Svalbard

Sunbathing at the 78th parallel

By Shona // Monday 17 Sep // 09:07:13 // 3 Comments

Yesterday was a lovely day. The sun was shinning so we took advantage and lay on deck and finally felt some sun after the last few days of cold wind and temperature. Despite the sun it was still cold but my layers never fail to keep me warm.
       
After docking at Ny-Alselund we headed off to explore a glacier in hopes of starting my pit (science experiment). Seeing a glacier up close is like nothing I have ever seen before. The films and pictures that you see of glaciers don’t do it justice. The blue colour of the ice is fantastic, it is so clear and vibrant. Right before our own eyes we saw a large part of the glacier fall off and go into the water. The power and strength of the ice is impressive. The noise it makes chills you to the bone. It echoes through the air and disturbs everything around it. The noise is like the glaciers cry for help. It doesn’t sound natural, the glacier is unwell and its thunderous cracks and moans are its way of telling us to stop what we are doing that hurts it so. Slowly it is loosing itself and we just keep ignoring it. When the ice it’s the water it creates massive waves that ripple until they hit the shore. The waves are powerful and its way of hitting us with its anger. If we aren’t careful these glaciers may determine our future and then and only then we will experience first hand the sheer strength and power that these glaciers posses.

Love and miss you all,
Shona x

Tags: Shona

3 Comments

  1. Kitty Tuesday 18 Sep, 2007 // 19:35:21

    hi Liam

    checking in every day to see how your doing. It really is an experience of a lifetime. keep warm. kitty

  2. Stuart & Edith Smith Tuesday 18 Sep, 2007 // 22:33:51

    Hi Shona, glad you’re feeling better, we have a question: if all that ice from the glaciers is turning into fresh meltwater, which then mixes with the existing saltwater, what effect is that having or likely to have on the way that sea currents behave and on marine life which has existed in more salty conditions up to now?

  3. Dad Wednesday 19 Sep, 2007 // 12:58:32

    Hello Shona,

    I watched your video and I hope that you will be able to find some snow up there for your experiment… Take care. Dad

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