Randy and Chris's blog
Exploring the Ice
Chris Fuller and Randy Scharien
Chris Fuller and Randy Scharien are students working under under the supervision of Dr. John Yackel, geography professor and research associate for the Arctic Institute of North America. They are among 200 scientists from 15 countries taking part in Canada’s largest International Polar Year (IPY) project – the Circumpolar Flaw Lead (CFL) system study situated in the Beaufort Sea, Canadian Arctic. This study seeks to examine how the Arctic’s physical, biological and geochemical systems are interconnected and how these systems respond to changes in sea ice. Chris’s research is focused on quantifying changes in snow cover using microwave remote sensing data. Randy’s research is focused on using microwave remote sensing data to measure the climate state of sea ice during spring/summer melt. Together they will be engaged in a surface validation campaign for Canada’s recently launched RADARSAT-2 satellite. Their research will be based from the ice breaker CCGS Amundsen, with Chris aboard from April 24-Jun 5 and Randy from May 15-June 26.
Breaking the fourth wall
May 10, 2008
Photojournalist Christian Morel making me look scientific: Photo by Chris FullerOne of the things that didn’t occur to was that the interest of Canadians
about the Arctic required science journalists, documentarians, and
photographers to pass along what we are doing up here. A bit naïve on my
part…I mean, where did I think all of the pictures and T.V. series about
the Arctic came from? Being up here and giving interviews, being filmed,
and having your picture taken in the midst of doing science feels a bit
strange. I walk around Calgary, going about my business, and nobody stops
and asks me about my work.
Helicopter work
May 7, 2008
The last few days have been filled with science. We are collecting snow depth data in transects on fast ice (ice that remains connected to the land). That means helicopter work!
Polar bears, fog and high winds
May 2, 2008
After a run of a few days of gathering data the winds have proven too much. 30- knot winds make it difficult to gather the data accurately, without contamination from blowing snow and wind effects on the open face of our snow pit sampling sites. Coupled with this, several bears have been seen in the area around the ship. Polar bears love to hunt in the fog and wind as it provides cover, which also makes being on the ice more dangerous.
Cold, hard data collection
April 30, 2008
The last two days have been a combination of data gathering and meetings regarding ship and science protocol and procedure. The time on the ice is exhilarating; snow science requires a high number of independent samples because snow properties are so spatially and temporally variable.
Setting sail
April 26, 2008
After leaving Calgary at 12:00 PM on April 23rd, I have finally arrived safe and sound on the CCGS Amundsen at 8:00 PM on April 24th at the southern tip of Banks Island (~Latitude 123°W, Longitude 71°N; near Cape Lambton and Nelson Head). The scenery is more spectacular than I remember from my time in Franklin Bay, though I am now located just across the Amundsen Gulf from my previous field work in April-June of 2004.
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