After 18 days in quarantine and multiple tests for coronavirus, leg 4 participants in the MOSAiC expedition head north to meet the RV Polarstern.
Departure
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.