science
The Arctic Ocean 2050 Expedition has Reached its Westernmost Point
The research vessel Kronprins Haakon is now halfway between the North Pole and the northern coast of Canada. There, researchers are studying the western edge of the Transpolar Drift as part of the Arctic Ocean 2050 programme.
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In July, the Norwegian research vessel Kronprins Haakon set out on a 50-day voyage as part of the Arctic Ocean 2050 research programme.
After collecting samples at the North Pole, the expedition headed towards Canada and has now reached its westernmost point.
The researchers and crew have thus achieved several important milestones for the expedition. For the first time, they have crossed the entire Transpolar drift current and can now carry out sampling from the Makarov Basin and the Lomonosov Ridge.
"Previously, we have only been able to study the eastern edge of the current. Now we can examine its full extent and gain a far better picture of the transport through the Arctic Ocean," says Paul Dodd, expedition leader and researcher at the Norwegian Polar Institute, in a press release.
According to plan, the researchers will obtain a high-resolution dataset covering the Arctic Ocean’s three most important areas: the Makarov, Amundsen and Nansen basins.
Prioritising sampling
Originally, RV Kronprins Haakon was to sail 50–100 kilometres further west. However, progress was too slow due to large floes of multi-year ice, high ice pressure and poor visibility.
"We could probably have made it through the planned route if we had used more time. But we considered it more important to secure all the measurements we have planned than to spend time pushing further west," says Dodd.
Going forward, the expedition will head east for about 1,200 kilometres towards the north coast of Svalbard. Along the way, the researchers will stop roughly every 20 kilometres to take samples from the atmosphere, the snow, the sea ice, the ocean and the seabed.
There are a total of 30 researchers on board collecting physical, chemical and biological data that will provide new knowledge about the Arctic Ocean.
Arctic Ocean 2050 is a ten-year, interdisciplinary research programme that brings together 18 Norwegian research institutions.
The aim is to provide a better knowledge base for future management of the Arctic.
