Extreme Arctic 2010 – IOP officer to join expedition to Svalbard

26 March 2010

Alison McLure

Alison McLure, the Institute of Physics (IOP) National Officer in Scotland is joining The British Schools Exploring Society’s (BSES) Extreme Arctic expedition to Svalbard this April.

Svalbard, a far-flung snowy archipelago on the edge of the Arctic Ocean, is just 600 miles from the North Pole.  At 78 degrees north, the average temperature on arrival in April is -20C, with the islands already experiencing 24 hour daylight.

Living in tents and snow caves in sub-zero temperatures, Alison will join other scientists and Young Explorers to conduct glacial geomorphology (looking at Earth surface processes) and phenology studies (the study of natural life cycles) contributing to long-term projects concerning the measurement of key indicators of climate change.  

In addition, an ornithological survey will also be undertaken, gathering and collating data on some of the indigenous species such as barnacles and pink footed geese, which will have migrated from Britain to breed in Svalbard.

All of these projects will contribute to the BSES long term research that began over three years ago, which is hoping to establish a body of knowledge in specific regions such as Svalbard.

Alison, who has worked for the Meteorological Office for ten years before joining the IOP, is a keen mountaineer and has previously gone on a similar BSES expedition to South Georgia.

Alison said: “As spring turns to summer forcing back the winter blanket of snow and ice to reveal the striking tundra beneath, Svalbard’s summer visiting birds bring life back to the archipelago, making it a truly magical place.

“Scientific exploration is an essential part of widening our understanding of the world around us. With new challenges such as climate change ahead, it is an important factor in our search for solutions.”

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