Orientation
So what could go wrong in a remote place like Greenland? Well, many things could happen, but here are a few things we are warned about at our orientation.
The wildlife: There are no large predators that would hurt a human here, but there are very large herbivores. Caribou and musk oxen are not usually a threat. However, if they are startled, they could hurt a person in fear. Also, apparently musk oxen prefer to be uphill from threats, so if we see them uphill, that's good. If we see them downhill, we quietly go away. We have seen both of these animals, although I haven't gotten a good picture yet. There aren't polar bears this far from the ocean, so we don't have to worry about them.
Cooking: When using a stove inside a tent, it is really important to make sure the exhaust can vent outside, and cook tents are made with vents of this kind. Otherwise, a person could breathe carbon monoxide which is very dangerous.
Dehydration: It's important to drink enough water. Since water has to be transported to campsites, its tempting to not drink very much. Of course, this is never a good idea because water helps regulate all of our body's activities. It's a good idea to keep track and make sure we're drinking enough water each day.
Hypothermia: This means getting too cold, and it is a dangerous condition. It doesn't have to be freezing cold for people to get hypothermia; in fact, it's easy to get chilled when it is not extremely cold. When the temperature is in the 50s and 60s but the sun is shining, which is what most days are like in June, it is important to make sure the body is actually warm. We dress in layers here, as we go from place to place. When we work near camp, we are warm, but when we work near the ice sheet, the wind is cold so we add a layer or even two. A hat is always a good idea because a lot of body heat is lost through the head. In fact, it is necessary to wear a hat when sleeping in a tent too.
The ice: I haven't had a chance to go on the ice sheet yet because we have been so busy getting all of the research sites set up and data collected. When I do, it will be with the safety instructions of my research team. Another ice danger, however, comes when from being near but not on the ice. Glaciers are said to calve, that is, to have pieces break off of the edge. So it's a good idea to stay away from the edge of the glacier where very large pieces could break off and fall on a person. A related problem is that when a glacier calves into water, that large piece of falling ice can cause a tsunami. The wave created by a big chunk of falling ice is very sudden, very large, and can carry away anything that is near the shore. In the ocean these large pieces of ice are called icebergs, and, of course, these are dangerous for ships.
Driving: The road here is only about 1.5 vehicles wide, it twists and turns, and it is steep and rocky. Thus, there is the possibility of crashes of trucks and/or buses. Drivers need to pay close attention and look ahead for clouds of dust that hint of oncoming vehicles.
Beyond the gate, the road is visible snaking along the margin of the lake and up a steep hill.
Illness: There is an English-speaking nurse in Kangerlussuaq, but there is only a doctor here every 4-6 months. In case of serious illness or injury, a person would be flown to the capital city, Nuuk, which takes only about 20 minutes. In fact, I was required to purchase extra health insurance just in case something like that happens.
Current Complications
Problems of other types can crop up as well. Recently, a bridge on the road to the ice sheet partially washed out. The big tour bus can drive over the area, but our little pick-up trucks cannot.
This rubble is what remains of the road that leads to a small bridge visible ahead of the pedestrians.
So what does this mean for research? It means cooperation and team work are absolutely necessary! Scientists on this side of the bridge have research sites on the far side. There is also a group camping on the far side that needs to get to KISS at times; their truck is stuck on the far side of the bridge. The two groups are planning carefully to share trucks; they are working out the timing, the number of passengers, and the sites where each group works. CPS (CH2M Hill Polar Services) facilitates all of the safety, equipment, and communications between all of these groups. Everything right now is more complicated than usual, but it's working!
CPS is stocked with tents, coolers, and clothing, as well as gear for expeditions out on the ice sheet itself.
Flag of the Day
Daniel's whale and iceberg flag.
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