International without borders

Hajimemashite everyone!

The pace just keeps picking up here on the Voyage for the Future. Wake up call was at 6:30 am today and after some quick callisthenics on deck (only two takes, I wonder why…), we had a quick breakfast at 7:00 am.

Dr Martin Sommerkorn of Aberdeen University gave our first climate change lecture on the feedback mechanisms of climate change in the Arctic. The Arctic is currently heating up at a rate of twice that of the rest of the world, and this ratio is only expected to increase. This is because of several reasons:

1) Most of the light from the sun is reflected by the white ice and snow in the Arctic. When things heat up and this ice/snow begins to melt, this exposes darker soil and water which absorbs more heat.

2) The way water and air circulate in the Arctic is beginning to draw more southern air northward. This air is hotter and more humid. This greater influx of warmer air is increasing heating and melting in the Great White North, melting more snow and ice and amplifying effect #1.

3) Warming in the Arctic will stimulate the release of carbon stored under the permafrost (frozen soil) and in the ocean sediment (bottom). These two stores of carbon contain twice the amount of C that is already in our atmosphere, and their release will amplify all the above effects (as well as effects all over the world).

This lecture was very informative (I barely stopped writing the entire time) and it highlights how climate changes have been happening much faster than was believed possible. This has been most obvious in the Arctic. Here the summer sea ice has been relatively consistently declining at a rate of 7.7% per year over the past decades. In 2007, the sea ice cover dropped 39% below 2000 levels, falling off the charts. Even the most pessimistic predictions of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) did not predict such a dramatic change.

With this in mind we visited Ny-Alesund, the most northern human settlement on the planet. Of course they come fully equipped with airport and souvenir shop. We explored a long abandoned mining colony and hiked up a local mountain at Blomstrandhaluøya. The view over the fiord was a constant distraction from the task of hiking, and we spent many a breaking simply taking in our surroundings. After we conquered the hill we returned to the boat for dinner.

After dinner we had an Ambassadors (that’s us) meeting, and it was only here where I realised the diverse and enthusiastic group that has been gathered here. While we are from all over the world and have only known each other for four days, it feels like a strong bond of kinship ties us together. Perhaps it is our collective journey, our similar goals and values. Whatever it is, there are no borders here. As I realised this, I also noticed differences in our abilities with English have been holding back out communication. I am reminded of how cooperation requires everyone to be on the same page and for everyone to be aware of difficulties faced by others. I have eyes over my shoulder now so I must wrap this up.

Much love everyone,
Jer