The expedition Arctic Ocean 2025, blog post 7: A last hello and goodbye

The research school onboard the research ice breaker Oden has come to an end. In the evening the day before yesterday we did our last research station and deployed a mooring in the marginal ice zone, where the pack ice meets in the open ocean; a permanent buoy under the the surface that is tethered to the ocean floor and will stay there for the next years.

Mixed clouds in different directions, some reflecting the sunshine, blue sky, water.

Open skies over open water and the mountains of western Svalbard as we approach. Photo: Michael Tjernström.

Yesterday we left the the marginal ice zone and most of the day we were in the open ocean. The first thing visible on the horizon this morning was the mountains of Svalbard and around lunch we entered the Isfjord with mountains and glaciers on both sides. In the afternoon the pilot guided us in to the small fjord just off Longyearbyen where Oden was anchored.

Mountains with snow tops, low clouds and the sun shining through,

Northern mountains of Isfjord. Photo: Michael Tjernström.

We have had an extraordinary trip together and much has happened over the last six weeks that have changed our lives, maybe forever.

We have had an extraordinary trip together and much has happened over the last six weeks that have changed our lives, maybe forever. Everything from working hard on the ice together, to coffee brakes onboard, Saturday dress-up dinners and the talent festival. Salsa dancing courses and of course the ping-pong tournament; an important tradition on Oden that is taken very seriously.

light blue sky with grey-whie, red and orange clouds, water and bright blue ice floes.

Sun set over the marginal ice zone, MIZ. Photo: Michael Tjernström.

Lots of ice floes packed together, and from above it looks like waves.

Pancake ice in the MIZ; a form of new ice. Photo: Michael Tjernström.

Tomorrow we scatter over the world; we all fly to Oslo together but from there on we all go home to our different countries and new challenges. We have been together for about six weeks, before which most of us did not know each other. Of course we long to go home to our loved ones, but it is a bittersweet goodby. Experience has it, though, that we will meet again. If not on an expedition to the Arctic, then at a conference or workshop somewhere.

(Michael Tjernström 18 September, 2025)

The 21 students in the research school gathered on helicopter deck for a group photo i Longyearbyen, with the winner of the ping-pong tournament in front. Photo: Michel Tjernström.

The icebreaker Oden has set sail and is heading for the Arctic to map the seabed. On board are 21 PhD students from various countries attending a research school where practical work is combined with lectures. Follow their journey in our blog, with weekly reports by Michael Tjernström, professor emeritus of meteorology at Stockholm University with extensive experience of Arctic expeditions, and responsible for the research school.

Blog and more articles about the expedition AO25

The AO25 blog: The expedition Arctic Ocean 2025

Theme

Research subjects

Climate dynamics and climate change Meteorology and atmospheric science Oceanography

Last updated: September 19, 2025

Source: MISU

{ "dimensions": [ { "id": "department.categorydimension.subject", "name": "Global categories", "enumerable": true, "entities": [], "localizations": {} }, { "id": "department.categorydimension.tag.Keywords", "name": "Keywords", "enumerable": false, "entities": [], "localizations": {} }, { "id": "department.categorydimension.tag.Person", "name": "Person", "enumerable": false, "entities": [], "localizations": {} }, { "id": "department.categorydimension.tag.Tag", "name": "Tag", "enumerable": false, "entities": [], "localizations": {} }, { "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Category", "name": "News Category (Webb 2021)", "enumerable": true, "entities": [ { "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Category.research.news", "name": "Research", "entities": [], "attributes": [], "childrenOmitted": false, "localizations": {} } ], "localizations": {} }, { "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Label", "name": "Etiketter (Webb 2021)", "enumerable": true, "entities": [], "localizations": {} }, { "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Label.en", "name": "Labels (Webb 2021)", "enumerable": true, "entities": [ { "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Label.en.Atmosphere", "name": "Atmosphere and Weather", "entities": [], "attributes": [], "childrenOmitted": false, "localizations": {} }, { "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Label.en.ClimateEnv", "name": "Climate and Environment", "entities": [], "attributes": [], "childrenOmitted": false, "localizations": {} }, { "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Label.en.geology_geography_landscapes", "name": "Geology, Geography and Landscapes", "entities": [], "attributes": [], "childrenOmitted": false, "localizations": {} }, { "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Label.en.OceansLakes\u003c", "name": "Oceans and Lakes", "entities": [], "attributes": [], "childrenOmitted": false, "localizations": {} } ], "localizations": {} }, { "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Keyword", "name": "Keywords (Webb 2021)", "enumerable": false, "entities": [], "localizations": {} }, { "id": "Meteorologiska.eng.lokala.kat", "name": "Lokala kategorier ENG MISU", "enumerable": true, "entities": [ { "id": "Meteorologiska.eng.lokala.kat.nyh", "name": "Local news", "entities": [ { "id": "Meteorologiska.eng.lokala.kat.nyh.utb", "name": "Education", "entities": [], "attributes": [], "childrenOmitted": false, "localizations": {} } ], "attributes": [], "childrenOmitted": false, "localizations": {} }, { "id": "Meteorologiska.eng.lokala.kat.nyh", "name": "Local news", "entities": [ { "id": "Meteorologiska.eng.lokala.kat.nyh.fo", "name": "Research", "entities": [], "attributes": [], "childrenOmitted": false, "localizations": {} } ], "attributes": [], "childrenOmitted": false, "localizations": {} } ], "localizations": {} } ] }