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6 August 2020
Postcards from a (formerly) frozen icebreaker: Part 44
Flying out over this diverse ice pack. One thing that struck me about the flight was the number of dirty ice floes. There are many others like our floe, and some that are much dirtier, black and gray.
5 August 2020
Postcards from a (formerly) frozen icebreaker: Part 43
Last week there would be periods of the day when melt was rampant, but then periods when the surface would freeze. Thin layers of ice would form on the top of melt ponds. That phenomenon has shifted now and we are not really seeing major shifts during the day anymore; the system appears to be mostly in a permanent melt state.
4 August 2020
Postcards from a (formerly) frozen icebreaker: Part 42
The many faces of ice. So fascinating. Today I found myself sitting on the surface, digging through little pockets of this ice and that ice. Exploring their different textures and sounds. And tastes (mostly fresh!).
3 August 2020
Postcards from a (formerly) frozen icebreaker: Part 41
“…out here in our Arctic bubble there are actually days that I don’t even think about the coronavirus. It doesn’t even pop into my head. I guess this would be impossible at home. But out here there is no virus, no social distance needed.”
22 July 2020
Postcards from a frozen icebreaker — Part 40
Another day of intense sun and this changes the surface in dramatic ways. The snow is melting fast. We’ve put down some boards to minimize melt near the tower, and these work, but the snow all around melts, leaving pillars with boards on top.
21 July 2020
Postcards from a frozen icebreaker — Part 39
There are these beautiful days out over the Arctic ice. Vibrant blue sky with a piercing sun. Today was one of those days. Warm out, and the sun overpowering. Just like with a strong wind, I found myself turning away from the sun when possible. When facing the sun it feels like my skin is cooking.
20 July 2020
Postcards from a frozen icebreaker — Part 38
If the ice decides to come together, it will simply destroy anything in its way. That’s what happened to our so-called ASFS50 station. A 1000-pound station flipped upside down by the ice back during Leg 2.
19 July 2020
Postcards from a frozen icebreaker — Part 37
The ice around us, at least on the Fortress, is filthy. In many locations it is brown with sediment. Many small rocks have been found, suggesting that this ice was initially formed as land-fast ice along the Siberian Shelf. A recent satellite radar image shows that this floe is somewhat different from the ice around us.
18 July 2020
Postcards from a frozen icebreaker — Part 36
Wow, it has been intense out. The skies cleared, leaving us bathed in full sun all day. Full bright sun, nearly twice as bright as a typical sunny day back home because of the high albedo surface. Photons coming in from all directions. It’s time to make sure you’ve got your sunscreen and sunglasses that can black out all stray light.
17 July 2020
Postcards from a frozen icebreaker — Part 35
We ran into the floe. Directly. While scientifically we decided it would be best to moor to the floe along the ship’s port side to facilitate CTD operations, others onboard have been concerned about the Polarstern’s ability to hold its position alongside the floe in the face of ice pressure.
16 July 2020
Postcards from a frozen icebreaker — Part 34
The new character of this floe revealed itself in the first steps. Schlump, schlump. Through shin-deep snow into a blue slush below. Most steps were this way for our full 3-hour tour.
15 July 2020
Postcards from a frozen icebreaker — Part 33
There hasn’t been much to be excited about lately, but the through of stepping off the ship onto our floe again is very exciting. Time to get after it once again. We’ve been busily planning our coming moves. How will we modify the set up to be lighter on the ice and more nimble.
14 July 2020
Postcards from a frozen icebreaker — Part 32
Our first solid reference came when we found the “Monster,” which is a large buoy installation that was on the edge of camp. Then some smaller stations for measuring ice temperature and optics… then, there in the distance, was our flux station. Standing proud. I knew it would be there because I’ve been tracking the data… But somehow still, the visual contact was so relieving.
13 July 2020
Postcards from a frozen icebreaker — Part 31
Last night we did have a visitor, two actually. A mom and a cub. Such a tiny little cub, born earlier this year. They walked all around the ship, up on top of ridges hopping between little floes, peeking out from behind blocks of ice. This must be such a curious site for them.
15 June 2020
Postcards from a frozen icebreaker — Part 30
Anchors up, and underway. After a few days of turnover, we are now on our way. We’ve said goodbye to our Leg3 colleagues, after absorbing as much information as possible on their experiences, the state of the instrumentation, and ideas on how to proceed.
14 June 2020
Postcards from a frozen icebreaker — Part 29
After 5.5 weeks in transit, we are finally onboard of Polarstern. What a long journey it has been just to get to this point…. And our journey is really just beginning…
13 June 2020
Postcards from a frozen icebreaker — Part 28
As we wait here…. For an excruciatingly long time to rendezvous with Polarstern, there has been some moderately good news. The sea-ice melt season has started out at the MOSAiC floe. I wish we were there with the full arsenal of observations and samples.
12 June 2020
Postcards from a frozen icebreaker — Part 27
Polarstern is making slow progress as it tries to leave the ice. Funny how the ice has drifted so fast this year, and broken up so much. Yet it still has a firm grip on Polarstern. Not wanting to let her pass easily to the edge.
29 May 2020
Postcards from a frozen icebreaker — Part 26
The vastness is remarkable. Heading through the North Sea and out into the North Atlantic. Norwegian mountains on the horizon. A modest swell. For a land-locked Coloradoan, the ocean is such an immense open space. And oddly this is where we have come to have less space.
28 May 2020
Postcards from a frozen icebreaker — Part 25
Seven months of MOSAiC, we’ve lost Met City. Nothing left except a few torn walls of the hut, jutting up out of a rubble field of ice blocks. Perhaps a short break in the expedition is good right now, to regain our bearings and adapt our strategy.
