00s In summer 2009, the Arctic Sunrise sails to the Arctic to document the dire effects climate change has on one of the most fragile environments in the world. Independent scientists use the ship, helicopter, boats and assistance of the crew, to collect data and research the impacts of climate change. This year the summer sea ice minimum is reported to be the third lowest on record. The depletion of Arctic sea ice has serious implications for many reasons. Loss of sea ice creates a positive feedback effect, when the darker ocean surface is exposed it absorbs more heat, melting the surrounding ice further. The loss of ice also threatens vulnerable species likes polar bears who depend on multi-year ice to hunt for seals; their primary food source.
“The support offered by the whole crew on board was amazing - unstinted, professional, and far better than I normally find on government-owned research ships.” - Dr Peter Wadhams, Cambridge University
image 1 The Arctic Sunrise manoeuvres carefully between ice debris and bergs calved from Helheim glacier on southeast Greenland image 2 A ‘mooring’ is lowered into Sermilik Fjord by scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute; these moorings gather salinity, temperature and depth data throughout the year, including the winter period when the fjord is inaccessible due to ice and harsh weather conditions image 3 Scientists measure the thickness of sea ice through a hole in the sea ice image 4 Greenpeace crew and scientists use a ‘hot water drill’ on sea ice in front of the Arctic Sunrise image 5 This polar bear appears to be in healthy condition, however the species is threatened with extinction because climate change is causing its sea ice habitat to melt away rapidly image 6 Polar oceanographer Dr Peter Wadhams, from the University of Cambridge, looks through the bridge window of the Arctic Sunrise. All images © Nick Cobbing / Greenpeace
160 THE GREENPEACE chronicles