Cambridge Narsarsuaq Expedition
A student-led climate-focused expedition to Narsarsuaq, Greenland, August 2022
cuex.narsarsuaq2021[at]gmail.com
In August 2022, a diverse student team travelled to Narsarsuaq, Greenland, to deliver important historical context to global warming and Arctic change. The Cambridge team endeavoured to revisit fixed survey points established by the 1967 Brathay Expedition to recapture photography and retake measurements after a 46-year hiatus. An undergraduate investigation into microplastic pollutants was also supported by this expedition.
We are grateful to our supporters, advisors and collaborators.
Download our brochure here.
N61° 20’ W45° 26.5’
12th - 23rd August
GINO WATKINS
MEMORIAL FUND
CLIMATE SURVEILANCE FOR ASIAQ
We will perform micro-meteorological measurements at the Hullet West Base (est. 1969) to validate historical climate data for ASIAQ Greenland Survey.
RECAPTURE GLACIAL LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHS
We will produce and publicly exhibit a photo essay to showcase the changing Arctic landscape. It will contain direct scene comparisons to those of 1955, 1972 & 1976.
GLACIAL SAMPLING FOR MICROPLASTIC POLLUTANTS STUDY
The microplastic pollutants in Greenland's glacial water, a supposedly pristine reservoir, will be analysed for a Jagiellonian University undergraduate project.
The expedition concluded on 23rd August. Stay tuned for further media releases!
1976 BRATHAY EXPEDITION
The 1976 Brathay expedition was the fourth and final of the Brathay Greenland expeditions (1967, 1969 & 1972) that visited Narsarsuaq to survey the changing glacier fronts; work that was initiated in 1955 by Dr Anker Weidick of the Geological Survey of Greenland (and Denmark since 1995).
Several fixed survey points were established to allow accurate longterm glacier surveylance.
Background photo depicts Nordbogletscher's ice front, photographed by John Gittins in 1976. Presented as Fig 2.11(b) of Brathay's report¹.
¹ Jenkins W., Gunner, J. & Young, R. (1980) Narsarsuaq, South Greenland 1972 and 1976 expedition results
2022 CAMBRIDGE EXPEDITION
The Cambridge team are preparing for a 10-day (13-day in poor weather) self-sufficient hike to revisit the Brathay expeditions' fixed survey points.
Photography, sampling and meteorological measurements will be conducted at 'study locations' on days 3, 6 & 8. View our Itinerary.
We thank our regional contacts, Blue Ice Explorer, for advising us.
Google Earth trail tour
Google Earth Pro V7.3.4.8248 accessed 11/01/22, Images (c) 2022 Asiaq & CNES / Airbus, Location: Narsarsuaq N61° 20’ W45° 26.5’
Sketch map of the 1976 Brathay expedition trail, presented as Fig 1.3 in report¹. Pre-1973 Greenlandic place name spelling used.
STUDY LOCATION 1
~ 61°18'46"N 45°45'10" W
Photograph NW view, captured in 1932 & 1967, Fig 2.2¹. Photograph W & SW views, captured in 1976, Fig 2.3¹. Photograph W view, captured in 1955 & 1967, Fig 2.4¹
STUDY LOCATION 2
~ 61°20'17"N 45°45'4"W
Photograph S views, captured in 1955 & 1967, Fig 2.8 & Fig 2.5¹. Photograph N view, captured in 1955, Fig 2.9(c)¹. Glacial water sample collection.
STUDY LOCATION 3
~ 61°23'30"N 45°23'6"W ca.
STUDY LOCATION 4
~ 61°23'57"N 45°24'16"W
Photograph N view, captured in 1976, Fig 2.10(a)¹
Photograph E view, captured in 1967 & 1976, Fig 2.11¹
STUDY LOCATION 5
~ 61°25'22"N 45° 7'24"W
STUDY LOCATION 6
~ 61°25'32"N 45° 6'37"W
STUDY LOCATION 7
~ 61°23'58"N 45°11'20"W
Photograph NW view, captured in 1972, Fig 2.15(a)¹
Photograph WSW view, captured in 1976, Fig 2.15(b)¹ if accessible
Conduct barometry & temperature survey for ASIAQ at Brathay's 1969 West Hullet Base, Datum 684 of report¹
Mei (36) · Expedition Medic
Venture Catalyst · Engineering Meng
University of Oxford
Travelled to over 120 countries, including North and South pole. Six summits. Trained in expedition medicine. Languages: Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Chinese, English. Nationality: Sweden.
Kuba (20) · Expedition Leader
Student · Natural Sciences BA
University of Cambridge
Experienced in navigation, hiking, wild camping and mountaineering. Trained with a rifle. Languages: Polish, English, Russian (basic).
Monika (20) · Research (microplastics)
Student · Mathematics & Natural Sciences BA
Jagiellonian University
Experienced in hiking, wild camping and navigation. Languages: Polish, English, French (intermediate), Russian (basic) and Greek (basic). Nationality: Poland.
Robert (26) · Photography
Student · Engineering for Sustainable Development MPhil · University of Cambridge
Experienced in independent travel and photography. Languages: German, English, Japanese (basic). Nationality: Germany.
Madeleine (31) · Reporting
Student · Geography PhD
University of Cambridge
Worked as a researcher, writer in DC, completed a master's degree. Former biological technician at Dixie national forest. Languages: English, Slovene. Nationality: United States.
Independent geological mapping in New Caledonia, 2019, and member of a 2017 Sierra Club trail service expedition, Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona US. Former president of the CU Expeditions Society. Languages: English. Nationality: Ireland & UK.
Ursula (24) · Logistics & Research (geology & meteorology)
Student · Earth Sciences MSci
University of Cambridge