Group picture with Emma, Sashka, Richard, Steffi, Jeff, Michael K., Jared, Michael F., Jule, Wayne, Michael A., Dave, Hugues, George, Edward and in front Sam and Boris (left to right). (photo: B. Radosavljevic)Hello everyone! After almost seven days since our last posting, the Herschel islanders return to tell you about their adventures! But first we will give you some background information about Permafrost, which is almost everywhere to find in Arctic regions, and its importance.

Permanently frozen ground, permafrost, is defined as ground whose temperature is below 0O C for at least two years in a row. Recent studies show that permafrost occurs in 24% of the landmass in the northern hemisphere. There is almost three times more carbon stored in permafrost compared to the current atmospheric concentration. Global climate change models predict a greater temperature increase in arctic regions, a phenomenon called 'arctic amplification'. Put simply, the increase in average temperatures in polar regions due to climate change is expected to be about twice as high compared to lower latitudes. The carbon stored in permafrost could be released by thawing and could be recycled into the atmosphere, thus acting as a positive feedback to the ongoing global warming trend. Our investigations here have important implications for the course of future climate change. Especially if you think about what could happen to the landmass in the northern hemisphere where permafrost occurs as global temperatures increase.

Anna taking GPS measurements to quantify the trend of coastal erosion along the Yukon Coast (photo: G. Manson)We have set ambitious goals for this expedition. Information obtained from current vegetation studies, sediment cores, and ice samples will be used to reconstruct the climatic record for the past two thousand years and reveal something about the recent geologic history of the area; to study the fate of sediments and carbon released from a typical permafrost coast into the nearshore.
Our team is composed of scientists from different backgrounds, countries, and institutions. These perspectives and specialties complement each other. Schedules and lack of space do not permit everyone to be here at the same time.

 

After two weeks without fresh food, it felt like Christmas when Anna and Gavin brought fresh Veggies and lots of tasty blueberries, grapes and banana. (photo: A. Konopczak)Wayne Pollard, our most experienced Herschel researcher had to leave, but we were happy to welcome Gavin Manson and Anna Konopczak from the Canadian Geological Survey. We sent them our wish list and felt a bit like children at Christmas when their plane landed on Herschel Island. The most important thing they brought was a computer keyboard for the sidescan, so that Boris could fix a problem. Everyone else got something, too. After two weeks without fresh food, we had two nights in a row with lots of fresh salad and even a dessert with blueberries, nectarines and grapes. We can't begin to describe how good it feels to have fresh veggies again!

Anna and Gavin are on a secret mission. They would like to find an instrument lost in the bay a few years ago using an underwater metal detector. The sea is big, really big. And although they know they are looking for a needle in the haystack, they are in good spirits. Actually they have a real mission here, as well. They are taking GPS measurements along the shoreline to quantify the volume and trends of coastal erosion.

Gavin tries to find an instrument lost a few years ago in Pauline Cove with a gigantic metal detector. It is still like finding a needle in a haystack. (photo: G. Manson)Given that we are on such a remote island it is surprising how often we get company. Some are locals that drop by on their hunting trips. The coastguard vessel brought lots of sailors eager to lose their sea legs. Some visitors come from around the world: two sail boats from New Zealand and Denmark anchored in Pauline Cove and stayed for a few days. Boris was especially lucky, as the coast guard vessel sent out their engineer to help figure out what was wrong with the Zodiac. Even a new problem with the boat electronics was fixed with the help of the sailors. The same sailor turned out to be a geophysicist/interface programmer who also helped solve the problem with the subbottom profiler. Now Boris is using every calm sea opportunity to survey as much as possible with his sidescan, and to collect sediment samples from the seafloor.

The weather so far has been great. We have typically had temperatures of 10-20°C and only today did it begin to rain. Everyone is using the opportunity to catch up with the work that has piled up in the camp, like revising field notebooks, processing samples, writing the blog, making tents and making the warehouse more waterproof, as well as trying to get a better grip on the equipment software, while preparing for our upcoming fieldwork.

 

We are all excited about fieldwork to come. A helicopter will be at our disposal over this period, however the operating costs are high and thus every minute counts. Now it's all about checking the equipment, readying the gear, and planning everyone's tasks. We must be as efficient as possible. Everyone in our group will get a chance to fly with the helicopter, and this is probably what we are most looking forward to on this trip.

 

Stefanie