Location: Greenland Ice Sheet Lat & Long: 67°04’N, 49°23’W
Members: Joseph Cook (University of Sheffield), Chris Williamson (University of Bristol), Johan Nilsson (NASA JPL), Ewa Sypianska (Cardiff University), Martin Tranter (Principal Investigator), Tom Gribbin, Alex Anesio, Andrew Tedstone, Alex Holland (all Bristol University), Tris Irvine Fynn (Aberystwyth University) and Jim McQuaid, Liane Benning, Steffi Lutz and Jenine McCutcheon (all University of Leeds).
Objectives
In July-August 2016 a team of researchers from Bristol, Sheffield, Leeds, Potsdam, Aberystwyth and NASA JPL camped on the Greenland ice sheet throughout the summer melt season to measure and monitor the changing colour of the ice and determine the causes of the darkening. In 2017 the project split into two teams – the first went in early (May-June) to observe the retreating snowpack and exposure of bare ice in spring. The second team will go in July-August to observe the peak of the melt season, when algae bloom most intensely and contaminants are concentrated onto the ice surface. This team’s measurements will enable the development new techniques for detecting ice surface contaminants and numerical models for the changing colour (and therefore melt rate) of the ice sheet.
For more information, see the project webpage (blackandbloom.org). There is also related information on Arctic Club Committee Member Joseph Cook’s webpage (http://tothepoles.wordpress.com).
See the Black and Bloom 2016 Greenland Field Work Report.
Watch the Black and Bloom video.
