Figure 1: As we establish on the new ice floe, low clouds and fog sneak in and make the ice look like an Alpine landscape. Photo: Michael Tjernström/MISU/Stockholm University

As all days are workdays we are celebrating the Swedish national day - by working; weekdays or holidays lose meaning on expedition. Except Saturdays when we dress up for dinner.

Figure 2: The whole ARTofMELT team plus Oden crew celebrating the Swedish national day. Photo: Paul Zieger/ACES/Stockholm University

The weather the past week has been a mix. We had just set up instruments on the ice as fog and clouds rolled in and then a new snow storm hit, but not as strong as the two we already experienced. After this came a period with alternating fog, low clouds and a few snow showers limiting visibility, but right now the sun is shining from a blue sky. Limited visibility, however, is a problem for work on the ice, since the bear guards cannot see far enough.

Figure 3: Wrestlig Polar Bears care more about winning the fights than listening to our warnings. Photo: Michael Tjernström/MISU/Stockholm University

Speaking of bears, we have had several visits the last few days. We had to gently push away two grumpy males with the helicopter, as they seemed more interested in fighting each other than moving on. Then another bear came through the camp in the night, chewed on some flags and proceeded to dig out a snow-and-ice mass balance (SIMBA) bouy buried in the snow. Later the same day, as we were turning Oden around to keep the bow into the wind, so we can sample air unpolluted by ourselves, a mother bear and a cub came up almost all the way to the ship, then strolled over our back yard and turned over some instruments but did not damage anything.

Figure 4: Polar Bear visit as we were turning the ship around in the ice to face into the wind. Photo: Michael Tjernström/MISU/Stockholm University

Although the temperature has been above freezing one day and close a number of times, we have yet to see the melt start. The plan now is to stay here until next weekend, when our last chance of spring is forecast. The next report will likely be the last and come when the expedition has already ended.