Sea ice geophysicist Melinda Webster was ready to fly to the RV Polarstern for the MOSAiC expedition. Then COVID-19 was declared a pandemic.
Polar Bear Visits Polarstern
The curious bear served as a gentle reminder to stay alert while on the ice.
Ice Coring Mondays
Each week, 10 scientists with the MOSAiC expedition drill ice cores for a variety of experiments back on the ship. Here’s what the day looks like.
MOSAiC Meets ICESat-2
Using a helicopter, a laser, and precise GPS coordinates, MOSAiC expedition scientists made measurements that will help validate sea ice data collected by NASA’s ICESat-2 satellite.
Instrument Rescue Operation
After cracks formed in the sea ice, the MOSAiC expedition team decided to move instruments to safer location.
Leads Everywhere
Cracks in the sea ice are a not-so-gentle reminder that the ice can be extremely dynamic, and researchers should be prepared for anything.
The MOSAiC Floe
Central to the entire MOSAiC Expedition is the MOSAiC Floe: a large sheet of sea ice that was carefully selected as the ideal place to anchor Polarstern for an entire year.
Farewell to Leg 2—Now Our Work Begins
The MOSAiC Leg 3 team is officially on board the Polarstern, and science activities have quickly begun.
The (Historic) Journey To Polarstern
Standing just a few meters from the sea ice, one can see just how dynamic, variable, and beautiful the ice cover can be.