Now we’re moored to this floe and slowly drift south with the ice. Last Sunday, a storm passed with winds gusting well above 25 m/s and heavy (sideways) snowfall. But neither anything nor anyone broke and our measurements on board keep working all the time.

These last few days we have had very sunny weather although the temperatures have been between around –10ºC.

Figure 1: This is what the ice looked like last Monday when we decided to start an ice station. Photo: Michael Tjernström/MISU/Stockholm University

Figure 2: During the last two days the sun has been shining almost all the time. Photo: Michael Tjernström/MISU/Stockholm University

We have exercised almost all of our assets; we have flown the Helikite tethered balloon today and before that the Helipod package hanging under the helicopter and there has been a lot of sampling of snow, water and ice. In addition to all the continuous measurements that go on onboard at all times. There are now increasing temperatures in the longer forecast, which is exactly what we are looking for, and therefore we intend to stay here at least until Saturday 20 May, making this a fairly long ice station.

Figure 3: The first testflight with the Helikite tethered ballon from a container roof on the aft deck of Oden in near ideal conditions. Photo: Michael Tjernström/MISU/Stockholm University

Figure 4: Scientists at work on the Arctic ice. Photo: Michael Tjernström/MISU/Stockholm University