The modern interpretation of a 100-year-old expedition to share an untold tale of Arctic exploration through the lens of contemporary research & storytelling
300 years ago, the small Arctic island of Jan Mayen was a prolific whaling station. In just 50 years, the wild population was hunted to near extinction. Left uninhabited, it wasn’t until August 1921 that a British party led by Shackleton’s former geologist, Sir James Mann Wordie, visited the island to undertake its first geological study. Whilst there, Wordie and his team also summited the unconquered peak of the world’s northernmost volcano, Mount Beerenberg.
Exactly 100 years later, I co-led a team with Norwegian Andreas B. Heide, captain of the research vessel Barba, on a modern interpretation of Wordie’s expedition. Sailing over 1,200 nautical miles, we encountered and documented marine life in the polar Atlantic, summited Mount Beerenberg on the centenary of its first ascent, and collected world-first glaciological data.
Jan Mayen 2021 formed a key chapter to the wider Arctic Sense project.
Exactly 100 years later, I co-led a team with Norwegian Andreas B. Heide, captain of the research vessel Barba, on a modern interpretation of Wordie’s expedition. Sailing over 1,200 nautical miles, we encountered and documented marine life in the polar Atlantic, summited Mount Beerenberg on the centenary of its first ascent, and collected world-first glaciological data.
Jan Mayen 2021 formed a key chapter to the wider Arctic Sense project.
ADVENTURE WITH PURPOSE
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Mountain
To summit the world’s northernmost volcano on the centenary of its first ascent & collect world-first glaciological samples. 
History
To share the story of the 1921 Jan Mayen expedition, a previously untold tale of polar exploration. 
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Ocean
To understand the distribution and occurrence of marine life in a seldom-researched part of the Polar Atlantic. 
Adventure
To expound adventure with purpose through the use of citizen science and storytelling. 
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SCIENCE
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Whale Wise
Whale Wise aims to promote a harmonious relationship between humans and whales through scientific research and public engagement. As the lead scientific partner for the Arctic Sense project, Whale Wise implemented a research plan for the Jan Mayen chapter that aimed to collect data on the occurrence and distribution of deep-diving whales on the transit to and waters surrounding Jan Mayen through acoustic monitoring. Captain Heide deployed a towed hydrophone array at numerous suspected hotspots. The data is currently being analysed by the team. |
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Deep Purple
Deep Purple is a European Research Council Synergy Grant awarded international team of scientists that investigate the physical and microbial processes that darken the Greenland Ice Sheet and accelerate sea level rise. As part of the Jan Mayen 2021 expedition, I collected snow and ice samples from South Glacier of Mount Beerenberg for the team to analyse for snow and glacier ice algae. You can discover more about the results in the editorial coverage, which you’ll find through the links below soon. |
OUTCOMES
Communication is at the core of the Jan Mayen 2021 Expedition, and we aim to share the journey to a global audience through the written word, photography, talks & film.
PARTNERS
Without the support of our partners, the Jan Mayen 2021 Expedition would not have been possible. I would like to thank all those who made it possible. A list of full Arctic Sense project sponsors can be found on Barba.no
