Explorer Jim McNeill has announced the postponement of his team’s quest to be the first to reach the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility. Jim has decided that the daring attempt to cross from the northern shores of Canada to the very centre of the Arctic Ocean (a distance of 800 miles) is now considered to be too risky.

Jim says “The risks of early failure, of cold injury and of needing to be rescued are too high to justify setting out. I believe to venture out in the current conditions would be foolhardy and not achieve any of the scientific and adventurous aims we have and could possibly endanger lives unnecessarily.”

Why?
Having studied the satellite images of the sea ice from the top of Isachsen to the Arctic Pole over the entire season, this winter continues the recent trend of slower Arctic ice growth according to our scientific partners the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) analysis.

In January, the Arctic Oscillation has been predominately in negative phase during this winter and therefore stronger westerly winds than normal, (We have seen this in southward shift of the polar front with more snow both in Europe and North America). The lower than normal pressure in the Arctic (negative AO Index) shifts the ice drift motion more towards opening (associated slowing down of the Beaufort Sea Gyre clockwise ice motion).

This means that the sea ice is still in motion and has not experienced the normal winter freeze.

Ice Warrior’s lead scientist Bjorn Erlingsson concludes, “While this situation persists the ice has many leads of open water or with thin ice, making them very difficult and sometimes dangerous to cross. Likewise, the warming of the atmosphere associated with the opening of the ice is sustaining this large scale disruption and circulation pattern.”

Having made his decision Jim asked for a comment from Wayne Davidson, Resolute Bay’s chief meteorologist working for Environment Canada and this was his reply:

“One word, horrible. These are the worst conditions since I have been in the Arctic, (going on 30 years, now). The entire thing is falling apart; sea ice extent at present is less than 2007 (the worst year ever for the ice).”

What now?
Obviously for a highly motivated team such a decision has been a bitter blow to expectations; especially having just concluded four weeks of intensive preparations in Svalbard. “This change of plan is intensely frustrating and can be deeply depressing but when pitching yourselves against Mother Nature we must realise when she has the upper hand and react accordingly. We are not out there to unnecessarily endanger our lives and that’s just what we would be doing. We will re‐group, re‐plan and become even more determined to deliver the reality of global climate change in the best way we possibly can.” Explains Jim.

When will they try again?
It will not be possible to wait and see if conditions improve as there is only a small time frame in which to start the expedition so that we can finish the journey before the summer break up. Once this occurs it is impossible for aircraft to land on the ice and pick them up. So their next attempt will be the same time next year.

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