The Science Team of the Canadian Research Icebreaker CCGS Amundsen cancelled the first leg of the 2017 Expedition, due to southward motion of hazardous Arctic sea ice, caused by climate change. The extreme ice conditions in the south would make the ship arrive too late on site to meet research objectives.
This postpones the Hudson Bay System Study (BaySys) involving 40 scientists from five universities across Canada. Timing was key for this $17 million, four-year, University of Manitoba-led project, according to Science Daily. The decision to terminate the 2017 program has significant impacts on partners and the large number of graduate students involved.
This year the Expedition Logistics and Science Teams accelerated the mobilization of the 2017 Arctic Expedition to permit departure of the Amundsen six days ahead of schedule. This would allow CCG to carry out critical marine safety and security operations in the unusually severe ice conditions in the Strait of Belle Isle and along the northeast coast of Newfoundland before beginning the Science Mission.
However, fleet management issues and inadequate alternative ships forced the cancellation of the science program due to significant safety concerns, despite efforts to develop a viable option to allow the work to proceed.
Dr. David Barber, Expedition Chief Scientist and BaySys Scientific Lead, noted that: “Climate-related changes in Arctic sea ice not only reduce its extent and thickness but also increase its mobility meaning that ice conditions are likely to become more variable and severe conditions such as these will occur more often.”
As informed, the Sea Ice Research Team collected a comprehensive dataset on the physics of the ice, ocean and atmosphere in the area, in order to further understand these events and assist Canada in preparing for climate change driven increases in marine ice hazards.
Dr. Louis Fortier, Scientific Director of the Amundsen and ArcticNet Science programs, informed that this unfortunate event is not expected to affect the remainder of the 2017 Amundsen Expedition resuming on July 6 and the team does not anticipate an impact on the Nunavik Inuit Health Survey.
