Fresh Eyes on Ice Team Returns from Field Expedition

On Wednesday, March 8th, the Fresh Eyes on Ice field team, consisting of Chris Arp, Sarah Clement, and Allen Bondurant, departed for a 550 mile snow machine trip. The three began their journey with a delayed flight into McGrath, before continuing on to Shageluk, Koyukuk, and finally, Galena. Their route took them along the mighty Kuskokwim and Yukon Rivers, along the Iditarod Trail, and overland through through the western interior’s spruce birch forests.

The team’s mission was two fold - first, they collected tons of data including measurements of ice thickness, water temperature, velocity, conductivity, and suspended sediment, as well as ice cores and drone photos. This data will be used to help understand short and long term trends in freshwater ice, and its relationship with a changing climate and cryosphere. Second, they worked with students in the villages they visited on science education and outreach. After a 550 mile journey, the team is back in Fairbanks. They left plenty of gear (including three snowmachines) in Galena, where they will return to begin next year’s field expedition. They also left a fascination and interest in science with many of the students they visited, preparing the next generation of young Alaskan scientists.

Read Allen Bondurant’s full trip summary here.