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On the ice: continuing Arctic research
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Cover image by Bernard Steffin.
Centre for Climate Repair director, Shaun Fitzgerald, joined the Real Ice team in Cambridge Bay this February. They are trialing ways of thickening sea ice in the Arctic to help it last longer over the summer; the hope is that this will prevent the loss of the ice, which has devastating consequences not only for the local population but also for global climate stability. Crucially, the team is investigating the wider implications the ideas may have and weighing up the risks of these interventions versus the risks from not doing them at all.
Shaun follows on from Jacob Pantling, a PhD researcher at the Department of Engineering, who took part in January's research expedition. You can read about his trip, along with an outline of the work being carried out, here.
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First things first...
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Shaun and the team were taught to build snow shelters by local people.
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They also met with the Ekaluktutiak Hunters and Trappers Organization, a local group who provide essential guidance as the team travel across the ice.
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Real-time observations
With temperatures below -30℃, it doesn't take long to see how the water freezes on top of the ice.
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This is something the team are able to study back in the labs, too. While Shaun was out in Cambridge Bay, a paper by Jacob Pantling was published detailing his modelling of the water flow on ice - you can read it here.
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Learning from experts
The team are working with local communities, sharing knowledge of the ice and observations of its changing. The research would not be possible without their involvement.
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How do you measure success?
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Join the conversation
There’ll be more opportunity to discuss this research and other big ideas at our conference in June. Hosted in Cambridge (the UK one!) from 26th-28th June, Arctic Repair 2025 is an important opportunity to consider potential solutions for a warming world, like sea ice thickening.
