Earth Expeditions: Melting Greenland Glaciers

TL;DR

A climate scientist is conducting a survey to study ocean melting in Greenland by dropping probes from a Gulfstream Three aircraft.

Transcript

I'm Josh Willis I'm a climate scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and right now I'm in Keflavík, Iceland in front of the Gulfstream Three which we’re using to conduct a survey for oceans melting Greenland. We have a series of points laid out where we would like to collect data and find large we fly over those points and drop when we're right... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫠 The survey is being conducted in Greenland to study ocean melting.
• 😶‍🌫️ The team relocates drop points depending on ice or cloud conditions.
• 🗂️ The survey is divided into four sections to optimize data collection efficiency.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the purpose of the survey being conducted in Greenland?

The survey aims to collect data on ocean melting in Greenland by dropping probes from an aircraft, enabling scientists to understand the impact of melting ice on sea levels.

Q: How does the team determine the drop points for the probes?

The team looks out the window during the flight, searching for clear open water and clear skies. This helps them avoid dropping probes on top of ships or areas with sea ice.

Q: Why are there multiple primary locations for data collection?

The survey covers a large area, and operating from nearby bases reduces the fuel consumption for the aircraft. It is divided into four sections to optimize efficiency and ensure data collection is not hindered by long trips for the plane.

Q: How is the survey progressing in terms of the probe drops?

Currently, the team is about halfway through the survey, with 150 probes dropped and 100 remaining. Despite feeling the time crunch, the scientist is confident they can complete the survey in the remaining two weeks.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The climate scientist is conducting a survey in Greenland to collect data on ocean melting using a Gulfstream Three aircraft.

• The team has to relocate their drop points due to ice or cloudy conditions, targeting areas with clear open water and skies.

• The survey is divided into four sections, and the scientist is confident they can complete the ambitious plan within the given timeframe.