Catlin Expedition Disaster
The Catlin Expedition is a collaboration with scientists to find out exactly how much the ice cap is actually receding and how long polar ice will continue to be a year round event, but it has been a disaster from the beginning. From equipment failure to frost bite, the beat up members of the expedition can’t last much longer without seeking refuge.
The temperature has been minus 40 degrees Celsius. They are taking measurements of the ice in areas that would be impossible to return to and check periodically which does not make much sense. Thirteen days of data was lost from one of the machines. A portable radar device, known as Sprite, designed to make millions of measurements of the ice thickness, has been plagued by breakdowns. Another instrument, Sea-Cat, meant to measure the temperature and salinity of the water beneath the ice-cap, has broken down as well.
Their sleeping bags are wet now after deciding not to use vapor barrier liners in their sleeping bags. Martin Hartley has frostbite and the general consensus is that the results of any testing done will be questionable. Some think that they have already lost reason and should be picked up regardless of their thoughts on the matter.
What we do not understand is why expeditions like this need to happen when they jeopardize human life. It seems that if governments around the world would show some kind of interest in global warming, they could fund some expeditions of their own. Most militarys have enough equipment to do an expedition like this in relative comfort and with much less threat to human life.
About the Author: guyp422 is a contributing author for Green Earth Friend. He is also the site admin for Green Earth Friend. He researches and writes on environmental issues including renewable energy, sustainable living and the go green movement.
Tom Hron | May 16, 2009 | Reply
I’ve flown the High Arctic, but better yet a good friend of mine was the first man to ever land a wheeled airplane at the North Pole–Don Braun, and the airplane stands as a momument to his achievement in Yellowknife, NWT.
From the beginning, I was left incredulous over the stupidity of the Catlin Expedition, and everyone connected with it ought to be ashamed of themselves, including Prince Charles. What a sad, sad joke. Too bad the British never seem to remember what happened to Sir John Franklin and all his men, which was all brought about because of the world’s best scientists believing in the “Open Polar Sea.” It wasn’t until almost 1900 that our so-called scientists finally figured out there was no such thing. But now a whole new bunch of morons have been spawned who think they can conquer the Artic Ocean with their computers, of all things. Stupid, stupid, stupid, and I wish someone would make them all go away.