Findings

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How will the results of this research aid us? How will it be used? In general, what is your hypothesis?

Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 64

Hello Lisa! Thanks for your question! At this point, the researchers are formalizing their hypotheses and your question helps place matters into perspective. Caleb Schiff has offered his insight and I think that along with the information about individual projects that was posted yesterday, this might attempt to answer your questions. Please feel free to read over the information on projects and ask the students questions specific to their research. We will try to get you answers as soon as we can.

Of course you must understand that we are spend most of every day in the field. Of recent days we have been fighting the elements and dealing with some pretty bad weather. When we return to base camp the data must be downloaded and processed and everyone is quite exhausted. About every third or fourth day we try to spend some time catching up on journaling and writing, but then we don't always have a connection to the Internet! That being said, know that we will get back to all questions as soon as possible, so please be patient with us!!! Take it away Caleb - - -

Caleb Schiff
Research hypothesis:
Linnébreen (Linné glacier), a non-temperate valley glacier located on Spitsbergen, the largest island of Svalbard, has been experiencing rapid retreat during the last 70 years. The retreat is clearly documented with aerial photos dating back to 1936. One mechanism for retreat could be warming of the region, but other variables, including: precipitation amounts, wind direction, and amount of solar radiation reaching the glacier, may play an important role. In an attempt to reconstruct the temperature regime of the recent past for the Linnédalen (Linné valley), and thereby quantify the temperature changes that the glacier is “feeling,” I plan on sampling ice from the glacier (starting with the oldest ice located at the terminus and ending with the youngest ice located at the equilibrium altitude line) and analyzing the samples for oxygen isotope concentrations, a proxy for past temperatures.
My initial hypothesis is simple. I expect to see an increase in 20th century warming, which would strongly support the subsequent glacial retreat. However, deciphering a temperature signal from isotope data can be difficult and the data may show a cooling. Furthermore, because the snow on the glacier falls in the winter months, the oxygen isotope date will only provide insight into temperatures during those months.

Sidenote:
Svalbard is unlike any other place I have visited. Just seeing the formidable landscape illustrates how unique its location is. It seems that around every corner, mountain, or stream channel, there are clues to help one unlock the geological history of the area.
The weather offers an equal mystery that gnaws at everyone on the trip. We have been experiencing the same conditions (dense fog, continual misty rain, mixed with bouts of wind gusts and freezing rain, Temp. 3 to 5 degrees C, winds from the south at 20 knots) for the past six days!! Every morning and night I check the local weather gauges at Isfjord Radio to see if conditions have changed, but the windburn on my face from a long day outside and the howl against the building reminds me the lower atmosphere is restless. It’s as if the weather is telling the REU participants that the arctic is not a habitable environment for humans. But we are taking advantage of our short time here by braving the conditions, learning broken Norwegian, and sharing laughs, chocolate bars, and blueberry jam. Spending my summer in one of the coldest places on Earth is starting to grow on me, something I would have never expected.