The Camden Conference and Rockland Public Library presented Dr. Madison Smith discussing her time with the MOSAiC expedition. The MOSAiC expedition was the result of decades of planning and collaboration by 20 nations to freeze a research ship into the ice of the Arctic Ocean for an entire year – the largest polar expedition in history. The ship served as a platform to observe all components of the Arctic sea ice and climate system with the aim of better understanding the changing Arctic. As a member of a team of sea ice scientists during the summer leg of the expedition, Smith collected data to understand how sea ice is melting in the new Arctic. Throughout the summer, the team watched as the ice evolved from thick and snow-covered to thin and speckled with melt ponds. The data and observations will be used to improve model projections and provide insight into future changes. During this talk, Smith will share stories of what it was like to be a part of the largest polar expedition, and provide a window into our first results on characteristics of Arctic sea ice now.

WATCH HERE: