Victoria Fjord, 2024-08-30

The temperature dropped at the end of our stay in the Victoriafjord, and snow began to fall. The lakes inland began to get a sheet of ice, and we felt that the snow that settled was here to stay. It became challenging to do fieldwork for the projects, looking for bones and driftwood and collecting plants and geological samples.

At sea, our commitment to data collection remains unwavering. This is the essence of Oden and our research planning. The diversity and complexity of our research projects ensure that data collection is a constant, around-the-clock endeavour. If an instrument doesn't function as expected, our skilled technicians and crewmen swiftly adapt and rebuild it. If an instrument meant for the small boats is hindered by excessive ice, we adapt by suspending it beneath a helicopter, which then dips it into the open water pools in the fjord. Our adaptability, numerous alternative plans, and redundancy are the pillars of our success!

Text by Åsa Lindgren, expedition coordinator

Liz Weidner, University of California San Diego, controls an echoboat at the GEOEO North of Greenland 2024 expedition. Echoboat is a small USV (uncrewed surface vessel) that has its own sonar and a built-in CTD. Video by Åsa Lindgren.