US EditionScientists Train to Dive Beneath Polar Ice as Warming Accelerates Arctic Research
The Finnish Scientific Diving Academy trains diverse experts in ice diving to study under-ice ecosystems amid rapid Arctic warming; only a few hundred worldwide hold such qualifications.
- At the University of Helsinki's Kilpisjärvi Biological Station, the Finnish Scientific Diving Academy trains researchers to dive beneath polar ice, equipping them with safety skills to study Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems.
- Climate change causes rapid polar ice melt, necessitating urgent field research that robots cannot perform, as experts estimate only a few hundred people worldwide possess the specialized scuba skills required.
- Diver Daan Jacobs, a biodiversity adviser from the Netherlands, recently completed a 45-minute immersion beneath 80 centimeters of ice, observing fish eight meters below the surface.
- Instructor Erik Wurz said, "We have to do more and we need to be fast to save this unique ecosystem," emphasizing that hands-on training expands global research capacity.
- The program began in 2024, and strong demand recently allowed the academy to add a second session per year, reflecting growing urgency to understand polar warming trends.
24 Articles
24 Articles
Scientists train to dive beneath polar ice as climate change warms Arctic, Antarctica
Scientists are learning to dive beneath polar ice and study the study the flora and fauna below. The Finnish Scientific Diving Academy has designed a program in northern Finland for participants to venture below the thick Arctic and Antarctic ice.
Exploring the Frigid Depths: Training Divers for Polar Scientific Missions | Science-Environment
Daan Jacobs, part of the Polar Scientific Diving class in Finland, is one of the growing number of trained divers studying the effects of climate change beneath Arctic and Antarctic ice. With the Arctic warming rapidly, this training equips scientists with necessary skills to research the vanishing polar ecosystems.
Associated Press News
Scientists train to dive beneath polar ice as climate change warms the Arctic and Antarctica
Scientists are learning to dive beneath polar ice and study the study the flora and fauna below. The Finnish Scientific Diving Academy has designed a program in northern Finland for participants to venture below the thick Arctic and Antarctic ice for research.
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