Research vessel Lance breaks ice in Dicksonfjord

Posted on 18. April 2014 by Rolf Stange

In the north and east, the drifting sea ice is now more and more closing around Spitsbergen’s coast, but the fjords remain largely ice-free this year. Even fjords that usually freeze over quite reliably, such as Tempelfjord, Billefjord, Dicksonfjord, Ekmanfjord (all branches of Isfjord) as well as Wijdefjord and Van Mijenfjord are far more open than they usually are, much to the regret of those who are enjoying the current ski, dog sledge and snow mobile season – and, more importantly, the wildlife, who needs the ice to give birth to their offspring, such as Ringed seals, or to find food, as the polar bear does.

At least, some fjords are frozen in their innermost parts. Dicksonfjord had an ice cover that came closer to normal standards than in the case of most other fjords.

Recently, from 8 to 10 April, the research vessel Lance broke a lead of several kilometres into the fast ice of Dicksonfjord. This was done as part of a field course in sea ice, originally scheduled to take place in Hornsund, but as ice conditions there did not develop suitably, UNIS applied for permission to break a lead of “several ship’s lengths” into Dicksonfjord.

The result is an opening several kilometres long. At the innermost position, the ice thickness was a mere 35 centimetres. Further out, it was even less. It can accordingly not be expected that the ice freezes solid again during the current season. It seems rather likely that the long crack may decrease the stability of the whole fjord ice, potentially contributing to an earlier break-up of the ice in Dicksonfjord.

The lead broken by Lance is met with criticism from several sides. Amongst others, Harald Soleim, a Norwegian trapper who has lived in Dicksonfjord for many years, is less than amused. During spring, he uses the fjord ice to travel within his hunting area by snow mobile. He was not even informed about the lead broken by Lance and described the unexpected opening as “directly life dangerous”. UNIS regrets not having informed Soleim in advance. If breaking up fjord ice in times of low ice cover, at the cost of wildlife and humans, is justified for a scientific field course, may be disputed. It is doubtful that permission had been given if standards for scientific operations were equally strict as for touristic activities.

Fjord ice in Tempelfjord: much less than normal in terms of area and thickness. It is controversial for which purpose the ice may be broken when there is already less than needed anyway.

Source: Sysselmannen (Feltlogg), Svalbardposten

Do you agree that spitsbergen-svalbard.com is a great resource for any arctic enthusiast?

Everything is available for free, no paywall, no registration, no paid advertising, and all this in spite of constant costs and effort. Please help us to keep it that way, without paywall and paid ads, and support us through Steady!