Arctic Ocean, 14 September 2026

We are now in our final week on board. The traditions and activities that have shaped our daily lives, and which we have come to take for granted, will soon come to an end. While activity remains high, we have begun planning our journey home and reflecting on what we have experienced and accomplished.

Autumn makes its presence felt

According to our careful calculations, last Saturday we were due to witness the first sunset in five weeks. It was a magically beautiful day, with the sun shining and the ice glistening. But whether what we saw really was a sunset has been debated ever since. The sun never seemed to disappear below the horizon.

The most likely explanation is atmospheric refraction – the bending of light – which produced a superior mirage. This phenomenon can occur when the air closest to the ice is colder than the air above it, causing an object below the horizon to appear to float above the ice. Whatever we saw, the return of sunset is a clear sign that autumn has arrived in the Arctic and that it will soon be time to head home.

New knowledge of the Arctic Ocean

Scientific expeditions generate knowledge that helps us better understand our planet. Just over 71 per cent of the world’s ocean floor remains to be mapped, and the Arctic Ocean is among the least explored regions on Earth.

So far during the expedition, we have travelled more than 8,614 kilometres and mapped 55,486 square kilometres of the ocean floor. We have collected tens of thousands of samples from ice, water and sediment, and studied weather, ocean currents and ice drift. Together, we have gathered data that can increase our understanding of our planet’s history and the changes currently taking place in the Arctic. The results may also improve our ability to assess future developments over both the short and long term.

An ending that is also a beginning

Although the expedition will soon be over, in many ways it is only the beginning. Good research does more than provide answers; it also raises new questions, and few environments are as fascinating and inspiring as the Arctic.

For the students on board, the ECR programme has opened new doors. We have established international collaborations, networks and friendships that will endure and continue to develop long after the expedition. For some, the experiences gained during these weeks aboard Oden may also influence the choices they make in life.

Seen from above, we are only a tiny dot in a seemingly endless expanse of sea ice. But by continuing to share knowledge and inspire curiosity, our time aboard Oden can make a real difference.

Text: Hanna Farnelid, ECR Program Coordinator