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During the 2017 summertime Arctic cruise observation campaigns, we measured over 290,000 individual submicron particles and clustered them into two inorganic classes (dominated by sea salt, accounting for 38.6% by number fraction) and five organic classes (dominated by natural and anthropogenic organics, 61.4%), presenting a distinct difference in geographic distribution. In the high Arctic and marginal ice zone (81.1–84.6°N) compared with the low Arctic (Chukchi Sea, Svalbard, and Iceland, <80°N), ocean‐derived organic aerosols were more prevalent (73.6% vs. 37.1%). Specifically, we found sharp contrasts in the geographic distributions of OC‐Ca (organics internally mixed with calcium, 29.0% vs. 9.4%) and OC‐S (organics internally mixed with sulfate, 3.2% vs. 21.4%). Utilizing an explainable machine learning technique, we inferred that OC‐Ca was driven by wind‐blown sea ice and/or sea ice floes and/or bubble bursting within sea ice leads under low wind speed conditions in the high Arctic, while OC‐S tended to associate with elemental carbon, sulfate, and higher temperatures, potentially originating from combustion emissions at low latitude regions. Plain Language Summary: Knowledge of the mixing state of individual particles is essential for elucidating their sources, formation mechanisms, atmospheric processes, and assessing their climate effect in the Arctic atmosphere. Here, we investigated the origins and geographic distribution of organic aerosol types using a single‐particle aerosol mass spectrometer during the 8th Chinese Arctic Expedition Research Cruise (Chinese Research Vessel Xuelong) in the summertime over the Arctic Ocean. According to the mixing state, individual organic particles were classified into several ocean‐derived and anthropogenic types. Ocean‐derived types were prevalent in the high Arctic compared with that of anthropogenic type in the low Arctic, and their driven factors were different. Specifically, sea ice fraction was the most important driver for the generation of ocean‐derived OC‐Ca (an aerosol type of organics internally mixed with calcium). OC‐S (an aerosol type of organics internally mixed with sulfate) substantially increased in the low Arctic, most probably driven by combustion sources. Key Points: Submicron organic aerosol types show distinct geographic distributions in the summertime ArcticHigher number fraction of ocean‐derived submicron organic aerosols is observed in the high Arctic than the low ArcticThe proportion of sea ice coverage is a determining factor contributing to the spatial variability of OC‐Ca number fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of studying the quantitative, material, and morphometric composition of rock debris in sediments sampled by a box-corer on Lomonosov Ridge (83° N), Arctic Ocean, during the Severnyi Polyus 41 expedition of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute are presented. Clasts ≥ 1 cm in size were sampled from each distinguished layer according to the lithological description. The age model was created by the lithostratigraphic correlation with previously dated cores. The content of clasts on the eastern slope and summit is significantly higher than on the western slope, which is explained by the higher sedimentation rate on the western slope after the deglaciation peak. The change in the rock composition from carbonate to igneous and the increase in roundness with time indicate a higher input of Eurasian material in MIS 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the health challenges faced by sled dogs in the Canadian Arctic during the 19th century. As outsiders began to explore the region, they discovered the importance of using dog teams and wearing furs for warmth. However, diseases like distemper and rabies posed a threat to the dogs, with accounts of dogs exhibiting symptoms of hydrophobia (rabies) being recorded. Firsthand accounts from expeditions led by Dr. Elisha Kane and Dr. Isaac Israel Hayes describe the symptoms and deaths of their dogs, although the cause of these health issues remains unclear. The article also discusses the experiences of explorers Charles Francis Hall and Sir George S. Nares, who faced challenges with their dogs, including a mysterious disease that caused seizures and death. The explorers attempted various treatments, some of which may have contributed to the deaths of the dogs. The author emphasizes the need for a better understanding of the fate of these animals and acknowledges the limitations of medical knowledge during that time period. [Extracted from the article]

Seafloor ambient noise in the Arctic Ocean is related to sea ice. The characteristics of low‐frequency seafloor ambient noise (<10 Hz) in the northern Chukchi Sea have rarely been reported. Here, we investigated the seafloor ambient noise recorded using ocean‐bottom seismometers in the northern Chukchi Sea under four different sea ice‐concentration periods from 3 to 23 August 2020, in the 11th Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition. The causes and mechanisms of the changes in seafloor ambient noise that correspond to the variation in sea ice concentration were discussed. The energy of infragravity waves and primary microseisms is weak compared with other oceans. Combined with the analysis of land station, we argue that the variations in sea ice extent have little effect on the energy of the primary microseisms and infragravity waves. The power of secondary microseisms is growth with the loss of sea ice and is influenced by storms. We find that a high concentration of sea ice can impede the process of storm‐sea surface interaction, which in turn affects the power of microseisms inspired by storm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In My Arctic Journey: A Year among Ice-Fields and Eskimos (1894), Josephine Diebitsch-Peary documents her experiences during the North Greenland Expedition of 1891-92, which began ominously when her husband, the famed Arctic explorer Robert E. Peary, broke his leg aboard the Kite and was carried to the expedition headquarters near the mouth of Mac- Cormick Fjord. As the first white woman in the Arctic, Diebitsch-Peary faced numerous crises, torn as she was between True Womanhood ideals and desires for hunting and exploration. She navigated internal and external upheavals, depicting the Arctic landscape and native disputes, and vacillating between biased descriptions and identification with Inughuit women. Additional crises included the disappearance of mineralogist and meteorologist John M. Verhoeff and the pressures of her husband's ambitions. Despite these challenges, she actively participated in the expedition, grappling with traditional role expectations and the demands of polar exploration. Her memoir reflects the personal, national, and international costs of a contested icescape, revealing the struggles she overcame and those she did not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs) are bacterial lipids that have been widely used as environmental proxies in continental paleorecords. Another group of related lipids, branched glycerol monoalkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGMGTs), has recently been proposed as a potential paleotemperature proxy. Nevertheless, the sources and environmental dependencies of both brGDGTs and brGMGTs along the river–sea continuum are still poorly understood, complicating their application as paleoenvironmental proxies in some aquatic settings. In this study, the sources of brGDGTs and brGMGTs and the potential factors controlling their distributions are explored across the Seine River basin (NW France), which encompasses the freshwater-to-seawater continuum. BrGDGTs and brGMGTs were analyzed in soils, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediments (n=237) collected along the land–sea continuum of the Seine basin. Both types of compounds (i.e., brGDGTs and brGMGTs) are shown to be produced in situ, in freshwater and saltwater, based on their high concentrations and distinct distributions in aquatic settings (SPM and sediments) vs. soils. Redundancy analysis further shows that both salinity and nitrogen dominantly control the brGDGT distributions. Furthermore, the relative abundance of 6-methyl vs. that of 5-methyl brGDGTs (the IR 6Me ratio), the total nitrogen (TN), the δ15 N, and the chlorophyll a concentration co-vary in a specific geographical zone with low salinity, suggesting that 6-methyl brGDGTs are preferentially produced under low-salinity and high-productivity conditions. In contrast to brGDGTs, the brGMGT distribution appears to be primarily regulated by salinity, with a distinct influence on the individual homologues. Salinity is positively correlated with homologues H1020a and H1020b and negatively correlated with compounds H1020c and H1034b in SPM. This suggests that bacteria living in freshwater preferentially produce compounds H1020c and H1034b, whereas bacteria that primarily grow in saltwater appear to be predominantly responsible for the production of homologues H1020a and H1020b. Based on the abundance ratio of the freshwater-derived compounds (H1020c and H1034b) vs. their saltwater-derived homologues (H1020a and H1020b), a novel proxy, the Riverine IndeX (RIX), is proposed to trace riverine organic matter inputs, with high values (>0.5) indicating a higher riverine contribution. We successfully applied RIX to the Godavari River basin (India) and a paleorecord across the upper Paleocene and lower Eocene from the Arctic Coring Expedition at Lomonosov Ridge, showing its potential applicability to both modern samples and paleorecords. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Models struggle to accurately simulate observed sea ice thickness changes, which could be partially due to inadequate representation of thermodynamic processes. We analyzed co‐located winter observations of the Arctic sea ice from the Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of the Arctic Climate for evaluating and improving thermodynamic processes in sea ice models, aiming to enable more accurate predictions of the warming climate system. We model the sea ice and snow heat conduction for observed transects forced by realistic boundary conditions to understand the impact of the non‐resolved meter‐scale snow and sea ice thickness heterogeneity on horizontal heat conduction. Neglecting horizontal processes causes underestimating the conductive heat flux of 10% or more. Furthermore, comparing model results to independent temperature observations reveals a ∼5 K surface temperature overestimation over ice thinner than 1 m, attributed to shortcomings in parameterizing surface turbulent and radiative fluxes rather than the conduction. Assessing the model deficiencies and parameterizing these unresolved processes is required for improved sea ice representation. Plain Language Summary: Numerical sea ice models rely on conceptual simplifications of the sea ice and snow conditions observed in the Arctic and Southern Ocean. In particular, we cannot account for the variations in sea ice thickness and snow depth at the meter scale because we have limited computing capabilities and lack a detailed understanding of the processes defining how the sea ice system evolves. Furthermore, when designing sea ice models, we assume that the heat can flow only vertically, while in reality, this exchange is also horizontal and depends on the local topography. Thanks to observations collected during the Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate expedition, we can better quantify model errors when using thermodynamic approximations. Our findings suggest that slightly more heat flows through the sea ice system than we can simulate with a simplified sea ice model and that the surface temperature of the model is too warm for thin ice and snow conditions. Learning the nature of these errors is useful because we could formulate corrections for our models, investigate the occurrence of climate feedback mechanisms, and possibly provide more reliable predictions about the current state of the sea ice and its future evolution, which is currently heavily impacted by global warming. Key Points: Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate observations enable improved thermodynamic process understanding and representation in sea ice modelsResolved meter‐scale ice and snow thickness heterogeneity and horizontal heat conduction enhance conductive heat flux by up to 10% in modelsA positive surface temperature model bias up to 5 K suggests a misrepresentation of the surface energy balance over thin ice [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1942 over 150 schoolchildren from the northern Soviet cities of Arkhangel'sk and Murmansk took part in dangerous expeditions to the Arctic Archipelago of Novaia Zemlia. Their aim was to collect eggs from island bird colonies and hunt seabirds in order to supply famished cities with eggs and salted birds' carcasses. The voyages were part of the local struggle for food and a reaction to the Soviet government's urgent call to use all available local resources to ward off large‐scale famine on the Soviet home front. This essay discusses the organization, the course, and the outcome of the expeditions, and evaluates the role of specialist knowledge, local economic tradition, and various agencies—from Soviet, party, and Komsomol organizations to Soviet economic trusts and individual actors—in bringing these expeditions to life. It argues that, rather than being a centralized campaign staged by the state, the struggle for food was largely fought on the local level, with regional institutions assuming substantial responsibility and demonstrating a significant ability to improvise in their search for food. Ultimately, the population's efforts to survive the famine, and their association with the regime through their collective struggle for food, were important factors that strengthened Soviet resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Issue 32(1)" in the Communications of the German Mathematical Society (DMV) covers various topics such as the DMV Student Conference 2024 in Ilmenau, the significance of mathematics in museums, job opportunities for mathematics graduates, and the name of the DMV. The president of the DMV emphasizes the need to attract more and younger members and to make greater efforts towards women and diversity. It also reports on the discussion about renaming the DMV, for which suggestions from members are being collected. The 2023 PISA study shows that the average mathematical and reading competencies of adolescents in many OECD countries have declined compared to the previous study in 2018. Scientific competence has also decreased. In Germany, the performance losses in all three areas are above average. The reasons for the deterioration are mainly attributed to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as language difficulties, interest, and motivation. The exhibition "From Newton to Einstein - a journey through space and time" was developed at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in Potsdam and is now on display in Tübingen. The award winner Carla Cederbaum has also developed other projects, such as a book on mathematical magic tricks and the publication series "Oberwolfach-Snapshots of Modern Mathematics". Mathematicians Carolin Mehlmann and Thomas Richter from the University of Magdeburg participated in an expedition of the Polarstern to the Arctic Ocean to calibrate a new hybrid sea ice model. The hybrid sea ice model combines particle and continuum methods to better resolve the different sea ice regimes on different local scales. The text deals with the deformation theorem in differential geometry. It is shown that a manifold with boundary possesses a metric with certain properties if the double of the manifold carries such a metric. The question of whether the converse of this statement holds is also raised. The text deals with hypothesis testing and the problem of multiple error probability. Various methods for solving this problem are presented, including the Bonferroni correction and the development of better methods taking into account the dependency structure of the tests. It also addresses pseudoline arrangements, which have connections to combinatorics, geometry, and computer science. The text deals with various mathematical topics, including sorting networks, pseudoline arrangements, Rubik's cube, the PISA study, calculating machines, student studies, Felix Klein, and international cooperation in mathematics. Various concepts and applications are explained, such as the creation of sorting networks from pseudoline arrangements, the use of Markov chains to generate random pseudoline arrangements, and the development of calculation aids and calculating machines. The importance of student studies and international cooperation in mathematics is also emphasized. The text provides an insight into various mathematical topics and their applications. The article reports on Renate Tobies, a visiting scientist at Friedrich Schiller University Jena. She studied chemistry and mathematics and obtained her habilitation in the history of mathematics and natural sciences. Tobies has taught in various German cities and in Austria and was the managing editor of NTM History and Ethics of Natural Sciences, Technology, and Medicine. The article deals with a position paper by the professional societies DMV. [Extracted from the article]

Carolin Mehlmann and Thomas Richter from the University of Magdeburg took part in an expedition on the Polarstern to the Arctic Ocean in order to calibrate a new hybrid sea ice model. This model incorporates discrete sea ice floes into continuum mechanical approaches and aims to predict the movement of the floes more accurately. The current visco-plastic material model used in climate models has limitations when it comes to higher resolution and changes caused by climate change. Therefore, a new model is being developed based on alternative rheologies and numerical approximation methods. This model will be implemented on modern hardware, such as graphics cards, as part of the "Scale-Aware Sea Ice Project" (SASIP). The SASIP project uses spherical coordinates on a structured rectangular grid to adapt to land masses and oceans. The momentum equation is discretized in a mixed formulation in the mEVP model. The use of GPUs in the project's real application leads to a speedup of 7-10 times. The hybrid sea ice model combines particle and continuum methods to address different sea ice conditions at different scales. Measurements for the calibration of the hybrid model were conducted during the PS 138 expedition of the research icebreaker Polarstern. The model calibration was performed using ship-based cameras and image recognition algorithms. In the article, the authors describe their investigation into the drift of ice floes in the Arctic Ocean. They installed a camera system on the highest point of the research vessel Polarstern to observe the movement of the floes. The measured data was compared to the Nansen rule, which states that the ice moves at 2-4% of the wind speed and is deflected by 20-40 degrees clockwise. The authors discovered that the deflections in the measured data were significantly larger than expected. They also conducted simulations using the Navier-Stokes equations and found that the surface velocity of the floes can be influenced by neighboring floes. The authors plan to incorporate their findings into an efficient tool for predicting ice drift and to use drones for data collection in the future. [Extracted from the article]

Leads and fractures in sea ice play a crucial role in the heat and gas exchange between the ocean and atmosphere, impacting atmospheric, ecological, and oceanic processes. We estimated lead fractions from high-resolution divergence obtained from satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data and evaluated them against existing lead products. We derived two new lead fraction products from divergence with a spatial resolution of 700 m calculated from daily Sentinel-1 images. For the first lead product, we advected and accumulated the lead fractions of individual time instances. With those accumulated divergence-derived lead fractions, we comprehensively described the presence of up to 10 d old leads and analyzed their deformation history. For the second lead product, we used only divergence pixels that were identified as part of linear kinematic features (LKFs). Both new lead products accurately captured the formation of new leads with widths of up to a few hundred meters. We presented a Lagrangian time series of the divergence-based lead fractions along the drift of the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition in the central Arctic Ocean during winter 2019–2020. Lead activity was high in fall and spring, consistent with wind forcing and ice pack consolidation. At larger scales of 50–150 km around the MOSAiC expedition, lead activity on all scales was similar, but differences emerged at smaller scales (10 km). We compared our lead products with six others from satellite and airborne sources, including classified SAR, thermal infrared, microwave radiometer, and altimeter data. We found that the mean lead fractions varied by 1 order of magnitude across different lead products due to different physical lead and sea ice properties observed by the sensors and methodological factors such as spatial resolution. Thus, the choice of lead product should align with the specific application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compensate for the lack of conventional observations over the Arctic Ocean, ship-borne radiosonde observations have been regularly carried out during summer Arctic expeditions and the observed data have been broadcast via the global telecommunication system since 2017. With these data obtained over the data-sparse Arctic Ocean, observing system experiments were carried out using a polar-optimized version of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and the WRF Data Assimilation (WRFDA) system to investigate their effects on analyses and forecasts over the Arctic. The results of verification against reanalysis data reveal: (1) DA effects on analyses and forecasts; (2) the reason for the year-to-year variability of DA effects; and (3) the possible role of upper-level potential vorticity in delayed DA effects. The overall assimilation effects of the extra data on the analyses and forecasts over the Arctic are positive. Initially, the DA effects are the most apparent in the temperature variables in the middle/lower troposphere, which spread to the wind variables in the upper troposphere. The effects decrease with time but reappear after approximately 120 h, even in the 240-h forecasts. The effects on forecasts vary depending on the proximity of the radiosonde observation locations to the high synoptic variability. The upper-level potential vorticity is known to play an important role in the development of Arctic cyclones, and it is suggested as a possible explanation for the delayed DA effects after about 120 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oceanic N2O is a major source of atmospheric N2O gas and is involved in global warming and ozone depletion. It is thought to be mainly produced by nitrification, denitrification and nitrifier denitrification processes mediated by ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria, ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) and denitrifying bacteria. The Bering Sea, especially its continental shelf area, is considered a typical source of atmospheric N2O. During the 7th Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition (CHINARE2016), the distributions of N2O and ammonia‐oxidizing microorganisms (AOOs) in the Bering Sea continental shelf and abyssal basin water were investigated. At a depth of 50∼900 m within the abyssal basin, the in‐situ ammonia oxidation process, particularly performed by AOA, exhibits considerable potential for the formation of supersaturated N2O. Meanwhile, beneath the oxygen minimum zone (depth range is approximately 800∼1,000 m), supersaturated N2O is primarily driven by mixing processes, while the ammonia oxidation mediated by AOA also contributes to a certain extent. In addition, the N2O distribution characteristic exhibits a substantial disparity between the southern and northern Bering Sea shelves, with the former characterized as a mild sink and the latter as a weak source. The water column of the Bering Sea demonstrates a considerable potential for generating supersaturated N2O through ammonia oxidation, as corroborated by the current study. Plain Language Summary: Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an important trace greenhouse gas that also acts as an ozone destroyer. The ocean is one of the main sources of N2O to the atmosphere. As a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean with high productivity, the distribution mechanism of N2O is very complex affected by water masses mixing and intricate biogeochemical cycle processes. And the N2O flux of Bering Sea has distinct spatio‐temporal variability. In this study, by incorporating previous research conclusions on the nitrogen cycle, we investigate the distribution mechanism of N2O and functional genes of ammonia oxidizing microorganisms in the Bering Sea to elucidate the potential contribution of individual nitrogen cycle processes to N2O supersaturation and which kinds of ammonia oxidation microorganisms are involved in this contribution, thus illustrating the distribution mechanisms of N2O in the northern Bering Sea. The flux of Bering Sea in summer was estimated based on the distribution mechanism of N2O. This findings were helpful to understand the mechanism of N2O metabolism in the Bering Sea and improve the accuracy of Marine N2O flux estimation. Key Points: The source‒sink characteristics of N2O in Bering Sea express obvious spatial and temporal variabilityAmmonia oxidation could potentially play a crucial role in the formation of N2O in the deep waters of the Bering Abyssal BasinThe distribution mechanisms of N2O in the southern and northern shelves of the Bering Sea exhibit distinct characteristic [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In My Arctic Journey: A Year among Ice-Fields and Eskimos (1894), Josephine Diebitsch-Peary documents her experiences during the North Greenland Expedition of 1891–92, which began ominously when her husband, the famed Arctic explorer Robert E. Peary, broke his leg aboard the Kite and was carried to the expedition headquarters near the mouth of MacCormick Fjord. As the first white woman in the Arctic, Diebitsch-Peary faced numerous crises, torn as she was between True Womanhood ideals and desires for hunting and exploration. She navigated internal and external upheavals, depicting the Arctic landscape and native disputes, and vacillating between biased descriptions and identification with Inughuit women. Additional crises included the disappearance of mineralogist and meteorologist John M. Verhoeff and the pressures of her husband’s ambitions. Despite these challenges, she actively participated in the expedition, grappling with traditional role expectations and the demands of polar exploration. Her memoir reflects the personal, national, and international costs of a contested icescape, revealing the struggles she overcame and those she did not.

Arctic clouds are sensitive to atmospheric particles since these are sometimes in such low concentrations that clouds cannot always form under supersaturated water vapor conditions. This is especially true in the late summer, when aerosol concentrations are generally very low in the high Arctic. The environment changes rapidly around freeze‐up as the open waters close and snow starts accumulating on ice. We investigated droplet formation during eight significant fog events in the central Arctic Ocean, north of 80°, from August 12 to 19 September 2018 during the Arctic Ocean 2018 expedition onboard the icebreaker Oden. Calculated hygroscopicity parameters (κ) for the entire study were very high (up to κ = 0.85 ± 0.13), notably after freeze‐up, suggesting that atmospheric particles were very cloud condensation nuclei (CCN)‐active. At least one of the events showed that surface clouds were able to form and persist for at least a couple hours at aerosol concentrations less than 10 cm−3, which was previously suggested to be the minimum for cloud formation. Among these events that were considered limited in CCN, effective radii were generally larger than in the high CCN cases. In some of the fog events, droplet residuals particles did not reactivate under supersaturations up to 0.95%, suggesting either in‐droplet reactions decreased hygroscopicity, or an ambient supersaturation above 1%. These results provide insight into droplet formation during the clean late‐summer and fall of the high Arctic with limited influence from continental sources. Plain Language Summary: The Arctic atmosphere can be very clean in the summer, to the point that clouds cannot form because there are insufficient particles present for the water vapor to condense upon. This has important implications for the radiation budget, which is highly dependent on clouds. As part of the Arctic Ocean 2018 expedition in the central Arctic Ocean near the North Pole, we investigated the ability of particles to turn into droplets throughout the whole cruise (August 12 to 19 September 2018), and during eight significant fog events. Overall, we found that after the sea ice started to freeze, the particles were more capable of turning into cloud droplets. During one fog event, we observed fog droplets forming when the particle concentrations were lower than the limit that past studies had suggested that fog/cloud could be sustained. During several fog events, the dried fog droplets did not always re‐form droplets when exposed to cloud‐like conditions, which suggests that the original droplets must have formed under extreme conditions. Our results show that in the summer/fall in the high Arctic, liquid droplets sometimes form under unusual circumstances that are likely not always considered in models. Key Points: Aerosol hygroscopicity was greater after surface water freeze‐up than beforeHygroscopicity of Aitken mode particles was generally greater than accumulation mode particlesCloud droplet effective radii during aerosol‐limited periods were larger generally than periods with higher aerosol concentrations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variations in Arctic sea ice are apparent not only in its extent and thickness but also in its internal properties under global warming. The microstructure of summer Arctic sea ice changes due to varying external forces, ice age, and extended melting seasons, which affect its optical properties. Sea ice cores sampled in the Pacific sector of the Arctic obtained by the Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) during the summers of 2008 to 2016 were used to estimate the variations in the microstructures and inherent optical properties (IOPs) of ice and determine the radiation budget of sea ice based on a radiative transfer model. The variations in the volume fraction of gas bubbles (Va) of the ice top layer were not significant, and the Va of the ice interior layer was significant. Compared with 2008, the mean Va of interior ice in 2016 decreased by 9.1 %. Meanwhile, the volume fraction of brine pockets increased clearly during 2008–2016. The changing microstructure resulted in the scattering coefficient of the interior ice decreasing by 38.4 % from 2008 to 2016, while no clear variations can be seen in the scattering coefficient of the ice top layer. These estimated ice IOPs fell within the range of other observations. Furthermore, we found that variations in interior ice were significantly related to the interannual changes in ice ages. At the Arctic basin scale, the changing IOPs of interior ice greatly changed the amount of solar radiation transmitted to the upper ocean even when a constant ice thickness is assumed, especially for thin ice in marginal zones, implying the presence of different sea ice bottom melt processes. These findings revealed the important role of the changing microstructure and IOPs of ice in affecting the radiation transfer of Arctic sea ice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the portrait of the young Inughuit hunter Qalaherriaq, who was brought involuntarily to England from his home in Perlernerit (Cape York) in today's Kalaallit Nunaat (also known as Greenland) with Captain Erasmus Ommanney's expedition vessel in 1851. The portrait's highly unconventional representation, wherein the sitter is shown both en face and in profile, betrays an interest in nineteenth-century racial science and civilizing ideologies. Despite this problematic colonialist content, the double portrait serves as a record for the existence and experience of Qalaherriaq and the participation of Inuit individuals in European expeditions to the Arctic. As this article argues, the portrait is also a visual testimony to Qalaherriaq's agency, adaptability, and deliberate performance in a social environment characterized by ethnocentrism and racism. Bringing in the trail of Inughuit and European sources that this portrait connects to, this article traces the nature and terms of Qalaherriaq's stay in British society. As a decolonizing strategy, we use the method of concurrences to avoid universalizing perspectives on the past. Examining moments of competing truth claims in the European and Arctic sources about or relating to Qalaherriaq, we point to the competing perspectives on the Arctic, exploration, and British imperialism contained in this material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is evident from hydrographic profiles in the Arctic Ocean that relatively warm and salty Canada Basin Deep Water (CBDW) flows over the Lomonosov Ridge into the Amundsen Basin, in the Eurasian Arctic. However, oceanographic data in the deep Arctic Ocean are scarce, making it difficult to analyze the spatial extent or the dynamics of this inflow. Here we present new hydrographic data from two recent expeditions as well as historical data from previous expeditions in the central Arctic. We use an end-member analysis to quantify the presence of CBDW in the Amundsen and Nansen Basins and infer new circulation pathways. We find that the inflow of CBDW is intermittent, and that it recirculates in the Amundsen Basin along the Gakkel Ridge. Although the forcing mechanisms for the inflow of CBDW into the Amundsen Basin remain unclear owing to the lack of continuous observations, we demonstrate that density-driven overflows, even intermittent, and the pressure gradient across the Lomonosov Ridge are unlikely drivers. We also find multiple deep eddies with a CBDW content of up to 600 g kg−1 and a vertical extent of up to 1200 m in the Amundsen Basin. The high CBDW content of these eddies suggests that they can efficiently trap CBDW and transport its heat and salt over long distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snow depth on sea ice is an Essential Climate Variable and a major source of uncertainty in satellite altimetry‐derived sea ice thickness. During winter of the MOSAiC Expedition, the "KuKa" dual‐frequency, fully polarized Ku‐ and Ka‐band radar was deployed in "stare" nadir‐looking mode to investigate the possibility of combining these two frequencies to retrieve snow depth. Three approaches were investigated: dual‐frequency, dual‐polarization and waveform shape, and compared to independent snow depth measurements. Novel dual‐polarization approaches yielded r2 values up to 0.77. Mean snow depths agreed within 1 cm, even for data sub‐banded to CryoSat‐2 SIRAL and SARAL AltiKa bandwidths. Snow depths from co‐polarized dual‐frequency approaches were at least a factor of four too small and had a r2 0.15 or lower. r2 for waveform shape techniques reached 0.72 but depths were underestimated. Snow depth retrievals using polarimetric information or waveform shape may therefore be possible from airborne/satellite radar altimeters. Plain Language Summary: Data collected using a surface‐based radar instrument on sea ice during the MOSAiC Arctic expedition were used to develop new techniques to estimate the depth of the overlying snow. We used different polarizations of the radiation to detect the depths of the upper and lower snow surfaces, and subtracted them to give snow depth. These depths agreed well with an independently collected snow depth data set. Estimates of snow depth using two different radar frequencies were less accurate, whilst using information of the shape of the returning pulse of radiation also showed a relationship with the independent snow depths, though not as strong as the polarization method. These results indicate that polarimetry (using a new satellite mission) and/or waveform shape (using existing missions) could be used to estimate snow depth on sea ice from airborne or satellite platforms. Key Points: Novel polarization‐based snow depth estimation techniques were developed using surface‐based Ku‐ and Ka‐band polarimetric radar altimeter dataThe dominant scattering surface was the air/snow and snow/ice interface in co‐ and cross‐polarized data, respectively, at both frequenciesRadar‐derived snow depths agreed with independent measurements, with r2 up to 0.77 and accuracy of 1 cm for best‐performing techniques [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a wide panel of environments (space shuttles, orbital stations, parabolic flights, Arctic expeditions, Antarctic bases) and experiments (ISEMSI, EXEMSI, HUBES, CELSS, MARS-500, SIRIUS) over extended periods of time (seconds, days, weeks, months and years), we have observed, described and quantified adaptive behaviors. We have performed such research and study in the field of human and space ethology, and we have associated, analyzed and interpreted the relevant behavioral manifestations (movements, postures, orientations, actions, interactions, expressions, communications) within a framework that integrates physiology, psychology, anthropology and philosophy. Our prime objectives have been to determine how and when the salient crews built positive strategies in a systemic, dynamic, synergic and salutogenic process on Earth and in space. • The method is observation, description and quantification of human behaviors. • Occurrences of behaviors are dependent of environmental variables. • Adaptive strategies are related to temporal and contextual variables. • Interdisciplinary analyses of ethological data are the final integrative goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring surface and atmospheric parameters—like water vapor—is challenging in the Arctic, despite the daily Arctic‐wide coverage of spaceborne microwave radiometer data. This is mainly due to the difficulties in characterizing the sea ice surface emission: sea ice and snow microwave emission is high and highly variable. There are very few data sets combining relevant in situ measurements with co‐located remote sensing data, which further complicates the development of accurate retrieval algorithms. Here, we present a multi‐parameter retrieval based on the inversion of a forward model for both, atmosphere and surface, for non‐melting conditions. The model consists of a layered microwave emission model of snow and ice. Since snow scattering and emission effects, as well as temperature gradients, are taken into account, a high variability in brightness temperatures can be simulated. For ocean regions and the atmosphere existing parameterized forward models are used. By using optimal estimation, the forward model can be inverted allowing for the simultaneous and consistent retrieval of nine variables: integrated water vapor, liquid water path, sea ice concentration, multi‐year ice fraction, snow depth, snow‐ice interface temperature and snow‐air interface temperature as well as sea‐surface temperature and wind speed (over open ocean). In addition, the method provides retrieval uncertainty estimates for each retrieved parameter. To evaluate the forward model as well as the retrieval, we use the extensive data sets acquired during the year‐long Arctic expedition Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (2019–2020) as a reference. Plain Language Summary: The Arctic, a climate change hot spot, is a remote and harsh environment. Therefore there are little ground‐based measurements. Instruments measuring thermally emitted microwaves are flown onboard Earth‐observing satellites and cover the whole Arctic Ocean within a day. These satellite observations are a great tool to monitor this region. However, in order to derive information about the surface and atmosphere from the measured quantities, called microwave brightness temperatures, we need special methods, called retrievals. Here, a great challenge is the high and highly variable contribution of the snow and ice surface to the satellite signal. In this study, we explore the approach of using a physical model of the ice and snowpack, leading to a combined retrieval of both atmospheric (such as water vapor) and surface (such as sea ice concentration and snow depth) variables for the cold winter season. In order to evaluate the satellite retrieval, we compare it to observations acquired during a year‐long expedition to the Arctic, the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate campaign. Key Points: A sea ice and snow microwave emission model setup enables improved simulations of satellite brightness temperatures in the ArcticParameters retrieved from inverting the new forward model show good agreement compared to in situ data from the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate expedition in winterThe method allows Arctic‐wide, daily retrievals of nine geophysical parameters for the AMSR‐E/2 satellite time series [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2015, the Innovative Technology for Arctic Exploration (ITAE) program has supported maritime technology development that contributes to economic growth, ocean health, and ocean management in Alaska. The program does this in multiple ways: through public-private partnerships, platform and small-scale sensor design, and research to operations, commercialization, and application of science-driven technologies. ITAE is a high-risk, high-reward research collaborative that provides support and expertise for creative scientists pursuing highly innovative research solutions with the potential for broad impact in US Arctic marine sciences. This program is funded through NOAA to support projects that may be overlooked in the traditional peer-review process because of their inherent risk. However, not all risks lead to success, not every risk leads to failure, and not all failures eliminate success. Development and growth are nurtured by risk and temporary setbacks. The science advanced by these researchers and collaborators forges new paths of discovery. While the Arctic is an excellent testbed, in part, due to its extreme conditions, the technologies and lessons detailed here are transferable to oceanographic research outside of the Arctic. This paper reviews the ITAE program as well as the successes and failures of this dedicated Arctic innovation collaborative at the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic has warmed more rapidly than the global mean during the past few decades. The lapse rate feedback (LRF) has been identified as being a large contributor to the Arctic amplification (AA) of climate change. This particular feedback arises from the vertically non-uniform warming of the troposphere, which in the Arctic emerges as strong near-surface and muted free-tropospheric warming. Stable stratification and meridional energy transport are two characteristic processes that are evoked as causes for this vertical warming structure. Our aim is to constrain these governing processes by making use of detailed observations in combination with the large climate model ensemble of the sixth Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). We build on the result that CMIP6 models show a large spread in AA and Arctic LRF, which are positively correlated for the historical period of 1951–2014. Thus, we present process-oriented constraints by linking characteristics of the current climate to historical climate simulations. In particular, we compare a large consortium of present-day observations to co-located model data from subsets that show a weak and strong simulated AA and Arctic LRF in the past. Our analyses suggest that the vertical temperature structure of the Arctic boundary layer is more realistically depicted in climate models with weak (w) AA and Arctic LRF (CMIP6/w) in the past. In particular, CMIP6/w models show stronger inversions in the present climate for boreal autumn and winter and over sea ice, which is more consistent with the observations. These results are based on observations from the year-long Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition in the central Arctic, long-term measurements at the Utqiaġvik site in Alaska, USA, and dropsonde temperature profiling from aircraft campaigns in the Fram Strait. In addition, the atmospheric energy transport from lower latitudes that can further mediate the warming structure in the free troposphere is more realistically represented by CMIP6/w models. In particular, CMIP6/w models systemically simulate a weaker Arctic atmospheric energy transport convergence in the present climate for boreal autumn and winter, which is more consistent with fifth generation reanalysis of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ERA5). We further show a positive relationship between the magnitude of the present-day transport convergence and the strength of past AA. With respect to the Arctic LRF, we find links between the changes in transport pathways that drive vertical warming structures and local differences in the LRF. This highlights the mediating influence of advection on the Arctic LRF and motivates deeper studies to explicitly link spatial patterns of Arctic feedbacks to changes in the large-scale circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ratio of stable carbon isotopes can give important data about the sources of atmospheric carbon compounds. We consider a procedure for the determination of the isotopic composition of individual carbon fractions in atmospheric aerosols by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. We performed a preliminary analysis of carbon isotope composition (δ13C) for various carbonaceous aerosol fractions (total carbon, organic + elemental carbon without carbonates, water-soluble organic carbon, water-insoluble carbon, and elemental carbon) collected during marine Arctic expeditions at the Ice base "Cape Baranov", at the geophysical observatory of the Institute of Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IMCES SB RAS) (Tomsk), and at the OPTIK Tu-134 aircraft laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysing a set of ethnographic images and illustrations resulting from John Ross's second voyage to find a Northwest Passage in 1829–1833, this article considers the ways in which Arctic exploration intersected with emergent scientific thinking about race and ethnicity in Britain. In particular, it examines how mobility impacted ideas of phrenology and scientific imaging in the context of the Arctic. As a practitioner of phrenology and member of the Edinburgh Phrenological Society, Ross's expertise in this new mental science certainly travelled with him to the Arctic. As his field drawings and book illustrations testify, however, Ross's knowledge was also affected by his immediate contact with the Inuit in Boothia Peninsula in Nunavut. Comparing Ross's field drawings and illustrations in his two-volume Narrative and Appendix to their accompanying texts and to select ethnographic illustrations produced by his fellow Arctic explorers, this article uncovers the material and conceptual transformations Ross's scientific visualisation of Inuit underwent during his physical movement between Britain and the Arctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the British Arctic Expedition of 1875 under command of George Nares left in search of the North Pole, they brought with them the most up-to-date photographic equipment available to the British Admiralty. Two crew members received instruction in photography from the astronomer, engineer and photographer, William Abney at Chatham, and Abney also sourced the wet and dry-plate equipment provided for the expedition. The expedition was unsuccessful in its ambitious geographical goal of reaching the North Pole, but it returned in 1876 with over 100 photographs. However, the Admiralty did not immediately release the photographs, which was a decision that was broadly criticized in the British periodical press. This was the first time an expedition had successfully returned with photographs taken in the high Arctic, so why did the Admiralty withhold the photographs? In this article, I use examples from the Illustrated London News and Nares' official travel account Narrative of A Voyage to the Polar Sea (1878) to examine the use of photography in constructing specific ideals of exploration in the context of the British Arctic Exploration of 1875. I show that the use of photography in the Arctic had been an experiment, both in terms of using new technologies while travelling in the high north, and in incorporating this new medium into the visual archives and narrative storytelling of expeditions. The use of different forms of illustrations also speaks the construction of visual authority and narratorial control in the context of imperial expansionism in the North. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1928, the airship Italia, commanded by Umberto Nobile, crashed on the way back from the North Pole. The tragic outcome of his expedition interrupted the organization of significant Arctic explorations and generated a fracture between Mussolini's regime and polar studies. The Fascist regime implicitly expressed its shame for its role in the whole unfortunate expedition and the subject became taboo in the entire country. Almost ten years later, in 1937, Norway invited all countries that had previously undertaken polar expeditions to participate in the first International Polar Exhibition (Internasjonal utstilling for polarforskning), planned to be held from May 1940. Considering the polemics after the 1928 Arctic expedition, the Norwegians' eager efforts to solicit Italy's participation in the exhibition may appear surprizing. Therefore, this work aims to better understand these dynamics, seeing the uncertainties surrounding Italy's participation in the polar exhibition in light of Nobile's pivotal role in the organization of Fascist Italy's polar explorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes turbulent energy fluxes in the Arctic atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) using measurements with a small uncrewed aircraft system (sUAS). Turbulent fluxes constitute a major part of the atmospheric energy budget and influence the surface heat balance by distributing energy vertically in the atmosphere. However, only few in situ measurements of the vertical profile of turbulent fluxes in the Arctic ABL exist. The study presents a method to derive turbulent heat fluxes from DataHawk2 sUAS turbulence measurements, based on the flux gradient method with a parameterization of the turbulent exchange coefficient. This parameterization is derived from high-resolution horizontal wind speed measurements in combination with formulations for the turbulent Prandtl number and anisotropy depending on stability. Measurements were taken during the MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) expedition in the Arctic sea ice during the melt season of 2020. For three example cases from this campaign, vertical profiles of turbulence parameters and turbulent heat fluxes are presented and compared to balloon-borne, radar, and near-surface measurements. The combination of all measurements draws a consistent picture of ABL conditions and demonstrates the unique potential of the presented method for studying turbulent exchange processes in the vertical ABL profile with sUAS measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations and accumulation of heavy metals in Arctic permafrost soil, as well as snow, ice, riverine, and sea water of Alexandra Land Island (the Franz Josef Land Archipelago) were studied in the framework of the UMKA-2021 integrated Arctic expedition of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the Russian Geographic Society. The content of heavy metals in Arctic soils on Alexandra Land, including the most hazardous ones, such as cadmium and lead, was low, no MPC exceeding was found. At the same time, increased concentrations of manganese were detected. The concentrations of heavy metals in water, snow, and ice samples corresponded to the natural background for tundra and the Arctic zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparing the output of general circulation models to observations is essential for assessing and improving the quality of models. While numerical weather prediction models are routinely assessed against a large array of observations, comparing climate models and observations usually requires long time series to build robust statistics. Here, we show that by nudging the large-scale atmospheric circulation in coupled climate models, model output can be compared to local observations for individual days. We illustrate this for three climate models during a period in April 2020 when a warm air intrusion reached the MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) expedition in the central Arctic. Radiosondes, cloud remote sensing and surface flux observations from the MOSAiC expedition serve as reference observations. The climate models AWI-CM1/ECHAM and AWI-CM3/IFS miss the diurnal cycle of surface temperature in spring, likely because both models assume the snowpack on ice to have a uniform temperature. CAM6, a model that uses three layers to represent snow temperature, represents the diurnal cycle more realistically. During a cold and dry period with pervasive thin mixed-phase clouds, AWI-CM1/ECHAM only produces partial cloud cover and overestimates downwelling shortwave radiation at the surface. AWI-CM3/IFS produces a closed cloud cover but misses cloud liquid water. Our results show that nudging the large-scale circulation to the observed state allows a meaningful comparison of climate model output even to short-term observational campaigns. We suggest that nudging can simplify and accelerate the pathway from observations to climate model improvements and substantially extends the range of observations suitable for model evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about sea ice surface topography and related deformation is crucial for studies of sea ice mass balance, sea ice modeling, and ship navigation through the ice pack. The Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2), part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth Observing System, has been on orbit for over 4 years, sensing the sea ice surface topography with six laser beams capable of capturing individual features such as pressure ridges. To assess the capabilities and uncertainties of ICESat-2 products, coincident high-resolution measurements of sea ice surface topography are required. During the yearlong Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition in the Arctic Ocean, we successfully carried out a coincident underflight of ICESat-2 with a helicopter-based airborne laser scanner (ALS), achieving an overlap of more than 100 km. Despite the comparably short data set, the high-resolution centimeter-scale measurements of the ALS can be used to evaluate the performance of ICESat-2 products. Our goal is to investigate how the sea ice surface roughness and topography are represented in different ICESat-2 products as well as how sensitive ICESat-2 products are to leads and small cracks in the ice cover. Here, we compare the ALS measurements with ICESat-2's primary sea ice height product, ATL07, and the high-fidelity surface elevation product developed by the University of Maryland (UMD). By applying a ridge-detection algorithm, we find that 16 % (4 %) of the number of obstacles in the ALS data set are found using the strong (weak) center beam in ATL07. Significantly higher detection rates of 42 % (30 %) are achieved when using the UMD product. While only one lead is indicated in ATL07 for the underflight, the ALS reveals many small, narrow, and only partly open cracks that appear to be overlooked by ATL07. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparing helicopter‐borne surface temperature maps in winter and optical orthomosaics in summer from the year‐long Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate expedition, we find a strong geometric correlation between warm anomalies in winter and melt pond location the following summer. Warm anomalies are associated with thinner snow and ice, that is, surface depression and refrozen leads, that allow for water accumulation during melt. Warm surface temperature anomalies in January were 0.3–2.5 K warmer on sea ice that later formed melt ponds. A one‐dimensional steady‐state thermodynamic model shows that the observed surface temperature differences are in line with the observed ice thickness and snow depth. We demonstrate the potential of seasonal prediction of summer melt pond location and coverage from winter surface temperature observations. A threshold‐based classification achieves a correct classification for 41% of the melt ponds. Plain Language Summary: We compare winter surface temperatures from an infrared camera with summer photographs of sea ice with melt ponds. The datasets were recorded from a helicopter during the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate expedition. Melt ponds form on sea ice in summer when the snow melts and water accumulates in the lower locations on the ice floes. Melt ponds are very important for the Arctic energy budget because they strongly change the sea ice brightness and thus the amount of solar energy absorbed by the ice. We find surface characteristics with similar size and location between warmer areas in winter and the location of melt ponds in summer. For a better process understanding, we calculate the surface temperature with a simple model and find that the warm temperature anomalies are due to thinner ice and snow. Stronger warm temperature anomalies appear in new cracks in the ice which are covered with newly formed, thin ice. With a temperature‐based classification, we are able to estimate the summer melt pond fraction. Key Points: Winter warm surface temperature anomalies are co‐located with melt pond locations in the following summerWarm anomalies appear in refrozen leads, in refrozen melt ponds, and in troughs between ridges, due to thinner snow and iceWe show the potential for prediction of summer melt pond fraction from winter surface temperatures [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until comparatively recent times, travel writing has not been a genre renowned for its humorous qualities. Yet nothing demonstrates the cultural and historical relativity of humour as clearly as the evolution of travel writing from the early nineteenth century onwards. With a focus on three narratives of failed quests, this essay traces the broad developmental arc of humour in travel writing over two hundred years. The narrative of John Ross's Arctic expedition exemplifies the way in which colonial-era writing invites readers to share a comic superiority over simple-minded indigenes. From the mid-twentieth century, Eric Newby's work illustrates a trend towards self-irony and self-mockery whereby humour becomes a versatile expression of the rhetoric of anti-conquest. Finally, Bill Bryson's books typify the increasing reliance in contemporary writing on incongruities of form and content and other strategies consistent with the development of a post-touristic travel stance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Lakes in the Anthropocene" is a book written by John Smol, a renowned research ecologist who was honored with the International Ecology Institute Prize. The book reflects on Smol's 35+ years of research in the Arctic, specifically in the field of limnology and paleolimnology. It consists of 13 chapters that cover various topics, including the history of Arctic limnology, the impacts of climate change on Arctic lakes, the importance of Indigenous knowledge, the thawing of permafrost, environmental challenges, the effects of industries on aquatic ecosystems, pollutants affecting the Arctic, and the role of lake sediments in understanding environmental change. The book is recommended for researchers interested in paleolimnological approaches, environmental change, and the Arctic, as well as for readers with a general interest in ecology, the environment, geology, or the Arctic. [Extracted from the article]

Louise Boyd (1887–1972) was a female pioneer in Arctic research whose legacy includes the exploration of north-east Greenland. In this Perspective piece, we use a broad interdisciplinary approach to investigate her career as a photographer and expedition leader. When documenting glacial retreat during the 1930s, she was at the forefront of the development of glaciology as a research discipline. Without family obligations and with seemingly inexhaustible financial resources, she used Arctic exploration to create an independent and selfdefined life for herself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the second Scientific Expedition Edgeøya Spitsbergen (SEES), which took place from 13 to 22 July 2022, was to study the consequences of climate warming in the High Arctic, building on ecological data gathered by the Dutch Arctic Station on Edgeøya between 1968 and 1987 and the first SEES expedition in 2015. In this Perspective essay, I ponder the actual purpose of SEES 2022, in which I participated as an early-career research scientist. The research activities were very limited and climate change was named as the restricting factor. Fifty researchers were accompanied by 50 tourists, journalists and policymakers. The choice made by the expedition leaders and funders to go for a tourist vessel was mostly financial, and the difference in media output versus expected research output substantial, which points to paradoxes related to research, publicity, politics and tourism in the Arctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of Arctic exploration and the natural and social geographical characteristics of the region have been in the focus of Hungarian geographical research for 250 years. These studies are not exclusively geographical, but related to scientific fields (science, ethnography, and geopolitics), and include travel history. At the same time, no uniform work or knowledge base was created that would summarize domestic research in the Arctic region. The present study tries to fill this gap and summarize the role of Hungarian scientists in the research history of Arctic geography and related sciences and covers a geopolitical perspective. During the study, I applied a multidisciplinary approach, using domestic scientific works published in the fields of history, travel history, geography, ethnography, linguistics, as well as international relations, geopolitics, and international law. I concluded that the Arctic region has belonged to the field of interest of Hungarian scientists for centuries. I identified five major periods, during which different aspects and scientific fields played a central role (e.g., natural science, ethnography, geopolitics). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]