British explorers cut short trek to North Pole

May 14, 2009 By CHARMAINE NORONHA , Associated Press Writer

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This recent but undated photo provided by Catlin Arctic Survey shows an unidentified British polar explorer walks across a ice ridge with a hand-drill on High Arctic sea ice. Three British polar explorers have ended their sojourn on High Arctic sea ice on Wednesday May 13, 2009 after 73 days of hard travel and skin-freezing temperatures. The trio had been collecting data that will give scientists a rare first-hand look at the ice's declining thickness. (AP Photo/Catlin Arctic Survey via the Canadian Press, Martin Hartley)

(AP) -- British explorers in northern Canada to measure the thickness of floating Arctic sea ice ended their expedition short of reaching the North Pole due to an early summer ice melt, the team said Thursday.

Explorers Pen Hadow, Ann Daniel and photographer Martin Hartley had planned a three-month journey to the North Pole, but ended their arduous trek Wednesday, approximately 304 miles (490 kilometers) from their destination, said Hadow.

The trio stopped after 73 days, during which they measured the thickness of floating sea ice to provide data to scientists studying the impact of global warming in the region.

"This year, the summer melt came a little early," Hadow said during a Webcast conference from Resolute Bay in northern Canada. "We would have rather reached the Pole if we could have, but we've always regarded (getting there) as the cherry on the cake."

Information the team gathers could contribute to a better understanding of global warming, which is believed to be the main culprit in the rapidly melting polar ice cap that is freeing up new sea routes and untapped mineral resources on the ocean bottom.

Hadow said the group's goal was to cover as much distance as possible and gather as much information as possible.

"Along the way we realized (getting to) the Pole was not achievable so we sacrificed it very easily," he said.

The data will be used to help scientists further understand climate change by getting a better picture of when sea ice in the North Pole will melt completely and not refreeze seasonally.

The trekkers said they captured 16,000 observations and took 1,500 measurements of the thickness and density of the ice and snow by drilling into the striking blue ice.

The group discovered the average thickness of the sea ice was 5 feet (1.5 meters).

"This seems to suggest it was almost all first-year ice. Our science advisers had told us to expect thicker, older ice on at least part of the route, so it is something of a mystery where that older ice has gone. It'll be interesting to see what scientists think about this," said Hadow.

He also said there was little snow cover.

Peter Wadhams, a professor of Ocean Physics at the University of Cambridge, said that "the data already sent back shows the team have been traveling on first-year ice and provided an insight into its rate of growth this year."

Wadhams also heads the Polar Ocean Physics Group in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at Cambridge.

Hadow said the findings would be presented at a conference on climate change in December in Copenhagen, where alternatives to the Kyoto Protocol environmental treaty.

But for now, the group is happy to be on solid ground after trekking amid treacherous snow conditions and temperatures dropping below minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 70 degrees Celsius) with a wind chill.

"It's delightful to be back (on the ground)," said Daniel. "I had the window wide open last night because I got so used to the cold. But I woke up quite often in the night feeling just luxuriated in a bed. And its absolutely wonderful to eat on a plate, with a fork and knife, while sitting on a chair."

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On the Net:

http://www.catlinarcticsurvey.com/

©2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

• GrayMouser - May 14, 2009
  • Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
  The sea ice thickness doesn't match that of the recent German survey. Of course the German's equipment worked in the unusually cold temperatures that caused the British to cut their trip short...
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• mikiwud - May 15, 2009
  • Rank: 5 / 5 (1)

  "This year, the summer melt came a little early,"

  
  
  They reached or passed the latest safe date to be removed. The ice cover is close to the 30yr average.
  

  The group discovered the average thickness of the sea ice was 5 feet (1.5 meters).

  
  
  

  "This seems to suggest it was almost all first-year ice. Our science advisers had told us to expect thicker, older ice on at least part of the route, so it is something of a mystery where that older ice has gone. It'll be interesting to see what scientists think about this," said Hadow.

  
  
  They planned their route on known first year ice because it would be flatter. Also they got nowhere near the pole.
  
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• mikiwud - May 17, 2009
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  This one is worth reading at
  http://wattsupwit...ore-7904
  

  The Catlin crew was picked up this week, after completing less than 50% of their planned journey to the North Pole and coming up about 500km short. Immediately upon their return, The Guardian reported :
  After 73 days, the Catlin Arctic Survey has come to an end. Pen Hadow%u2019s team of British Arctic explorers have battled to the North Pole through freezing conditions collecting data about the ice en route.
  
  This reminds me of the legend of %u201Cbringing the mountain to Mohammed.%u201D

  
  and
  

  Expedition Leader Pen Hadow revealed that initial Survey results show the average ice thickness in the region to be 1.774m.
  
  1.774m is fairly thick for first year ice (and requires a very accurate tape measure.) They started their expedition in March on ice which NSIDC had already identified in February as first year ice %u2013 so why were they surprised to find first year ice?

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