PS156: Geophysics Arctic Ocean Expedition on RV Polarstern

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000


Vessel	Research Vessel Polarstern
Expedition	PS156
Dates	6 August – 14 October 2026
Days at sea	70
Route	Tromsø – Greenland – Lomonosov Ridge – Bremerhaven
Institutions	Alfred Wegener Institute, University of Bergen and Tromsø, NORCE, MARUM, OGS

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Here I am, once again in the Arctic. This time aboard the legendary Polarstern, as part of the Lomonosov-Alpha-Morris Jesup Rise Expedition 1 (LAMEX 1), led by .

We left Tromsø on August 6 and our return to Bremerhaven is scheduled on October 14; yeah, exactly 70 days at sea. The expedition also serves as a scientific platform for the project. Check out the detailed scientific plan .

I am part of the Geophysics group, working with the Seismic team. Seismic surveys have added another layer of fascination/mystery to these expeditions as they allow us to look beneath the Arctic seafloor and “see” the geometry of sediment layers, in some places reaching up to about 2 km below the seabed. These sediments may contain a record of the Arctic Ocean reaching back roughly 20 million years, and potentially even further. Trying to grasp these timescales is, quite honestly, difficult.

Even more mysterious is that some sediment layers dating back 20 to 40 million years are unusually thin in some areas. Here, we are a bit like detectives, looking for where these layers are thicker and using these differences to understand why the same layers became much thinner in other parts of the Arctic Ocean.

This post comes with a small collection of moments from the expedition: deploying seismic instruments; preparing to fly by helicopter onto an ice floe near the Lomonosov Ridge to help with the deployment of an eXpendable Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (XCTD), using, surprisingly, a modified fishing rod; and, of course, spending time on a giant ice floe at the North Pole (that one could not be missed!). And then there is Polarstern, navigating through the ice in what sometimes feels like a lunar landscape. Listing these experiences in a few sentences does not really do them justice. Each one could probably need a chapter of its own.

It is a privilege to be here (for the second time; read about the first time and to contribute, even in a small way, to understanding one of the most remote and fascinating environments on Earth.

A round of thanks to everyone who makes this possible: Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research for providing the infrastructure and means for polar research; i2B Into The Blue for its scientific partnership; the Polarstern crew (Reederei F. Laeisz) for safely carrying us through the Arctic Ocean and supporting the deployment of our instruments; Deutscher Wetterdienst for providing dedicated weather forecasts through a meteorologist on board; Northern Helicopter GmbH for the pilots and engineers who make our helicopter operations possible and safe; And, last but certainly not least, thanks to for having me on board and for making me part of this adventure :)

Photo credits: black and white photos taken by Mario Hoppman, colored photo in front of the helicopter taken by Estella Weigelt

KH7010: i2B Arctic Ocean Expedition on RV Kronprins Haakon

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000


Vessel	Research Vessel Kronprins Haakon
Expedition	KH7010 (i2B)
Dates	16 August – 19 September 2025
Days at sea	35
Route	Longyearbyen – Lomonosov Ridge / North Pole
Institutions	University of Tromsø, NORCE, Alfred Wegener Institute, University of Bergen

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Standing on the sea ice, with over 4000 meters of ocean beneath my feet, felt almost unreal. I even played a soccer match there. Running in a survival suit was exhausting, but unforgettable.

This expedition is something I am still processing. It taught me a lot, not only in science but also about myself. I often think back to my little town in Veneto, where this journey began. From that starting point, with all my ambitions, doubts, fears, and failures, I step by step arrived here: at the North Pole, on a research vessel.

The path has not been easy. I have struggled many times, but I never gave up. And I could not have made it without the support of my family, friends, and even people who crossed my path only briefly.

Reaching the North Pole is something I will remember forever, especially in moments of struggle as a reminder of where I come from and how far my persistence and the support I have received can take me.

And yes, as if to make the moment even more surreal, a polar bear showed up later that day while we were sailing to the next station.

PS: A special thank you to Team B for making every shift fun and full of laughter.

Arctic Ocean | Alessandro Gagliardi

PS156: Geophysics Arctic Ocean Expedition on RV Polarstern

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KH7010: i2B Arctic Ocean Expedition on RV Kronprins Haakon

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