September 29, 2006

A successful helicopter survey was conducted about 1300km over the Laptev Sea surface near the Lena River Delta. Three vertical profiles were taken up at 1800m for the study of vertical stratification of major greenhouse gases (methane, carbon dioxide, and water vapor). The data shows that the sea surface is a source of all these components. Preliminary data shows that methane concentrations are higher from sea-water sources than from land sources.

All measurements are continuing onboard the KAPITAN DANILKIN, which just passed the Vilkitsky Strait. The transect along 127°E was done in conjunction with the NABOS transect and will be a continuation of those measurements. Additional surveys will be accomplished in the Ob-Yenisey nearshore zone to compare the data from 2006 with data from 2005 obtained from joint studies. It is expected that the cruise will be finished October 3-5th in Murmansk.

Check out the research highlight report from the field: http://www.iarc.uaf.edu/highlights/lena_laptev_sea_06/index.php

September 25, 2006

Our expedition is going well although about three weeks were lost due to some logistical problems and we have been out of email contact. Here are the major steps we have taken and some preliminary results:

• This is the first time that CH₄ and CO₂ turbulent fluxes and the set of oceanographic parameters have been measured in the freshwater-marine ecosystems of the Lena River-Laptev Sea region of the Arctic.
• This is the first time we have examined how much old terrestrial organic carbon is converted into the CO₂ form and emissed to the atmosphere during the transport of eroded material from the ice-complex (permafrost) into the sea across the lithorale zone.
• This is the first time measurements of CH₄, CO₂, and H₂O were taken via helicopter from the Lena Delta-Laptev Sea system (or in the Arctic Ocean). It has been found that the sea surface is a source of all these substances. This result agrees well with our near-surface data obtained in the 2005 expedition. Vertical profiles of CH₄, CO₂, and H₂O were taken from up to 1800m in the atmosphere.

Our group is now working on obtaining a set of measurements in the Laptev Sea (74 oceanographic stations were accomplished). We will complete these measurements (with oceanographic stations) along the Northern Sea Route from Tiksi to Murmansk onboard the Kapitan Danilkin.

We plan to finish our expedition in Murmansk on October 5.

~ Dr. Igor Semiletov (IARC)

September 17, 2006: Fort Smith

We arrived to shore, at Kugluktuk, safely, on Thursday. The last two weeks of the cruise were quite busy for me. After our successful deployment of the cluster of 9 buoys, we headed south down 140°W. On our steam south we encountered plenty of multi-year ice. In fact, it seamed that the ice got older and thicker as we steamed further south! Though as the concentration (area coverage) of ice decreased the thick ice did not slow our progress dramatically.

One of the most exciting moments in the last week was revisiting a set of buoys deployed in 2005. The buoys were located by extrapolating their position from their previous days drift (sent via satellite to Woods Hole). The captain, Andrew McNeil, did a fantastic job of navigating the ship right onto the buoys track. Rick Krishfield was getting ready to get in the helicopter to search, when we looked out of a window and saw the buoy right in front of the ship. It was quite surreal encountering a sign of humanity in this vast dessert of ice. The ice floe had changed dramatically since last year. The ridges had weathered down over half a meter. There were melt ponds across the whole ice floe, and the ice mass balance buoy had a melt pond all to itself! Don - if you are reading this - we took plenty of pictures and tried our best to document the surface melt in the limited time we had on the ice floe. We were given 20 minutes on the ice, and I have never worked so quickly, as this was a golden opportunity to acquire additional information to support the buoy data. Buoys are very rarely revisited, and it was very useful to see how the buoys were coping with the extensive surface melt.

I would like to give a big thank you to the captain and the crew of the Louis S. St. Laurent for making all this work possible. The crew was the friendliest and most helpful I have encountered. Thank you greatly to the Wood Hole group for including us in their program. I am very excited to see the results from our cluster of buoys. Thanks also to all the collaborators on the cruise: Department of Oceans and Fish, Institute of Ocean Sciences and JAMSTEC.

Over and out,
Jenny

ps… Any suggestions on what you might be interested in reading about in future blogs would be greatly appreciated.

~ Dr. Jennifer Hutchings

polar bear track

iceberg

September 15, 2006

After two last moorings, we said bye-bye to the ice and again found the real sea. The measurements were finished and the scientists began packing their materials. The last day on the boat was time to have a last party. It was a very good atmosphere. Everybody was happy and we danced all the night.

We arrived in Krikenes at 1400 Moscow time. Our Russian friends had time to do some shopping before leaving. We took a long time to say goodbye as the boat prepared to leave port. All the people who remain in Kirkenes will spend the last night in the famous pizzeria “The Ritz”. And then everybody will go to home with a lot of memories of this incredible adventure.

~ Muriel Blot (Lycee Charles Baudelaire, France)

September 14, 2006

Hello!!! My name Alyona Afanasyeva. I am a Russian teacher of Geography. I live near Moscow and teach Geography at a secondary school. It is my first trip to the Arctic. And I hope it will not be the last!

It is already the 14th of September today. Unfortunately our trip will be finished soon… In the evening of the 15-th of September our icebreaker will enter the port of Kirkenes (Norway) and our friends from Europe and North America will leave the ship. I think it will be the saddest day of our voyage.

I imagined beforehand that this trip would be unforgettable! I tried to picture the immense ocean, the arctic sky, vast drifting ice-flow and polar bears near our icebreaker… I loved the Arctic before I saw it. Could you imagine, I even composed a song! I tried to translate several words into English: “I leave the sunny summer for the northern mists, to look into the eyes to the grey-headed ocean”… I see now that the Arctic Ocean is more beautiful that I imagined!

When I first saw the ice through the window I ran out on to the deck to see it better. I was delighted! But the ice was so scarce and unprotected in the shoreless ocean that I almost felt pity for it…

I also will never forget stepping out on the ice! It happened at 82 degrees latitude North! The vast white world: white ice, white sky, sparkling snow, and unbelievable silence! The silence of the ice. We, the teachers of the different countries, did not sleep the entire night! Some of us were helping the researchers install scientific equipment; others were making a film about the work on the ice… All of us were taking photographs, were admiring the scenery, and were sharing our feelings. We did not notice how cold we really were! We were at a distance of about 880 km from the North Pole! We were happy! It is one of the most intense feelings of my life!

During our voyage I have learned much about the Arctic Ocean, the structure of the water, surface and undercurrents, the ice, the importance of the Arctic to the climate of our planet. The researchers of the Arctic Ocean told us about their investigations, their measuring instruments and results of their work. We attended a lot of interesting lectures and had a good chance to communicate with noted scientists. I saw first-hand how the researchers had installed measuring instruments on the ice and under the water. One day I spent several hours on deck observing these procedures. It was raining and snowing. It was windy. It was cold! But people continued to work! It was unforgettable!

It is very interesting and useful for me to communicate with scientists and teachers from around the world. I like everyone that I am working with. They are responsible, reliable, cheerful and in every respect nice people. I am glad to have such amazing new friends. We discuss scientific problems, share professional experiences, talk about life and even sing songs together. People from different countries, speaking different languages, but feeling the same things – it is great!

I also like everything else on our icebreaker! Excellent food, perfect staff, the sauna, the swimming pool with oceanic water! I also found it astonishing that we did not have to lock our cabin doors! I was surprised at first, but soon got used to it. Nothing strange if there is confidence between people!

I try to find words to describe my feelings… Marvelous! Splendid! Fine! Great! Excellent! Perfect! Magnificent! Fantastic! Brilliant! Grand! Amazing! Big time! Huge! It is one of the best trips in my life!!! Word of honour!

~ Alyona Afanasyeva

September 13, 2006: 79°27’N 35°00’E at 18:00 GMT

We already carried out 2 CTD/Rosette casts and 4 XCTD shots. Today we finished with all the measurements and now we are on the way to Kirkines, Norway! It is very warm outside with a temperature of 0°C. It’s becoming more and more windy and we expect a storm soon! Now our I/B is slightly tossing. There is a very peaceful and friendly mood onboard.

~ Elena Maksimovich (Moscow School #1541, Moscow, Russia)

September 12, 2006: 81°33’N 30°52’E at 18:00 GMT

Teachers are preparing and combining the results of their work. We’ve gained a big experience during this expedition – lot’s of new interesting material. And now it’s time to think what and how teachers will bring to their students. Most of the day the research team was on the deck releasing and deploying moorings. In the morning, 1 new mooring was deployed (81°38’N and 31°18’E), then another was redeployed at 81°33’N and 30°51’E. We also carried out 3 CTD/Rosette casts en route. The I/B passed the ice edge at about 2 pm GMT (near 81°4’N and 31°3’E). The sea is calm with small Ice Bergs. The temperature during the day was -2 to -5 °C. Sea level atmospheric pressure is pretty constant at about 1006 mb at 18 GMT. There is a light breeze.

~ Elena Maksimovich (Moscow School #1541, Moscow, Russia)

September 11, 2006 82°01’N 35°10’E at 18:00 GMT

The technician part consisted of 4 CTD/Rosette casts and 2 XCTD shots. Teachers had the final lecture given by Vladimir Ivanov about Atlantic water in the Arctic Ocean. We talked about the Gulf Stream, general processes in the Arctic, and hypotheses of climatic changes the Arctic. Now teachers are preparing their questions for the “researchers-teachers meeting” that will be held soon. The temperature during the day was –1 to -3 °C. That’s extremely warm! Sea level atmospheric pressure at 18 GMT was 1006 mb. No precipitation and haze. There is a moderate NW/NE wind.

~ Elena Maksimovich (Moscow School #1541, Moscow, Russia)

September 12, 2006

Nikolai

Hello! My name is Nickolai. I am one of participants of K-12 Teachers’ Expedition Team. I am from Saint-Petersburg, Russia.

This is my first sea voyage. Therefore, it is the exclusive event of my life. I am happy because I can see rigorous seas of Arctic Ocean, light-blue ice, delightful sunsets and sunrises, the remarkable nature of Arctic on the board of wonderful icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn.

This trip is an exceptional opportunity to see the nature of Arctic and hear about the present condition of Arctic region. This is also a summer school, which is directed by Dr. Elena Sparrow for us, teachers from different countries. This school provides information and knowledge, not only about Arctic region, but also about science/research related to this region and about the contemporary condition of nature of all of the Earth. Moreover, it’s a contact between teachers and scientists from different countries, an exchange of opinions and experiences, information and knowledge.

The prominent scientists lecture. We study Arctic and we are in Arctic at the same time! It is wonderful! We have seen marine animals of this region - polar bear, seals, sea-gulls. We also take part of research and help scientists (oceanologists, meteorologists, biologists, paleontologists and others).

I want to express gratitude for the organization of this excellent arrangement and wish all prosperity and good luck!

~ Nickolai Baranov (St. Petersburg School #177, St. Petersburg, Russia)

P.S. During our trip, I have taken part in different observations with scientists from Russia - Irina Repina, Igor Bushnev and Alexandr Smirnov. I have assisted with observations of: temperature of snow - at the ice stations (see photo), temperature and salinity of sea water - on board the icebreaker.

LINKS:
TARA: http://www.taraexpeditions.org/
DAMOCLES: http://www.damocles-eu.org/

Imagine, the pitch-black darkness of the Arctic winter surrounding you, the sound of drifting snow is drumming away on the sides of your shelter, as the wind howls. Outside it is -50 degrees Fahrenheit. You are hundreds of miles from any help, other than that of yourself, your roommates, and the limited resources at hand. Now imagine you are in an aluminum hulled boat locked in sea ice, drifting towards the North Pole. This may sound like the script of an action adventure movie, but in reality it is an exciting, new initiative in Arctic research called the Tara Expedition. The expedition is sponsored by a coalition of 45 universities and research institutions and involves over 100 Principal Investigators from the European Union.

The Tara Expedition is a part of DAMOCLES, Developing Arctic Modeling and Observing Capabilities for Long-term Environmental Studies, an effort to study changes in the Arctic. The goal of the study is to enrich our knowledge of the relationship between sea ice coverage, atmospheric conditions, the circulation of Arctic Ocean waters, and the impact changes may have on the natural system and the human activities that depend on it. DAMOCLES is coordinated by Jean-Claude Gascard of the Universite` Pierre et Marie Curie in France.

On Sunday, September 3rd, the Russian icebreaker Kapitan Dranisyn was able to rendezvous with Tara, which had been detained in the small Russian coastal village of Tiksi for two weeks. The crew had been awaiting the final approval of immigration documentation and customs approval, from a labyrinth of bureaucratic governmental policies issued hundreds of miles away. On September 1st, permission was granted to leave, allowing the ship and crew to continue the trip they began on July 11, 2006 in France.

Once Tara joined the Dranitsyn, the two vessels headed towards the pack-ice. Upon their arrival to the ice, the icebreaker began to make its way North, passing through leads, fracturing ice several feet thick, and when necessary breaking through ice ridges that may have extended 30 feet into the frigid ocean waters. Tara, following close behind, was able to reach its destination of 80 degrees North latitude, well into the multi-year ice in which it will become frozen. The rounded and flat hull of the 116-foot Tara will allow her to remain frozen safely from the extreme pressures applied by the pack-ice for the two year exploration of the Arctic. During this time, it will drift with the moving ice some 2,800 miles, past the North Pole, through Fram Strait, along the Northeast side of Greenland.

There are many challenges to make this type of exploration a success, so one may wonder why it is necessary to send humans on such a journey. Jean-Claude Gascard explained, “If we could avoid Tara we would.” He added that all of the preparations and organization of such a trip are greater than that of using automated scientific buoys, but “There are some important things man can do that instruments cannot.”

Many of the specialized pieces of equipment and techniques used to study the Arctic environment require the presence of humans. For example, the instruments used to detect solar radiation use optical sensors that need to be cleaned periodically in order to function properly. The collection and analysis of water samples and most biological data one might collect are “impossible to be automated,” according to Gascard. He continued to explain that there is a need to be flexible when gathering data. If the data collected is not correlating with scientific models, then changes in the data collection may be required.

Beyond the technical challenges, Jean-Claude notes that the greatest challenge for humans is to be able to tolerate the Arctic winter, “in a very hostile environment.” In addition, the ability of an individual to be exposed to difficult situations and to be away from their family over an extended period of time is a concern. This is why Gascard compares the experience of the crew to that of astronauts.

The all-volunteer crew of eight males will be lead by an engineer from New Zealand who is skilled in sailing and has worked in similar isolated situations in Antarctica. Two mechanics, a doctor, two science technicians, and two experienced sailors will accompany him. According to Gascard, the lead engineer wants to stay on board Tara for the full two years, while other members of the crew will be rotated in and out of the ship over time.

The ambitious project will include a wide variety of scientific disciplines including meteorology, oceanography, marine biology, oceanic and atmospheric chemistry, zoology, physiology and glaciology. Regular observations of air pressure, air temperature, wind speed and direction, and relative humidity will recorded using tethered balloons that will permit atmospheric measurements at six different altitudes above the ice, up to three miles into the air. Biological observations of microscopic phytoplankton, terrestrial and marine mammals, and sea-birds, will be an integral part of the project. Some of which will be compared to data collected during the Nansen expedition of 1900.

During the spring of 2007, radiometers will be used above and below the ice to study the interaction between solar radiation and the sea ice. Measurements above the ice will calculate the albedo, or reflectivity of snow and the surface of the ice, while measurements below, will measure the transmissivity of lightwaves through the snow and ice.

In order to refine computer models and satellite data, characteristics of the sea ice and snow will be analyzed, including measurements of ice and snow density, snow depth, ice thickness, and ice deformation. In addition to the measurements made by the crew, a series of three ice-mass buoys will be deployed to record ice and atmospheric data. One buoy will be deployed along side the ship, while two others will be place diagonally behind the ship, some 90 miles away. The buoys were developed by CRREL, the Cold Regions Research Engineering Laboratory, a division of the United States’ Corp of Engineers.

The Tara Expedition, along with DAMOCLES, will provide scientists with a cross section of all physical and many biological parameters across the Arctic. Jean-Claude Gascard hopes that the results “will be used as a resource in Arctic science research,” and he notes that the data will not be protected, but will be available to all scientists for use in their own research.

The first winter will prove to be a long and intense experience for the crew of Tara. The ultimate success of the expedition is not only going to be dependent on the will and expertise of the crew, but of nature itself. What does the harsh environment of the Arctic winter have in store for this small group of dedicated explorers? Only time will tell.

~Todd Hindman (Nome Jr./Sr. School, Nome, Alaska)