NASA, RRS Sir David Attenborough, and Greenland: Unveiling the Arctic’s Climate Secrets

NASA’s recent initiatives in the Arctic, particularly through the ARCSix mission, are pivotal in enhancing our understanding of Earth’s rapidly changing climate. The mission, which involves daily science flights from Pituffik Space Base, aims to improve data modeling and provide deeper insights into the Arctic’s dynamic environment. The Arctic, often referred to as Earth’s air conditioner, plays a crucial role in regulating the planet’s temperature by transporting and dissipating solar energy. However, the region has been experiencing significant changes in its ice, ocean, and atmospheric conditions, which have far-reaching impacts on global weather patterns, sea levels, and ecosystems.

The ARCSix mission is a collaborative effort between NASA and the University of Colorado Boulder. It employs three aircraft equipped with advanced instruments to gather comprehensive observations of surface sea ice, clouds, and aerosol particles. These elements are critical in understanding the Arctic’s energy budget, which is the balance between the energy Earth receives from the sun and the energy it radiates back into space. The data collected from these flights are expected to shed light on how changes in sea ice and cloud properties influence the Arctic’s cooling effect and, consequently, the global climate.

Climate scientist Patrick Taylor from NASA’s Langley Research Center emphasizes the importance of sea ice in maintaining the Arctic’s cooling effect. Over the past 40 years, the Arctic has lost a significant amount of sea ice, resulting in faster warming of the region. This warming can trigger a cascade of effects, including altered weather conditions, rising sea levels, and increased flooding in various parts of the world. The ARCSix mission’s first series of flights took place in May and June, while the second campaign began in late July during the peak melting season. This timing allows scientists to observe the changes in sea ice, including the formation of melt ponds, which can alter how the ice interacts with sunlight and the atmosphere.

Sea ice and snow play a vital role in insulating the ocean and reflecting solar radiation back into space. However, as the amount of sea ice decreases and darker surfaces become more prevalent, more solar radiation is absorbed, leading to further warming. Understanding the interplay between sea ice, clouds, and radiation is essential for improving predictive models and preparing for future changes in the Arctic climate. Early data analysis from the ARCSix mission has already revealed intriguing discoveries, such as a ‘sea ice sandwich’ phenomenon and unexpected drizzle within clouds. Additionally, volcanic particles have been found to persist in the atmosphere longer than previously thought, potentially influencing sea ice melt.

The ARCSix mission has also identified multiple layers of aerosol particles in the Arctic atmosphere, including those originating from wildfires, pollution, and dust from Asia and North America. These particles can significantly impact sea ice melt and cloud formation. The mission’s findings will contribute to refining predictive models and developing strategies to mitigate and adapt to the rapid changes occurring in the Arctic. The research team, based at NASA’s Langley Research Center, is committed to advancing our understanding of the Arctic’s role in the global climate system and the implications of its transformation.

Meanwhile, the RRS Sir David Attenborough is embarking on its first science expedition to the Arctic, focusing on South-East Greenland. This mission, part of the Kang-Glac project, aims to study Greenland’s glaciers and coastal waters to understand the region’s melting ice sheet and its impact on the ocean and global climate systems. Led by an interdisciplinary team of 40 scientists and support staff from renowned research institutes worldwide, the six-week mission will delve into the complex processes driving these changes by examining current conditions and historical climatic periods.

The Greenland ice sheet is decaying at an accelerating rate due to climate change. Warm Atlantic waters moving through fjords meet the ice fronts of marine-terminating glaciers, causing increased melting and iceberg break-offs. The injection of fresh meltwater into the ocean is altering ocean currents and marine ecosystems around Greenland and the North Atlantic, with potential implications for weather systems in the UK and beyond. By extending the observational record back 11,700 years to the Holocene era, researchers hope to anticipate future ice-ocean-ecosystem changes, including periods when Greenland’s summer temperatures were warmer than today.

Professor Brice, one of the leading scientists on the Kang-Glac project, will be flown onto the vessel by helicopter to work along the fjord sides and on nunataks, examining boulders and dating the positions of the ice sheet over the past 10,000 years. By understanding how the ice sheet behaved during warmer periods, researchers can better predict its response to current global warming. As the ice sheet retreats, it releases freshwater and nutrients into the ocean, impacting sea level and biological productivity. Sediments from the seafloor will also be sampled to track changes in oceanic conditions and carbon/nutrient cycling.

Dr. Kelly Hogan, a marine geophysicist and co-lead on the Kang-Glac project, underscores the urgency of understanding how the Greenland ice sheet will decay and its effects on the rest of the planet. The three-and-a-half-year project will generate records of glacier, ocean, and ecosystem changes during the Holocene era in key sites close to Kangerlussuaq fjord in South-East Greenland. The team, comprising oceanographers, biologists, and geologists, will utilize advanced tools and technology aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough, including underwater robotics, to study interactions between meltwater and warm ocean water, as well as changes in glacier size and ocean temperatures.

Professor Colm O’Cofaigh, a glacial and marine geologist and co-lead on the project, highlights the importance of understanding long-term changes to contextualize current observations and make accurate predictions for the future. The expedition will be documented on social media to raise awareness of how Greenland is being affected by climate change. The British Antarctic Survey, part of the Natural Environment Research Council, is conducting this project to uncover the secrets of the polar regions and the impacts of climate change.

The data collected from both the ARCSix mission and the Kang-Glac project will be invaluable in improving our understanding of the Arctic and Greenland’s roles in the global climate system. These missions underscore the importance of international collaboration and the use of advanced technology in addressing the challenges posed by climate change. As the Arctic continues to transform, the insights gained from these missions will be crucial in developing strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change and adapt to a rapidly changing world.

In conclusion, the combined efforts of NASA’s ARCSix mission and the RRS Sir David Attenborough’s Kang-Glac project represent significant strides in our quest to understand and address the complexities of climate change in the Arctic and Greenland. These missions not only enhance our scientific knowledge but also highlight the urgent need for continued research and action to safeguard our planet’s future. By studying the past and present conditions of these critical regions, scientists are better equipped to predict and respond to the challenges posed by a warming world.