I deeply respect and admire my colleague Martin Hartley for his work in the Arctic and I would like to share with you the amazing work of the Catlin Arctic Survey.

This year survey is focused on what is widely considered to be the ‘other’ carbon problem beyond climate change….that of ocean change. The Survey is undertaking vital research into how greenhouse gases could affect the marine life of the Arctic Ocean, including some species that can be described as the core of life on our planet.

Bringing together marine biologists, oceanographers and polar explorers, this international collaboration aims to study the impact of increased carbon dioxide absorption by our seas. This is changing the chemistry of the water, potentially leading to a phenomenon known as ocean acidification.

Within only a few decades, an increase in ocean acidity may cause seawater to become corrosive to the shells, skeletons and armour-plating of many marine life forms, and could seriously undermine the growth of coral reefs.

Since CO₂ is more easily absorbed in cold waters, the changes highlighted by scientific research in the Arctic Ocean could act as an early-warning system for change around the globe.

Following work begun by the Catlin Arctic Survey 2009, more measurements and observations will also be collected on the thickness of the sea ice. This information is vital to understand the impact of ice cover reduction on acidification as more water becomes exposed to increased CO₂ absorption.

Three teams are instrumental to this mission: a group of leading scientists operating from our polar Ice Base under the guidance of Arctic experts; an Explorer Team gathering complementary data over a much greater area across the floating sea ice and a 24/7 Operations Team based in the UK.

The concept of explorers working with scientists is at the heart of the project. This year, the three-strong Explorer Team is led by Ann Daniels, with polar specialists Charlie Paton and Martin Hartley in support. Heading out on foot, hauling 120kg sledges across 500km of unpredictable, shifting and disintegrating ice rubble fields, ice ridges and ice floes, these experienced surface explorers are braving a back-breaking quest lasting up to 50 days. During this time they will collect samples from the ocean’s water column and make vital observations and measurements of the ice’s thickness.

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To learn more about the project

http://www.catlinarcticsurvey.com

http://www.martinhartleypolar.com

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The Palouse Country covers approximately 16’000 sq km of land in southeastern Washington, northwestern Idaho and eastern Oregon. The peculiar and picturesque silt dunes which characterize the Palouse prairie were formed during the ice ages. Agricultural activity started in the late 19^th century and now the Palouse is the richest wheat-growing area in the United States.

My dear friend Susanne Weissenberger and I just spent a week exploring this enchanting human made landscape mixed with nature.

Waking up every morning at 3.45am was really tough… but once on location a sense of peace and gratitude would immediately take over.

The still crispy breeze will wake us up along with the wonderful songs of the early birds. The vision of the deer grazing in the fields and the first beams of light on the rolling hills made the rest.

A mix of contrasting emotions characterized this experience in the Palouse;

gratitude to mother Nature for its generosity;

awe for the beautiful human made field patterns;

sadness for the highly exploited land and biodiversity destruction.

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Sunrise over the rolling hills at 4.30am

The little barn in the prairie

Canola flowers

Ladybug on wheat crop

Chocolate-mint as my friend Susanne like to call this mix of colors.

Approaching storm on Canola field

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Views of the rolling hills at sunset

For more images visit Susanne’s blog:

http://whitemountainphotography.blogspot.com

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