Catlin Arctic Survey 2010
Catlin Arctic Survey 2010 is focused on what is widely considered to be the ‘other’ carbon problem beyond climate change….that of ocean change. The Survey is undertaking vital research into how greenhouse gases could affect the marine life of the Arctic Ocean, including some species that can be described as the core of life on our planet.
In the time-honoured tradition of exploration, the mission connects scientists and explorers in the quest to advance scientific understanding of the world we live in. Bringing together marine biologists, oceanographers and polar explorers, this international collaboration aims to study the impact of increased carbon dioxide absorption by our seas. This is changing the chemistry of the water, potentially leading to a phenomenon known as ocean acidification.
Ann’s role in the expedition was team leader of the Explorer Team, who travelled 400 kilometers (not including negative drift) across the floating sea ice of the Arctic Ocean, gathering precious water samples as they travelled. Ann and the team reached the North Pole on 12th May 2010.
Take a look at this video to get a sense of what the team went through on their epic 60-day trek.
Visit www.catlinarcticsurvey.com for more information.
Catlin Arctic Survey 2009
In 2009, Ann was asked by Pen Hadow to be his head of ice operations for the Catlin Arctic survey, a ground breaking expedition, working with some of the world’s foremost scientific bodies to help determine how long the Arctic Ocean’s sea ice cover will remain a permanent feature of our planet. As well as navigator and pathfinder, Ann was also head of communications and cooked for the team, always rising first and retiring last.
On 28 February in sub zero temperatures the team including expedition leader Pen Hadow and world renowned photographer Martin Hartley were put down on the sea ice to begin a journey that was to last for 74 days.
Although they had problems with their scientific, navigation and photography equipment from the outset they did not let this get in the way of their objectives and returned to old fashioned methods of exploration. Pen physically measured the thickness of the sea ice with a huge ice drill and tape measure, took snow density measurements and manually profiled the sea ice. Ann packed away the compass that did not work so close to the magnetic North Pole and used the sun, her watch and the wind to find the path north while Martin caught amazing imagery with the smallest compact camera.
The expedition had setback after setback, with failing equipment, huge drift in the sea ice, difficult terrain and severe frostbite of Martin’s big toe and yet each day they dealt with whatever problems the ice threw at them and together they travelled over 400kms, made over 16000 observations and measurements of snow and ice thickness and density and reached an audience worldwide of over 6 billion.
Scientists are analysing the unique data that the survey brought back and initial results already suggest that the sea ice is thinner than expected and therefore more likely to melt. This will provide new evidence for the crucial climate change negotiations in December 2009.
The Catlin Arctic survey will continue and is working in partnership with scientists and the WWF to help understand what the future holds for the Arctic.