Scientific mission at the North Pole
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14/03/2024
Last summer, scientists from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) travelled onboard PONANT’s Le Commandant Charcot to the geographic North Pole. The main objective was to obtain scientific data about the ice thickness. Also, throughout the Arctic season, PONANT supports AWI with a continuous stream of ice thickness data.
Alfred Wegener Institute
The Alfred Wegener Institute is a research center based in Bremerhaven, Germany. Observing changes in Arctic sea ice and better understanding their implications for climate, ecosystems, and humans are among its main missions. AWI is a global leader in the interdisciplinary study of the Arctic system. Its own research vessel, the Polarstern, has been visiting the Arctic almost every summer for over 40 years.
Christian Haas
"For us, the value lies in the repetition of Le Commandant Charcot's expeditions to the pole, following very similar routes. In the Arctic, Le Commandant Charcot complements our own research vessel, the Polarstern."
A fruitful collaboration
By providing its ship and equipment, PONANT offers AWI a platform to enhance its data collection. The conferences organised on board by the scientific team are opportunities to raise awareness about the importance of protecting polar ecosystems. PONANT supports AWI in two ways:
When AWI scientists are not on board
The Sea Ice Monitoring System (SIMS), installed in the bow of Le Commandant Charcot, continuously collects data on ice navigation and transfers it to the AWI teams in Bremerhaven. The scientific officer and the PONANT naturalists on board facilitate the collection of additional data and the deployment of buoys if necessary.
When AWI scientists are on board
They measure the thickness of sea ice (using the SIMS) and the area of melt zones (thanks to drones), and deploy drifting buoys from the North Pole. These buoys continuously collect measurements regarding sea ice and weather conditions in the months following the ship's visit.
There is also a cooperation with the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg, to study the icebreaking performance of Le Commandant Charcot.
Christian Haas
"By measuring changes in thickness during summer expeditions, we can track the monthly melting of the ice, which helps us assess the minimum thickness at the end of the melting season in September. These data are essential for improving modelling, forecasting and validating satellite data related to Arctic sea ice."
PONANT Science
Le Commandant Charcot was designed for polar exploration cruises but also for research purposes. It features two dedicated scientific laboratories (wet and dry) and equipment to conduct various research activities during voyages in polar regions. The ship's scientific facilities are used for a wide range of research projects, including studies related to oceanography, glaciology, marine biology, and environmental monitoring. Since 2021, over 150 scientists and 60 international projects have been hosted aboard Le Commandant Charcot, half of which are conducted over multiple years.
PONANT contributes to the POLARIN network for polar research
From 2024 to 2029, PONANT will contribute to the European Union-funded POLARIN (Polar Research Infrastructure Network) project through the provision of its vessel Le Commandant Charcot.Building on the success of the EU-funded ARICE (Arctic Research Icebreaker Consortium) project, POLARIN has been set up as an extended initiative. The aim of the project is to create a global network of infrastructures dedicated to polar research and services, capable of meeting the scientific challenges of these regions. POLARIN will provide integrated and combined access to these infrastructures to facilitate interdisciplinary research on complex processes.In all, the project involves 50 organisations and 79 infrastructures in the polar regions. The network draws on a wide range of resources, including 38 research stations, 12 ships, 18 observatories, four information storage centres and seven databases.