You can think of science as a class in school, and you can also think of science as a way of looking at the world. But you should remember that both are correct. On the ship, it’s like everyone has their own lens, and by looking through that lens, they see the world in their own way. We are all here on the same ship, looking out at the same ocean and sky, but it seems that each person has a slightly different view of it! Here is “the view” through the lenses of a couple more students, from their presentations:
Ioana (who is from Romania and lives in the US) talked about the variability and predictability of sea surface temperatures in the north Atlantic. But instead of using direct observations, she uses climate models that can help analyze the variability over multiple decades. She uses coupled climate models (“coupled” means that it includes ocean, atmosphere, ice, and land) and inputs external forcings (like greenhouses gases) and atmospheric weather noise (random unpredictable fluctuations) into the model. Her work will help to better understand hurricane activity in the Atlantic, rainfall and river flows in the continental US, and even global temperatures over multiple decades.
Eric (who is from the US) studies microscopic particles in the atmosphere called aerosols. They may be tiny, but they can have big effects on the climate system. Aerosols come from both man-made sources (ships, cars, factories), and natural sources (forest fires, sea salt sprays, dust devils), and are made of chemical types such as sulfates, nitrates, sea salt, and carbons. Aerosol particles can change how clouds scatter and absorb light from the Sun, which can even result in longer-lasting clouds. And this is just one example of how these tiny things make a big difference.
you guys aren’t scared that if the ship would shake unexpectedly that something might go wrong
Hi Kaderrus, the ship is designed to handle ice up to 6feet thick, and we have a captain and crew, as well as radar, that can help us guide the ship through ice conditions that she ship can handle, and if we get to a place where the ice is too much, we just wiggle out of it and find a new route. But the ship was built to crack ice, and for ice not to crack the ship. And the ship has done it for 26 years, so we’re good!
Are conditions in the Arctic the same today as they were 100 years ago?
Hi Denyse, no, conditions in the Arctic have changed a lot, and the changes seem to be going faster in recent decades, especially in the case of sea ice. The amount of annual sea ice reached a record minimum last year, and I really hope that even if this pattern can’t reverse, that at least it slows down, because it is not a good sign for the climate.
How do conditions in the Arctic impact human life?
Dear Denyse, the main thing I would say to this is that the Earth is one giant system. The atmosphere and ocean are connected all over the planet, and changes in one environment can directly affect the others. I have been learning a lot about how the scientists model the whole land-ocean-atmosphere-ice system of the Earth, and it’s all connected, and super fascinating!
What do you pack in your survival kits?
Hi Denyse, “survival kits” are actually mostly made up of relatively everyday things that you just have to remember because there is no CVS to run to! So this includes headache, stomach ache, and motion sickness medicine, sunscreen, etc. Then the BIG one is water. Before we left port, we quite literally bought out this small Norwegian town’s supply of bottled water! It’s a little strange to think about, but the ocean is kind of like a desert. Even though there is a lot of water around you, there is really none to drink. So that’s really important to have extra. And then the last important thing is gear – wearing layers is key in the cold – pants, shirts, socks, etc. Inside the ship it’s warm though, so surprisingly you need regular T-shirts too!
When the weather changes does that affect your research at times?
Hi Dedric, absolutely, yes, actually that just happened two days ago, when it became so windy, and the waves became so rocky (12 foot waves) that we were not even allowed to go outside because it would be too slippery and dangerous. These conditions also made it impossible to put any instruments in the water during that time.