Expedition: East Greenland 2016

The first of these adaptive radiations ocurred 370 million years ago, when the earliest tetrapods modified their fins into legs and emerged onto dry land. By 250 million years ago this process had reversed, and the tetrapod walking limb was once again remodeled into a fin for a return to life in the sea. But what was it that drove vertebrates to leave the water 370 million years ago? And why did some reptiles return to the water 150 million years later?

Today was probably the last day together in the field for the four of us. There may be some work tomorrow too, but the priority is to go through and sort/tag all fossils.

Idag delade vi upp oss i två team. Grzeg tog sig ned till övre delen av Blue River för provtagning och mätning av tjocklek på lagerföljden. Ben, Henning och jag gick via Blue River till västra höjderna, i första hand för att reka området inför en eventuell travers mot Otocerasdal.

We've had dinner and are satisfied. U2 is playing on the Ipad.

Blue River has been yesterday's and today's goal. Systematic searching and collecting was done.

As ususal we started the day with climbing up the mountain. We can't force our way through some of the ravines and for safety reasons have to walk around them.

It was a truly fine day with light winds, about 5–10 degrees, sun and really easy terrain!

During the first field day in Kap Stosch we went down to Blue River to do systematic sampling of fossils, and it went very well.

Finally we got to say goodbye to Celsius Bjerg and hello to Kap Stosch! Celsius Bjerg has drained us in many ways – heavy traverses in steep terrain and strong winds at night are some examples.

Three Swedish researchers have traveled to East Greenland to search for fossils, several hundred years old. Lasse Tano is the field logistician and it is his job to ensure that researchers are safe and can work safely throughout the expedition.

We still have midnight sun, so we're working long hours. Henning and Ben made measurements of geological time periods in the mountain slope. Grzeg found a spectacular whole body imprint of a tetrapod. It's been documented and cast in plaster. A fantastic find!

The researchers are celebrating, the fossils that have been found is proof for ecological development during the Devonian period.

The collecting of fossils from the Devonian period is exceeding expectations! And for the first time we've had really nice weather.

What a day, what a fantastic day! Grezg and I went down the west side of the mountain, toward the stream. A traverse of approximately 2 km with an altitude difference of 502 meters.

Today, Ben arrived with the lost personal luggage! We now have all necessary tools, sleeping bags, etc.

The big event this morning was locating all luggage. Everything seemed ok. The remaining luggage would be in Mestersvig, so we went there with the help of helicopters and Twin Otter aircraft. Imagine our surprise when it became clear that the researcher's equipment were not there at all!

Today, the four of us arrived in Constable Point in Greenland. The journey went as planned, with only a slight delay.

2015 och 2014 hittade svenska forskare fossil på Grönland som visar på att det är en plats där vissa grupper av dinosaurier härstammar från. Nu åker forskarna tillbaka till östra Grönland och hoppas på att hitta fossiler som från arter som representerar tiden efter att dinosaurierna utvecklats till två grupper; fågelhöftade dinosaurier (ornithischier) och ödlehöftade dinosaurier (saurischier) vilket tros ha hänt i slutet trias för 230 och 225 miljoner år sedan.

This summer, three Swedish scientists are going to east Greenland to search for hundred million year old fossils. Henning Blom from Uppsala University explains why Greenland is an important place to visit.