The icebreaker navigates its way through icebergs near Antarctica. Martin Jeffries, a glaciologist now working in Alaska, studies these ice masses.
"I've spent quite a bit of time cruising those waters studying sea ice," he says.
Bundled to keep out the cold, Jeffries hopped from one patch of sea ice to the next, researching the ice, its growth and its decay. Marjorie Porter, now also working in Alaska, assisted Jeffries on the Antarctic expedition.
"We cored and sliced ice, recorded temperatures and thicknesses, measured salinities and identified the crystalline structure of the ice," says Porter.
What were Jeffries and Porter trying to find?
"The work that we are doing provides data that will help piece together the global climate puzzle," she says. Antarctic sea ice feeds cold water currents that help to regulate the Earth's temperature. "Is the seasonal growth of ice changing, and if so, what are its implications?"
Jeffries and Porter are currently trying to solve climate questions in Alaska, and have shifted their research to lake ice.
"On the north slopes, lakes can stay frozen much of the year," Jeffries says. "I'm very interested in the growth and decay of the ice and how it affects the local climate."
As ice grows and decays, there is an exchange of energy with the atmosphere. This two-way exchange can affect the temperatures in the area. It is known that glaciers and polar ice sheets affect the climate, but what about smaller lakes?
"There is a question about the role of lakes in a local climate," says Jeffries. "It can lead to many questions about the state of our weather."
"Arctic lakes have a unique relationship with the atmosphere," adds Porter. "Evidence indicates that the air temperatures in Arctic regions are changing faster than are global temperatures. Recording the seasonal fluxes and ice growth histories of these lakes may help us better understand the implications of climate change."
Brian Moorman, a glaciologist, is also concerned about the Earth's climate. He spends much of his time studying glaciers on Bylot Island, a small island north of Baffin Island in Canada's Arctic region.
"We are looking at how the glaciers are melting due to global warming," he says. "We are looking at how climate change is affecting the glaciers, and the effects this is having on Earth."
But Moorman says scientists don't have to look so far afield to see the effects of melting glaciers. "We are conducting research right here in the Bow River Valley," he says.
The watershed in the Bow River Valley in Alberta, Canada, is partially fed by glacier water. "It's a fact that glaciers are in retreat. There is a fear that in the future a large chunk of the water supply for Calgary and area will disappear."
Just visiting the Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Ice Fields gives an idea of what Moorman is talking about. This glacier is near a highway, and is easily accessible to the public. "In 1910, the glacier used to stretch way across the road," says Moorman. "Now you have to hike up to see it."
The glacier is retreating about an average of 30 feet per year. By observing the markers showing the glacier's retreat, it isn't impossible to imagine a day when the glacier is gone. "There is a growing concern about the way glaciers are melting," says Moorman.
The Canadian wilderness is full of streams, lakes and waterfalls. We don't often think that we have to worry about water supply. "But here we are already having to do studies and make decisions," says Moorman.
What will a city such as Calgary, Alberta, do if the glacier water stops flowing? "There is a lot of groundwater," says Moorman. But unfortunately, just as the glaciers are affected by environmental damage, so are other water supplies.
"The town was involved in wood production for many years, which left the groundwater full of chemicals," says Moorman. "It's so polluted at the moment that we just closed off that line of investigation. We hope to get much more information looking into the future of the glacier water."
Whether on an iceberg or a mountain, glaciologists agree that the work is environmentally important and exciting.
"I love the adventure," says Porter. "The harshness of the environment, extreme temperatures and winds can sometimes interfere with what we are trying to accomplish, but the aspects of this work that make it difficult are also the things that make it thrilling."