Devon’s ‘ice maidens’ advance north on Arctic expedition
25th February 2009
South West women are taking a leading role in a major Arctic
expedition this spring. Three women from Devon will join Polar
explorer Pen Hadow’s Catlin Arctic Survey to
investigate climate change and the affects of carbon dioxide on the
Arctic Ocean.
The team will assemble in the Arctic on 11 March to work an ice
base only 750 miles from the North Geographic Pole. They will study
the impact of rising levels of acidity in some of the coldest water
on the planet.
Record-breaking Polar explorer Anne Daniels, from Whimple, East
Devon, is leading a long range expedition, along with Martin
Hartley and Charlie Paton. Dr Ceri Lewis from the University of
Exeter and Dr Helen Findlay of Plymouth Marine Laboratory have been
selected as members of the international team of scientists that
will carry out research projects on an ice base.
Dr Helen Findlay’s research will focus on how the chemistry and
biology beneath the sea-ice is being affected by ocean
acidification. Marine biologist Dr Ceri Lewis will be investigating
the impact of climate change and ocean acidification on the wide
range of marine life in the Arctic Ocean.
Ceri and Helen are undergoing a gruelling training regime to
prepare themselves physically and mentally for the challenges of
spending six weeks in temperatures of minus 400C. This
includes having training on what to do if they encounter a polar
bear, or find themselves in the ice waters, and simply learning how
to survive living in a tent in the harsh arctic conditions.
Dr Ceri Lewis, NERC Research Fellow at the University of Exeter
said: “I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to join the
Catlin Arctic Survey. The science that we are hoping to do is
incredibly important to our understanding of climate change effects
in the ocean and I feel really privileged to be a part of such an
exciting project. It will of course be a very challenging and harsh
environment to work in and the possibilities of seeing polar bears
in the wild is both thrilling and a little unnerving, but I think
it will be truly amazing experience to be part of.”
Dr Helen Findlay of Plymouth Marine Laboratory, said: “I’ve been
to the Arctic before, although not in winter, and it’s a
challenging place to carry out science. But, it is worth the effort
to get first hand, unique and important data that will help us
understand changes in Arctic seas and how they may link to global
systems. I am really looking forward to returning on this
expedition, with an international team to find answers to the
challenges faced by our oceans.”
Anne Daniels, who has already begun final preparations in
northern Canada, says her team’s Arctic skills will be extending
the sampling and research far beyond the locations where it is safe
for scientists to work. “It is unimaginably tough surviving on the
floating sea ice. But as experienced explorers we know what to do.
The drilling work will produce more measurements of the sea ice
thickness and is continuing the work we began last year and the
water samples we take will be stored and returned for analysis for
the acidification programme.”
“What motivates us at Catlin Arctic Survey is the vulnerability
of the Arctic Ocean. We know that disappearing ice cover and
potential impacts of acidity are parts of some big ocean changes.
Since it is widely viewed as a bellwether for wider global change,
it is important we understand better what is happening.”
Scientists believe that on current projections, the pH of the
world’s oceans could reach levels not seen on Earth for 20 million
years with serious consequences for all marine life.
Speaking at the launch in London, polar explorer Pen Hadow, who
is Director of the project, described it as an example of modern
exploration: “Our aim at Catlin Arctic Survey is to make it
possible for science work to be undertaken that would otherwise be
exceptionally difficult to do.
The scientists will be able to work safely thanks to the skills
of our polar support team who will be guiding them out onto the
floating sea ice. Our Ice Base will have all the facilities they
need to do analysis and to survive in the extreme conditions of an
Arctic winter and spring.”
The academic insititutes participating in the project include
the Laboratoire Oceanographie,
Villefranche, Plymouth Marine Laboratory,
Institute of Ocean Science, (Fisheries and Oceans Canada),
University of Exeter and
Bangor University.
People can follow the progress of the expedition at
www.catlinarcticsurvey.com,
where blogs, video and photos will give regular updates of the
team's progress in the Arctic winter and spring.