Plymouth scientist to stay in the Arctic
20 April 2010
Dr
Helen Findlay (pictured right in the photograph) from the Plymouth
Marine Laboratory will extend her stay in the Arctic until the end
of April. Helen is part of a team of scientists studying the
effects of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide on the waters of the
Arctic Ocean as part of the Catlin Arctic Survey.
Helen was due to return to the UK after the second leg of the
expedition but will now stay to continue her experiments and
transfer knowledge gained to the scientists arriving for the third
and final leg.
Helen commented on her adventure so far, “The science has gone
really well and we have managed to get lots of data, even though we
have to break through the ice every day to take samples and make
readings. We are confident that we shall get some very interesting
results when we get back to the laboratory in Plymouth and begin
the long task of analysing the data.
So far Helen’s team has had to face the incredible cold of the
Arctic winter as temperatures dropped to minus 45 degrees C.
“Despite the cold, we’ve been lucky everything has gone well so
far. When we do our washing we hang out our clothes to freeze dry,
they get frozen stiff as a board and then we bring them in to
soften up - at least they don’t need ironing,” she said
optimistically.
The dangers of
working and living in the harsh Arctic environment were made very
clear when a second team of explorers experienced a massive crack
opening up beneath their tent during breakfast. Ann Daniels, one of
the explorers from Exeter, who is leading the survey said “we had
to decide very quickly which side of the crack we were going to try
and stay on and quickly rescue all of the kit to ensure no lasting
damage was sustained. The thought of being left without a tent in
this extreme environment makes me shiver more than I already
am.”
Although Helen’s scientific team are working around 1,000 km to
the south of the explorers they still have to remember that the
harsh environment can turn dangerous very quickly. “We have to keep
our eyes and ears open all of the time, if it’s not looking out for
polar bears, it’s listening to the groans and cracks as the ice
moves; there is always the threat of danger, so we have to keep our
wits about us” said Helen.
The team weathered their first Arctic storm within the first
week of the trip but have more recently been enjoying what feels
like relatively mild conditions. “We are currently having beautiful
weather, and today, despite it being minus 20 degrees C, I was able
to work outside in just a thermal top and no jacket” said
Helen.