4 July 2012 Back to Russell Glacier with Karen Cameron's Team

Summary

The group headed back out to Russell GlacierA mass of ice that persists for many years and notably deforms and flows under the influence of gravity. to meet up with Karen Cameron's team. Karen is a researcher from the University of Washington. They study subglacial microbes. The students collected subglacial meltwater at the site and brought it back to the labs at KISS in Kangerlussuaq. Students then analyzed the samples and looked at the various microbes under a UV microscope.

Pictures from today's research activities

Today's Weather Report from Group 1

• Cloudy and over cast
• Temperature: around 19°C
• Wind speed: around 2,5 m/s
• Relative humidity: 43%
• Wind chill: 19°C
• Dew point: 5,1°C
• Barometric: 1013,22 mBar

Group 5's video of iron content in meltwater

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Celebrating the 4th of July in Greenland

The US students hosted a BBQ for the Greenlandic and Danish students. Everyone enjoyed hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, dip, brownies and sodas while listening to the Americans sing patriotic songs. Afterwards the US students introduced the Danish and Greenlandic students to the meaning and importance of Independence Day and why we celebrate it. Pictures of the fun are below.

Student Blogs

Cecilia Olsen-Heilmann (Sisimiut, Greenland)

My name is Cecilia and I come from Sisimiut, Greenland. I am 16 years old, I will turn 17 in august this year. I go to high school in Sisimiut who’s called HTX, and I just finished my first year, so I am really excited about the second year, ‘cause I think it will be a bit tougher. Today we learned a little bit about the biogeochemistry around the Russell glacier. And we learned about the work that Karen, Kyla and Sam are doing. We took samples from their field site, and then we brought them back to the labs and processed them. Our group hid a geocache, in the toilet near the glacier. I also learned how 4th of July means to the US students and how crazy they are on that day. In the evening we celebrated the 4th July, and it was really interesting. Actually, it wasn’t really different than our national day in Greenland, which is June 21st except from the fireworks in the evening, because the sun almost never disappear at night in Greenland. The word I learned today is “independence”, because of the day. It is just kind of hard to explain, because I got the Danish explanation for it, and it is not so easy to translate.

Agnes Avakumoff

My name is Agnes Avakumoff. I’m from Chuathbaluk, Alaska.

Today’s 4th of July, Independence Day. For morning classes we went to Russell GlacierA mass of ice that persists for many years and notably deforms and flows under the influence of gravity. to learn from a couple scientists about part of their work. But some of us had some car trouble before making the trip. At the glaciers we collected water samples, learned about what the scientists are trying to find in the water and our group, Group 3, had to hide a geocache box. When we came back we went to KISS and did some lab work with the water samples. It was interesting and fun, seeing what they do and trying it. After that we spent I think an hour getting this picnic ready. We were cutting and mixing the food we need, carrying chairs and tables outside and the boys were getting the “grills” ready. While we were working in the kitchen some of the girls gave out 4th of July gifts and put up decorations. It was a fun day.

It was fascinating seeing where today’s scientists worked and seemed hard at first when we first saw the equipment. But it seemed a little simple afterwards, just a little, when we got to try it out. I don’t know if this is important but before today I never heard of a scientist from Alaska being stationed here or anywhere this far. Most I know are in Alaska, studying global warming and other things. I didn’t learn any new vocabulary from any of the students today. But while we worked I answered questions about my culture to others and told small stories. They were about how we celebrated 4th of July and other holidays. Some of the girls passed out gifts and put up decorations. What I got to give to everyone was from Senator Lisa Murkowski. Small books about the Constitution of the US and the Declaration of Independence, more than enough for everyone.