Forums
High Arctic Change 2010

Hello Cheryl- I have enjoyed catching up on your expedition as I have been camping (primitive) on the beach for 2 weeks. I am sure that the temperatures are at least 40 degrees warmer here on the Atlantic. Have you done any swimming in the lakes? The photos are spectacular -- beautiful scenery, quite inviting for a mid day dip.

Are there any tundra flowers blooming? Any other birds besides the terns?

Enjoy the rest of your expedition. It goes by so quickly and soon you will be back in the classroom-- a new one in Arizona??

Deanna Wheeler

Wed, 08/04/2010 - 13:18

Cheryl Forster

Thanks for reading our blog!The temperatures in the Lake Linne, which is the 2nd largest lake in
Svalbard is roughly 6 degrees C at the surface. We have done some
swimming but not really for the enjoyment of the sport. The first day
we were not able to get across the river outlet of Lake Linne so two of
the students had to jump in the water to get our boat which had been
dropped off on the other side. That was not really much fun for those
two guys but it was our only option and so they did it for the team, so
to speak. They had to remove their clothes so they would not get
hypothermia. Several other times we have had to make a measurement in
the water or pick up a monitor and so several students have volunteered
to put on a survival suit and go into the lake in the name of science.
I grew up on the coast of NH and I remember the water was very cold in
the summer around 16 degrees C (60degF). I know that I would not be
able to swim in anything much less than 16oC! One evening the students
went into the ocean for a quick dip. We believe the water was around 2
degrees C. That was very cold and they could not stay in the water
longer than 1 or 2 seconds.
There are some very interesting arctic flowers and I will post them on
my blog tomorrow or the next day. I have been collecting pictures for
it. There have been tons of birds, all of the typical arctic types
but I have not been able to get any good pictures, other than the terns,
because they move too fast!
Thanks for your questions. The time is going by very fast, we only have
a week or so left. I will be back at West High school in Salt Lake City
following the trip. School starts immediately after I get back.
Cheryl Forster