I made it to Greenland and yesterday was my first full day with marine biologist Kristin Laidre and her wonderful team of colleagues. It took several days for me to reach the small settlement of Niaqornat at 70 degrees North, with a total of six flights. (Seattle> Amsterdam > Copenhagen > Kangerlussuaq > Ilulissat > Qarsuut > Niaqornat).

It was unseasonably warm when we arrived in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, with sunshine and a whopping 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It looked and felt like July. Flying out to the coast was even more shocking.

With the warm weather, the coastal pack ice had broken up, leaving open water.

I’ll be posting updates soon with more details about this early spring melt, the field science, and life in Niaqornat. Stay tuned!