Researchers and students working together to collect observations of the ocean and Arctic sea ice
In June, our Acoustic and Oceanography Group organized a research cruise onboard the Norwegian Coast Guard Vessel KV Svalbard. Students and experienced scientists worked side by side to collect sea-ice and oceanographic data. Engagement and involvement are essential to train the new generation of scientists in conducting Arctic field work.
The Useful Arctic Knowledge (UAK) 2021 cruise was organized to support an educational program for BSc and MSc students, as well as PhD candidates. The cruise had 19 participants from nine different countries, representing institutions in USA, Poland, United Kingdom, and Norway. On June 5th, the ship left Tromsø and headed for the Arctic. In Longyearbyen equipment was loaded onto the icebreaker KV Svalbard, and the journey continued into the sea-ice area north of Svalbard. This is where two weeks of adventure began. For several of the twelve students this was the first time in the ice-covered Arctic and an experience they won't be forgetting for quite some time!
After 14 days onboard KV Svalbard, the researchers and students disembarked in Longyearbyen, with an extensive dataset to explore.
The UAK cruise participants in front of KV Svalbard. Photo: Hanne Sagen, NERSC
What was the aim of the research school?
The research school focused on training students how to use different instruments for collecting data in oceanography, ocean acoustics, and sea ice research.
Scientists and KV Svalbard officers gave lectures onboard about the Arctic ice-ocean environment and operations in the Arctic. After gaining practical experience with how to collect and document data in the field, the students produced videos about the activities during the cruise!
You can see their three-minute-long videos below. Clicking on an image redirects you to the YouTube video:
The secrets of the sea ice: a film describing the different sea ice you find in the Arctic.
Mooring retrieval on ice: a film about how the ocean under the sea ice is observed by fixed moorings.
Drones for science: a film demonstrating how drones can be used to observe ice from above and below.
Drifting ice buoy deployment and recovery: a film about how to use drifting buoy to collect acoustic and oceanographic data.
Projects and parties that made the research school onboard KV Svalbard possible
The research school was part of the H2020 project INTAROS – Integrated Arctic Observation System, contract no 727890 (http://intaros.eu, http://intaros.nersc.no) and the project Useful Arctic Knowledge: partnership for research and education (UAK), funded by the Research Council of Norway (contract no 274891). The research school was also supported by the project Digital Arctic Shipping, funded by the Research Council of Norway (contract no. 309708) for the drone work conducted by NORCE. Furthermore, Norwegian Meteorological Institute’s Ice Service contributed with personnel and SAR data and the CIRFA project at University of Tromsø contributed with Fine-resolution Quad-pol SAT data. Office of Naval Research Global contributed with personnel and travel support. Finally, the Norwegian Coast Guard is acknowledged for providing 14 days of ship time with KV Svalbard, which made it possible to organize the research school.
INTAROS news story: INTAROS Heads North with a New Generation of Arctic Scientists
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