arctic, about what causes ice to form and break up, and about how the changes in the sea ice affect wider climate system.
Those process have changed over the past three decades as the Arctic experiences warmer temperatures.Those process have changed over the past three decades as the Arctic experiences warmer temperatures.
Researchers have suggested the decline in sea ice has disrupted the jet stream, and could be responsible for the ferociously cold winters in North America.Researchers have suggested the decline in sea ice has disrupted the jet stream, and could be responsible for the ferociously cold winters in North America.
The researchers aim to drift at the edge of the ice, tracking the gulf stream and the east Greenland current as they empty into the Arctic, and lowering buoys from the ship to measure ice mass balance, snow and sea water seeping up through cracks in the ice.The researchers aim to drift at the edge of the ice, tracking the gulf stream and the east Greenland current as they empty into the Arctic, and lowering buoys from the ship to measure ice mass balance, snow and sea water seeping up through cracks in the ice.