The Nansen Legacy

The Arctic is about to shrink, shows a new study, as an important part of the Arctic Ocean shifts over to an Atlantic climate regime. The rapid climate shift occurs in the northern Barents Sea—the Arctic warming hotspot where the surface warming and loss of winter sea ice is largest in the entire Arctic.

Hundred and twentyfive years after “Fram” left for its historic Arctic expedition, the new Norwegian research icebreaker “Kronprins Haakon” left Tromsø on August 6, for its first scientific expedition to the Barents Sea. Onboard are 32 Nansen Legacy scientists.

In a newly published article, Nansen Legacy researcher, Prof. Camille Li (UiB), and coworkers demonstrate how climate change will impact storm tracks.

“There are many bits and pieces that need to fall in place with a new vessel like “Kronprins Haakon”, as well as a large research project like the Nansen Legacy, but both the vessel as well as the project are run by many incredibly competent and hard-working persons”, says Nansen Legacy PI Marit Reigstad.

Ilker Fer heads the first cruise by the Nansen Legacy project equipped with a specially constructed glider and measuring tools.

Studying the Arctic spring requires a suit of different approaches and methods, as Nansen Legacy’s collaborating project Arctic PRIZE is showing in this video.