The first two weeks of August sees High Spy operating in Svalbard. We are based in Ny-Alesund which lies at 79 degrees north and at this time of year the sun does not set. High Spy is working for the University of Sheffield, helping to facilitate data collection and enable the distribution and biomass of microbes upon a particular glacier to be calculated. We are actually photographing holes that form on the glacier's surface and contain dark organic matter (or “cryoconite”).
Ny-Alesund lies on the south side of Kings Bay on the West coast of Spitzbergen and is the world's northernmost permanent community. It is surrounded by glaciers which bisect the 500 metre high peaks found around the fjord. Polar bears can be an occupational hazard so we have a guard with us at all times armed with a 375 rifle. The bears are being very sneaky though as we have yet to see one! We have however encountered Terns. These are not so difficult to spot when they hit the back your head
We are fed very well by the King's Bay operation and the diet of seal and reindeer meat seems fitting for our task.
We do hope to be home soon though as the thought of six months of perpetual night is not an appealing one.
Whilst here we have met with other researchers interested in using our machines for other surveys, most notable has been NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration), who are interested in air sampling.
This work is funded by the University of Sheffield Knowledge Transfer Fund and is supported in the field by the Natural Environmental Research Council, who operate a station in Ny Alesund. Logistical support from NERC involves small boat transport across the iceberg-strewn fjord every day as we head out to the glacier.
