Polar Explorer Pen Hadow Brings Scientists And Explorers Together For Arctic Expedition

An international team of research scientists will investigate the potential effects of carbon dioxide on the Arctic Oceanas part of Catlin Arctic Survey 2010, it was officially announced today.

Polar explorer PenHadow, Director of the Catlin Arctic Survey, explained that the scientists will work from early March at a purpose-built 'Ice Base' located only 750 miles from the North Geographic Pole. The researchers will study the potential impact of increased ocean acidification in some of the coldest water on the planet.

Some scientists believe that, based on current projections, the pH of the world's oceans could reach levels by 2050 not seen on Earth for 20 million years. If this occurs, there could be serious consequences for marine life in the Arcticand elsewhere.

A second dimension of this year's the Catlin Arctic Survey will see a team of experienced polar explorers trek up to 500 kilometres across the floating Arctic sea ice to collect scientific data in a region in which it would be unsafe for scientists to work. The Explorer Team's programme will include taking ice thickness measurements for sea ice modellers and samples of water taken from beneath the ice for the CO2 and acidification programme.

Both teams will face the extreme conditions of the Arcticat his time of year which, with a wind-chill factor, could reach minus 75 degrees Celsius.

The Catlin Arctic Survey Ice Base will provide scientists with an opportunity to gain direct access to this unique but inhospitable environment. Research into environmental changes in the Arcticis hampered by the bitter conditions, especially in the winter and early spring.

Whilst at the Ice Base, the participating scientists will carry out their research accompanied by veteran polar explorers and guides. The Ice Base will provide living, dining, research and communications facilities that scientists could not easily supply on their own.

Catlin Group Limited, the international specialty insurer and reinsurer, is sponsoring the Catlin Arctic Survey to allow scientists to obtain vital data that can be used to forecast more accurately the risks posed by our changing environment.

Pen Hadow described the Survey as an example of modern exploration:"Our aim at the Catlin Arctic Survey is to make it possible for science work to be undertaken that would otherwise be exceptionally difficult to do. The scientists will be able to work safely thanks to the skills of our polar support team, who will be guiding them out onto the floating sea ice. Our Ice Base will have all the facilities they need to conduct research and to survive in the extreme conditions of an Arctic winter and spring."

One of the scientists who will work at the Ice Base, Dr Helen Findlay of Plymouth Marine Laboratory, said:"I've been to the Arcticbefore, although not in winter, and it's a challenging place to carry out science. But, it is worth the effort to get first-hand, unique and important data that will help us understand changes in Arctic seas and how they may link to global systems."

The main thrust of the research to be conducted at the Ice Base is the study of increasing ocean acidification in the Arctic Ocean.

Dr Carol Turley of the Plymouth Marine Laboratory said:"We understand from models projecting future ocean chemistry that the Arctic Oceanis particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification because cold water absorbs CO2 more effectively than warm oceans, so much so that it may become corrosive to some shelled organisms within a few decades."

Professor Jean-Pierre Gattuso of CNRS-Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, whose researchers are heading for the Ice Base, said:"Ocean acidification is the 'other carbon dioxide problem'. The oceans absorb about a quarter of human-made CO2. This has been limiting the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere and mitigating climate change. However, the massive amounts of CO2 absorbed considerably upsets the ocean chemistry by increasing the acidity of sea water. It is certain that it will impact marine ecosystems, although we do not fully understand how all marine species will cope at the levels of acidity projected later in this century".

The Explorer Team - consisting of leading Arctic explorers Ann Daniels, Martin Hartley and Charlie Paton - will capture additional scientific data along a 500-kilomtere trek northwards across the floating sea ice.

In 2009 Hadow, Daniels and Hartley trekked nearly 450 kilometres during the first Catlin Arctic Survey, taking more than 6,000 measurements of the floating sea ice. The data collected by the explorers was subsequently cited by Universityof Cambridgeresearchers as further evidence to support an emerging consensus that the Arctic Oceanwill be ice-free during summers in around 20 years.

Daniels, who has already begun final preparations in northern Canada, says the Explorer Team's Arctic skills enable them to operate in locations where it would be unsafe for scientists to work. "It is unimaginably tough surviving and travelling on the floating sea ice. But as experienced surface explorers, we know what to do. The drilling work will produce more measurements of the sea ice thickness, continuing the work we began last year. The ocean water samples we take will be stored and returned for analysis for the acidification programme."

The academic institutions participating in the Catlin Arctic Survey 2010 include CNRS-Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Laboratoire Oceanographie (Villefranche); Plymouth Marine Laboratory; Institute of Ocean Science (Fisheries and Oceans Canada); University of Exeter; and Bangor University. An international group of scientists based in Europe, Canadaand the USAwill also be able to use the results of the field studies.

Stephen Catlin, chief executive of Catlin Group Limited, said:"Catlin is extremely pleased to sponsor the Catlin Arctic Survey. It is clear that climate change and ocean change pose serious implications for the future of our planet. Our sole purpose in sponsoring the Survey is to ensure that researchers can obtain scientific facts about these changes so that they can make more reliable conclusions about our future."

NOTES TO EDITORS

INTERVIEWS

Interviews with Press Event participants can be arranged. Explorers Ann Daniels, Martin Hartley and Charlie Paton are available for interview by phone from Resolute, Canada.

PHOTO AND VIDEO

--     High Resolution Photos are available from www.catlinarcticsurvey.com/press.aspx

Access Passwords can be obtained by calling the media team.

--     Broadcast Video footage can be obtained from the Media Team

ABOUT CATLIN GROUP LIMITED

Catlin is the title sponsor for Catlin Arctic Survey. Catlin Group Limited is an international speciality insurers and reinsurer. Catlin operates six underwriting hubs -- London, Bermuda, US, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Canada-- which allows it to provide innovative risk management solutions and superior levels of service to clients and their brokers worldwide. Catlin is the principal sponsor of the Catlin Arctic Survey, which aims to produce scientific data to increase our knowledge about the impact of climate change and other changes to the environment.

ABOUT GEO MISSON LTD

Geo Mission Ltd manages and delivers the Catlin Arctic Survey. Founded in 2009 by explorer Pen Hadow, Geo Mission's objective is to advance scientific and public understanding of the natural world. It achieves this by bringing together scientists, explorers and academics to collaborate on pioneering research programmes which are communicated to specialist and global audiences.

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