Climate scientists battle brutal Arctic
The Arctic Circle that rings the North Pole is known as ground zero for climate change. It also has brutal weather that will batter the team virtually every moment.
They will have to deal with subzero temperatures, severe storms and the threat of polar bears.
"Being able to live within the environment we are studying is an ideal situation for almost any science expedition," said Kristina Brown, a scientist at the Ice Base station.
"[This expedition] requires that our temperate climate-acclimated bodies endure some of the more uncomfortable parts of early spring in the high Arctic."
The scientists are members of the Catlin Arctic Survey which is operating Ice Base camp off the western coast of Ellef Ringnes Island, Canada for the third year in a row. It is only 675 nautical miles from the geographic North Pole.
Unlike expeditions that use research vessels as a home base, this group is unique in that the scientists will live in tents for almost two months on the very ice cap that is slowly melting beneath them.
"All the research and survey work is looking at how the Arctic Ocean is changing... Overall, the research and data conducted during the ice camp will help us in understanding the local and global impacts of a warmer Arctic, from loss of habitat for iconic polar bears to changes in global climate," said Ice Base scientist Victoria Hill.
They will collect samples and data in a mission to find out how melting ice is impacting ocean currents, marine life and the climate and weather conditions around the world; Kazinform cites CNN.
See www.edition.cnn.com for full story