31.1.18 Now we know why…

31.1.18 Now we know why….

The last penguins standing in the light.

The last penguins standing in the light.

Last week, on a cloudless day, Saeid, my new “assistent” (a Ph.D. student), and I decided to go to the coast to see the iceberges in the beautiful light again. Well, in the evening clouds came in and it was overcast. We decided to go anyway, and as soon as we reached the ice edge the clouds started to break up (against the forecast…). At first, there was just a stripe of light that slowly wandered over the sea ice, sometimes just shining on the penguins, while the sea ice behind and the icebergs were still in the shade. Then more and more then sun came back. It was a magic play of light and shadows and we just stood there and watched.

Magic light at the ice edge

Magic light at the ice edge

An hour after we had left, the sea ice started to break up. We know this because the biologists, who study the penguins, have an automatic camera there and they showed us a spectacular time lapse video. The entire sea ice pack broke along the ice shelf edge and moved almost as a whole away from the edge, then quickly breaking apart  it was driven out of Atka bay. Absolutely spectacular! We missed it just by one hour.

Same spot, 24h later...

Same spot, 24h later…(the ice that is seen is the ice shelf I am standing on)

Just before the ice broke up...

Just before the ice broke up…

So, on the following evening we went again and saw the deep blue sea!

Within a couple of hours, the sea ice was gone. Nobody ever doubts the decision again when the sea ice gets closed for visits.

Within a couple of hours, the sea ice was gone. Nobody ever doubts the decision again when the sea ice gets closed for visits.