Garden of ice Exploring the Arctic Ecosystem!
And the greatest discoveries unearthed thus far by this project? Probably two of the most interesting discoveries I’ve been part of documenting included an understanding of how far polar bears can swim. During my shoot on the Polar Sea Icebreaker Expedition I was with scientists that had captured a female polar bear and her cub several months earlier on the coast of Alaska. At that time they implanted a monitor which provided a measure of her body temperature. She was also fitted with a Satellite collar.
Six months later they recaptured her but this time minus the cub that should have still been with her. The data the satellite collar and core temperature device provided proved to the scientists that this female swam about 450 miles through the open ocean to get to the sea ice that would normally have been a short distance of 80 or so miles. Never had a distance of this magnitude ever been recorded. Cubs remain with their mother for over 2 years suggesting this cub didn't survive the swim. Dr. Steve Amstrups 30 years of work in the Beafort sea has produced information highlighting reductions in physical stature body condition, and survival of young that are linked to the retreating sea ice cover.
How vital is ice to the health of the ecosystem? For polar bears it is life or death. What people don’t understand is how important to all life in the arctic the ice is. A good friend of mine, Geoff York from WWF summed it up brilliantly. Geoff said, “the arctic ice pack is like an upside down environment. On top of the ice pack where the polar bear is dominant it looks bleak and lifeless. But below is an immense amount of living creatures that support the web above.” If we could just see the immense amount of life below the ice we might have a greater appreciation for all that we will lose.
What are the unique challenges of the region for a photographer? First and foremost is the cold but that is fairly easily dealt with. It’s very possible to dress properly and be comfortable in -50F. I actually find it more difficult to stay comfortable in warm climates than I do in the cold. The second biggest obstacle is logistics of getting into the arctic. The distances are extreme, there are few people who want to operate there so finding good guides and transportation is very hit or miss.
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‘Icebreaker’ in the arctic pack ice of the Beaufort Sea.
© Daniel J. Cox
www.naturalexposures.com John Whiteman and Hank Harlow, both from the University of Wyoming, collect breath from a polar bear for a breath analysis experiment. Arctic Ocean
INSPIRATION
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