Journal Entry
Ny Alesund Bound

Check out the little plane we that took to Ny Alesund. Every seat is a window seat!

The small plane we took from Longyearbyen to Ny AlesundThe small plane we took from Longyearbyen to Ny Alesund The cockpit from my seatThe cockpit from my seat

This is one of my first looks at Kongfjorden- the fjord that Ny Alesund sits on. The white dots are icebergs!

My first view of Ny Alesund form the airMy first view of Ny Alesund form the air

Once on the ground we were shuttled a very short distance to "town".

The REU group on the tarmac after arrivalThe REU group on the tarmac after arrival Arrived in Ny Alesund!

The views were so spectacular. It is better than I ever imagined and the most beautiful place I have ever seen. I can't even begin to describe how picturesque it is here.
We settled into our rooms and headed to the dining hall. I took this picture from my seat at lunch.

I took this picture from the dining hall during lunchI took this picture from the dining hall during lunch

The dining hall bustled with scientists from all over the world. At this point I was restraining myself from doing the biggest happy dance you have ever seen. I was just like, "Yes!!! I am here and this place is amazing!" Truly I just thought I was going to explode with joy. I am so fortunate to have this opportunity. Really, how many teachers get out of their classroom to do something like this? I am pinching myself 24/7. I am very, very lucky indeed. Wahoo!!!!

Settling In To Do Some Science

Together we made several stops around "town". (For a sense of scale, the town is about the size of a high school campus.) First, we had a brief about procedures, rules, contacts, etc. Next, we took a look at facilities and choices for our lab. After a tour, we decided to set up camp inside the Marinlaboratorium because it is right next to the docks and we won't have to carry our equipment far.

The REU group checking out the lab spaceThe REU group checking out the lab space

We located our equipment which had been shipped ahead, moved it to our new lab space and unpacked it.

Hauling out the equipmentHauling out the equipment Loading up the equipmentLoading up the equipment The marine lab- this is where the science will happen.The marine lab- this is where the science will happen.

We also visited the dock.

This is the boat I will drive, or one like it.This is the boat I will drive, or one like it. Getting to Work

After dinner we got started on prepping the equipment.

Unpacking the cratesUnpacking the crates Carefully removing the CTD. A CTD measures the conductivity (salinity), temperature and depth of a water column.Carefully removing the CTD. A CTD measures the conductivity (salinity), temperature and depth of a water column. This is another water sampler and can collect water for a variety of tests.This is another water sampler and can collect water for a variety of tests. Julie is demonstrating how the gravity corer will function.Julie is demonstrating how the gravity corer will function. Julie is demonstrating operation of the winchJulie is demonstrating operation of the winch Ryan is checking operation of the GPS unitsRyan is checking operation of the GPS units Courtney is pumping up the buoys that will float atop the droguesCourtney is pumping up the buoys that will float atop the drogues Ryan and Kean are massing and labeling petri dishes and filters in preparation for sediment samplingRyan and Kean are massing and labeling petri dishes and filters in preparation for sediment sampling Jessica is checking out the filter which will be used to prepare samplesJessica is checking out the filter which will be used to prepare samples Ross and Dominique are downloading the software for the CTDRoss and Dominique are downloading the software for the CTD And I am cutting panels that I will sew and attach to PVC pipe to make the drogue!And I am cutting panels that I will sew and attach to PVC pipe to make the drogue! Did I Mention That This Place Is Awesome?

Here are some more pictures to illustrate our incredible, wonderful, beautiful, amazing day.

A beautiful rainbow formed across the fjord while we were at the marine lab.A beautiful rainbow formed across the fjord while we were at the marine lab. Icebergs are beautifulIcebergs are beautiful View from the shore of the fjordView from the shore of the fjord There are many geese. Much of the station is designated as bird sanctuary.There are many geese. Much of the station is designated as bird sanctuary. The REU group heading back from the labThe REU group heading back from the lab

Comments

Tue, 07/29/2014 - 02:30

Lucy Ivey

Fabulous. Nice to see that after the morning's commute on the polar bear express, everyone was ready to roll up their sleeves and get down to the science!

Tue, 07/29/2014 - 04:32

Addie

Wow! It truly is beautiful! When do you get to drive your boat? Are the geese there year round or do they migrate to other places?

Tue, 07/29/2014 - 06:29

Peggy McNeal

Addie! It is so beautiful that I am afraid of walking into a pole because my attention is on the gorgeous scenery around me! We have two boats now, a third will become available soon. In the meantime we are looking to go out on a recon trip and and see how the glacier is behaving. I'll do some boat driving then. The geese are Barnacle Geese. They have the cutest little, fuzzy babies. I'll have to get more pictures. They migrate from Solway Firth. (Huh?- coastal waters forming part of the border between England and Scotland.) They arrive in Svalbard during the second half of May and return south in late August and September. Thanks for writing in and thanks for the questions!

Tue, 07/29/2014 - 06:31

Peggy McNeal

Hi Lucy- Thanks for checking in! Today there was more science prep and also a lot of rope untangling- more on that to come along with the "polar bear commute" picture for everyone to see!

Wed, 07/30/2014 - 05:07

Stephanie

The pictures are amazing and I am glad you are having so much fun. I would be so scared to fly in that little plane.

Wed, 07/30/2014 - 08:54

Peggy McNeal

Thanks, Stephanie! I wasn't scared to fly in the little plane because the scenery was so spectacular!

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 09:49

Bill

Fantastic pictures - what an adventure!
Tell us more about the science being done. What are the various disciplines of the team members? What sort of measurements / samples are you taking? What sort of equipment are you using?

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 09:45

Peggy McNeal

Hey Bill!The team consists of me, two professors of geosciences and six undergraduate students all studying geosciences, environmental science and earth systems science. Each student has formulated an area of research having to do with the glacial systems here in the fjord. The instruments we will use measure a variety of things having to do with sedimentation rates and oceanography. Examples are gravity corers, current meters, pressure readers, CTD (conductivity, temperature and depth), light meters and even phytoplankton nets. I will cover more of the science once we actually start taking measurements and collecting data. Thanks for the great questions!