The Dark Snow project Science and media team has set up shop in a small cabin on the outskirts of Sisimiut, on the coast of Greenland.
Scientists Jason Box and Marek Stibal, along with myself, will be working pushing out communications, video, still pictures, and narrative over the next several days, while we wait for the remainder of the scientific team to arrive, and for our helicopter transportation situation to clarify. Our originally contracted helicopter provider has been hamstrung by the Danish regulatory system for now, and we were able to fly this week by making a last minute arrangement. Plans for the coming days are being re-evaluated on a daily, and even hourly basis.
Dr. Stibal will be heading home tomorrow, as his samples so far indicates that the glacier-based organisms he has been sampling may be at a more advanced growth stage when he returns in August. Dr. Box is busy reviewing budget and planning items, and working with me to go thru the large amount of video and stills we have already acquired, as well as create more interviews and voice-over for an expanding number of interested media outlets.
The only condition that has not changed radically in recent days has been the sun, which is always circling the arctic sky, and when the clouds part, dazzlingly bright.
Sisimiut varies wildly between spectacular physical scenery, incongruous and unexpected human dwellings clinging precariously to the outlying rocks, bustling traffic and dreary public housing in the city center. The temperatures have ranged from comfortably cool to biting cold, and today we had snow, that fell but did not stick. The wind comes and goes, but generally remains not far out of mind or ear. Enormous Ravens haunt the rocks around our tiny cottage, babbling as we come in and out, and occasionally bursting out of the shadows with ponderous Tolkeinesque flapping.
That’s an awful lot of non-snow covered mountains I see in the last shot – I assume it wasn’t always so. How’s the internet speed? How’s the petrol prices?
Indy
not buying petrol, but the beer is insanely priced.
internet connection ok. would be interesting to see older pics of the mountains.
Surreal landscapes!
I’d be interested to hear what you guys thought of the Obama climate speech.
groundbreaking. historic. paradigm shifting. no going back. he can’t un-say it.
Clearly a lot of work went in to the wording. The speech was careful and
solidly factual.
This speech did not happen spontaneously. Obama knows what I’ve been saying for several years about the polling. Most Americans get it, they know humans have something to do with it, and they think the government has a role in mitigating and dealing with climate change.
I’m very encouraged by his decision to use EPA to go after carbon polluters, as well as the plan to withdraw funding (subsidies at home, loans for coal abroad). If we could only get Comgress to go along with a carbon tax…
I do wonder if he can say yes to Keystone at this point without seriously hurting himself?
Oh and republicans — completely backed into the dunce corner. All and all, masterful. I was, however, disappointed by the promotion of nat gas/ fracking.
Can’t imagine the sun circling the sky,,Where is all the soot from the Colo fires?
that ice is pretty dark up there. something’s doing it.
will be posting some aerial vids of our target landing zone soon.
Here are some stories you might have missed:
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/56162?utm_source=scribol.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=scribol.com
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/28/republicans-war-on-coal-_n_3516724.html?ir=Green&ref=topbar
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/28/charles-bayless-climate-change_n_3518836.html?ref=topbar
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/28/phoenix-las-vegas-heat-wave_n_3520075.html
Keep up the great work – you are in my thoughts and prayers.
kokuaguy at Gemale dot com