You’d think we’d be used to it by now—but no, the Arctic still manages to surprise us. After a rather bumpy Easter with a broken aircraft and heavy snowfall, we were determined to finally get back in the air today. Research flight RF13 was scheduled for the third time. Third time’s the charm, right?
Well… not quite.
Instead of snow, we were met with something even more unsettling up here: rain. In the Arctic. Moments like this make our research feel very real—perhaps a little too real. “Arctic amplification” is no abstract concept here; it’s something you experience firsthand. And sometimes, that reality really hurts. We can only hope that visitors take this awareness home with them and feel inspired to contribute to climate protection in their own lives.
When you’re grounded, you make the best of it. Part of our team—especially the new mission PIs—used the time to dive deep into flight planning. Even though the chances of actually flying were slim, it was still a valuable learning experience. Others explored the cultural side of things, visiting the Svalbard Museum, browsing souvenir shops, and yes… giving their credit cards a bit of a workout 😉
Meanwhile, another group had a well-deserved day off, making the most of it with snowmobile tours and dog sledding adventures. The freshly snow-covered winter wonderland offered unforgettable impressions. As a special highlight, we even spotted a rare blue fox—a dark Arctic fox. And as if that wasn’t enough, beluga whales were swimming through the harbor, almost as if they were gliding alongside the cars on the road. Surreal—and absolutely magical.
Of course, science never really stops. To keep ourselves from feeling too much like tourists (and to avoid a bit of cabin fever), we held science meetings at the airport. We reviewed previous research flights, discussed promising early results, and refined our flight strategies. You can feel the anticipation—everyone is eager to get back into the air. There are still so many mysteries to solve.
As for the weather forecast… let’s just say it leaves room for improvement. Tomorrow doesn’t look much better, so we’ll be welcoming a group from UNIS at the airport instead, exchanging ideas and giving them a tour of the aircraft.
And after that? We stay optimistic. Sooner or later, the weather has to turn—and when it does, we’ll be ready to make the most of every flying opportunity. Our plans are set. Now we just need the weather to cooperate.
So—keep your fingers crossed!
