A group of researchers from the University of Florida recently commemorated their successful expedition to Greenland with a gathering at a local brewery on Wednesday evening.
Hosted by the Florida Museum, participants from the University of Florida Thompson Earth Systems Institute (TESI) and the UF Water Institute converged at Cypress & Grove Brewing Co. to conclude their Greenland journey and exchange anecdotes from their Arctic escapades with a small audience.
Dubbed “Science on Tap: Cheers from the Arctic!”, the event marked the researchers’ final scientific mission to Greenland and represented the inaugural in-person Science on Tap gathering organized by TESI post the COVID-19 pandemic.
Megan Black, a Ph.D. student affiliated with the UF Department of Geological Sciences, expressed, “We’re ceasing our visits to Greenland as our National Science Foundation funding is scheduled to expire this summer. Hence, this event serves as a means to engage with our community, discuss our activities, and present our research in an accessible and enjoyable manner.”
Dr. John Martin, a geology professor at UF and the associate chair of geological sciences, commenced his work in Greenland more than ten years ago in collaboration with Dr. Ellen Martin, UF’s geological sciences chair. Their initial research project delved into the diverse watersheds and streams originating from the land. Subsequently, numerous field experiments were conducted to unravel the impact of glacier melting and retreat on the land and water systems.
The 2019 Water Institute Graduate Fellow program extended support to a newly formed cohort comprising faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students across various disciplines such as geology, microbiology, botany, hydrology, ecosystem science, coastal hydrodynamics, and communications.
The team’s initiative, known as SILA (Significance of Ice-Loss to Landscapes in the Arctic), focused on delineating the transformations induced by advancing and receding glaciers on landscapes, ecosystems, and water bodies.
Glaciers, akin to the climate, undergo natural fluctuations, with the last peak occurring approximately 15,000 years ago during the last glacial maximum. This period witnessed glaciers covering a landscape nearly 15 times larger than the present scenario.
Dr. Martin highlighted the chemical interactions between water draining from the ice sheet and the minerals in the rocks, altering the water chemistry that ultimately flows into the ocean, thereby impacting ocean chemistry. Moreover, gases released into the atmosphere from the landscapes influence atmospheric chemistry, including greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
Examining the environmental changes from 15,000 years ago assumes paramount significance in the current context of human-induced climate change.
The escalating sea levels resulting from ice sheet retreat pose a significant concern, with Greenland experiencing a rise of approximately three millimeters annually, a rate that is accelerating due to the rapid warming of the Arctic region.
Florida, being a state with low elevation, faces the imminent repercussions of such warming trends.
The team’s application in 2019 aligned with the extensive research efforts of Ellen and John Martin spanning over a decade. Subsequently, upon the inclusion of graduate fellows from the Water Institute, the National Science Foundation approved funding for the project, with Dr. John Martin estimating the total grant to be around $4 million.
With all the necessary components in place, students and graduate fellows embarked on their Greenland explorations in 2022.
Residing and working in such a remote region characterized by extreme climatic conditions posed unique challenges and offered unforgettable experiences to the scientists and students.
Describing Greenland as a blend of Wyoming and Denmark, Dr. Martin likened it to the Wild West with a European ambiance, where residents engage in hunting and fishing while embracing cosmopolitan elements.
The team primarily stayed at a dorm-style research facility in Kangerlussuaq, a small town in western Greenland with a population of 500.
The transition to this unfamiliar environment, devoid of modern comforts and technology, presented its share of difficulties.
Limited transportation options, absence of roads, and reliance on boats and military planes for travel characterized their time in Greenland.
The prolonged daylight hours, with 24-hour sunlight, and the constrained recreational opportunities in the small town necessitated the team to devise their own entertainment.
Black humorously recalled the team’s visits to the local dump, which housed abandoned military equipment from the town’s former U.S. military base, serving as a makeshift playground for some of the researchers.
Teaching her colleagues how to operate a manual transmission vehicle, considering the prevalence of such cars in town, was one of the memorable experiences for Black.
The town’s amenities were scarce, with a solitary grocery store offering limited supplies, predominantly guns. The sporadic shipments to the store resulted in perishable items like fresh vegetables displaying signs of deterioration due to the extended transit time.
The profound sense of isolation from the rest of the world was palpable, underscoring the remoteness of their location.
While their Arctic exploration phase has drawn to a close, the team’s work continues as they focus on consolidating their data and disseminating their findings through publications.
Despite the rigorous research endeavors and lifestyle adjustments, the team has contributed significantly to scientific knowledge and forged enduring memories during this once-in-a-lifetime experience.