Bloggar

In calm but cloudy weather we walked again northwards to better understand the structure and stratigraphy of the area we visited two days ago.

The weather being still the same, sunshine and a hard wind, we walked eastwards through Trollstabbane and around the southern slopes of Kistefjellet.

Vi är nu uppe på en bit över 89 grader nord – endast ca 50 nautiska mil från Nordpolen. Idag snöar det och temperaturen har sjunkit till några minusgrader.

Båthamna (boat-harbour) is a small (~ 100 m) northwards opening bay in the about 10 km wide southwards opening Sommerfeldtbukta. Obviously a perfectly sheltered place for a boat.

We spent most of yesterday with minimizing our personal equipment for the Zodiac trip to Sørkapp and using the internet connection at the Polish station for work and private things.

The waves never stopped rolling in, so we had to stay put during Monday, the planned departure day back to Khatanga. Constant strong wind from the northwest during 4 days, and with no tendency to stop. So alternatives had to be planned; was there any possibility to get out a Mi8 on Wednesday?

This morning we arrived at the Polish research station in Hornsund in beautiful and calm weather. A warm shower is nice after two and half weeks washing/bathing in glacial streams.

The weather wasn't exciting this morning, but better than yesterday. We walked southwards towards Alasdairhornet where the rain caught us.

Den fotografiska expeditionen till Svalbard är nu genomförd och åter vid skrivbordet väntar över 3 000 bilder på att sorteras och bearbetas.

Efter några otroligt fina soldagar, så är det nu åter grådisigt och därmed utmärkt jobbväder. Forskningen går bra på alla fronter.

Yesterday we got up at 4 am, but getting us and the Zodiac ready took longer than expected. We left the camp at half past five, probably waking up the sailor who had anchored his mighty yacht in the deep water on the other side of Selvågen.

Terrible weather this morning – wet, wet, wet and no visibility. With topographic maps at 1:100000 scale, good visibility is a must for fieldwork.

The week started as the last ended, with marvellous weather; blue skies with only a few cumulus clouds.

A beautiful morning. No wind, the clouds rising, we could almost see the sun. Thus, we began the day with successfully drying our equipment – from tents via sleeping bags to clothes – and went later for fieldwork along the southern shore of Selvågen, looking mainly for the tillite (glacial deposits) marked on the maps.

Länge var det mycket osäkert om denna Arktisexpedition skulle bli av och om vi fick följa med i så fall. Men så en dag, den 17 februari, kom beskedet att vi skulle få delta i expeditionen. Det var omöjligt att säga nej, en sådan chans kommer sällan åter.

We woke up in an absolutely calm morning. Still a lot of moisture and some fog in the air, but good weather conditions for the move to camp 2, at least to try to get the first equipment there.

The weather seemed to improve this morning, although the barometer now began to drop. Everything is ready for the move and we can break the camp any time the weather is suitable. But unfortunately, we have to wait for another day.

The barometer shows increasing air pressure, but outside it is still the same – relative air humidity must be at the condensation point. Everything is getting wet just by being exposed to the air.

Vårt "kontor" är nog ett av de finaste som finns. Vi sitter på isbrytaren Odens brygga, 6:e våningen, 30 m över havet, och vart vi än tittar ser vi bara packis, ibland med turkosfärgade smältvattenpölar.

Today we walked to the western side of the island to look at the Sutorfjella Conglomerate, a unit of uncertain age.