From September 2019 to October 2020 the icebreaker Polarstern of the Alfred Wegener Institute drifted through the Arctic Ocean as platform to facilitate interdisciplinary studies of the Arctic climate system. The mission is called “Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate” – MOSAiC. At the center of scientific activities are investigations of the sea ice, ocean, atmosphere, ecosystem and biogeochemistry.
Aurora at the departure of leg2. The first four days after leaving Tromso we had to wait in the fjord of Tromso for a storm to pass in the open ocean. This was the perfect time to see beautiful auroras from the ship.
Fjord of Tromso at the departure of leg2. The fjord of Tromso with its snow-covered mountains surrounding showed a impressive scenery before we left land for a few months.
Polarstern stuck in the ice
A part of the Ice camp at the end of leg2. To see a sled with equipment, the gas station for skidoos, ROV hut and balloon town releasing “miss piggy” the tethered balloon.
Pistenbully and snow truck, leg2. The vehicles were used to prepare roads in the snow and to transport heavy equipment on it.
RV Polarstern in the darkness during leg2. A ship amid a snowy landscape appears surreal again and again.
Remote sensing instruments at leg2. The instruments measure incoming and outgoing radiation from the snow surface.
Maintenance work on instruments of the “Remote Sensing Site”. It’s not always easy without light and at temperatures of minus 30 °C.
The tent of “balloon town” is shining orange in the darkness. The tent hosts the tethered balloon for atmospheric measurements.
Camping during leg2. We enjoyed the great opportunity to experience the polar night once from outside the ship and spent one night in a tent.
RV polarstern in twilight at the end of leg2 in the beginning of March.
Kapitani Dranitsyn, the Russian icebreaker that brought people from leg3 to exchange those from leg2.
Julia Schmale (leg3) and Ivo Beck (leg2) in their measurement container during the handover.
Both team ATMO of leg 2 and leg3 united together during the handover.
Finally, after more the three months in the arctic we saw the first polar bear. We were already on the way back from leg2 on the icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn.
Aurora at the departure of leg2. The first four days after leaving Tromso we had to wait in the fjord of Tromso for a storm to pass in the open ocean. This was the perfect time to see beautiful auroras from the ship.Fjord of Tromso at the departure of leg2. The fjord of Tromso with its snow-covered mountains surrounding showed a impressive scenery before we left land for a few months.Polarstern stuck in the iceA part of the Ice camp at the end of leg2. To see a sled with equipment, the gas station for skidoos, ROV hut and balloon town releasing “miss piggy” the tethered balloon.Pistenbully and snow truck, leg2. The vehicles were used to prepare roads in the snow and to transport heavy equipment on it.RV Polarstern in the darkness during leg2. A ship amid a snowy landscape appears surreal again and again.Remote sensing instruments at leg2. The instruments measure incoming and outgoing radiation from the snow surface.Maintenance work on instruments of the “Remote Sensing Site”. It’s not always easy without light and at temperatures of minus 30 °C.The tent of “balloon town” is shining orange in the darkness. The tent hosts the tethered balloon for atmospheric measurements.Camping during leg2. We enjoyed the great opportunity to experience the polar night once from outside the ship and spent one night in a tent.RV polarstern in twilight at the end of leg2 in the beginning of March.Kapitani Dranitsyn, the Russian icebreaker that brought people from leg3 to exchange those from leg2.Julia Schmale (leg3) and Ivo Beck (leg2) in their measurement container during the handover.Both team ATMO of leg 2 and leg3 united together during the handover.Finally, after more the three months in the arctic we saw the first polar bear. We were already on the way back from leg2 on the icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn.
