Why Greenland ? Citizen Science Projects
The Fram conducted Citizen Science programs each day that we had landings. You could sign up for the program, and be assigned a shift in a zodiac to collect data that are pooled with that from other research programs. Greg is getting ready to drop a $17K piece of equipment to measure plankton density in the bay at Ella Ø. We also measured clarity of the water, and collected plankton samples for later analysis under a microscope.
Ella Ø is a small island southeast of yesterday’s landing. It’s the site of a Danish military station operated by the Sirius Patrol. Formally known as the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, this elite naval unit is part of the Joint Arctic Command. It conducts long-range reconnaissance to ensure sovereignty in the North and East Greenland wilderness. (Such active patrolling was initially required by the League of Nations, in order for Greenland to remain Danish). During World War II, the Sirius Patrol discovered several secret German weather stations which had been set up along the east coast of Greenland to assist in U-boat navigation. Destruction of these stations was crucial to the Battle of the Atlantic and air/land fighting in the northwest European theater.
Sirius Patrols continue today. They are usually 2-man operations, using up to a dozen dogs and lasting several months in the icy wilderness. The psychological and physical demands are exceptional. The selection process is rigorous.
The barracks at Ella Ø are manned only during the summer. There is a small airstrip, and a larger base nearby (relatively, this being East Greenland) from which supplies can be drawn.
Low blankets of clouds balanced between the sea and mountains. What a lovely place to wake up and go to work.
The barracks look like shipping containers. Off-duty pups get to enjoy a sunny patch of grass.
Our landing was adjacent to the military base, and our hike led about about a mile inland.
Ella Ø is our last landing in Northeast Greenland National Park, and our last landing in Greenland. The airport runway is to the left. The little specks are our fellow travelers making their way, reluctantly, back to the ship. This is quite a magical place.
We overheard the navigator speaking this afternoon about our good fortune in making our way north to the National Park. We’d had to wait several hours during our cruise up the coast from Scoresbysund Fjord for the ice to break up. Apparently another ship tried to do this some time after us, and couldn’t get through. The captain is allowing 2 1/2 days to get back to Iceland, in case the ice is still dense. It should be a restful few days.
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