Distant Light and Smiles All Around

Yesterday and today have been very busy days of lectures in glacier mass balance. We're learning about glacier structure, accumulation and ablation, methods to measure snow accumulation, and ways to calculate mass balance. I'm also getting to know the 26 students as well. In class we work in groups of four, and the group I'm in includes Anne Chapuis from France (right), Francesco Pausata from Italy (center), and Joe Mallalieu from Great Britian (just off camera to the right)–all really fun people that I'm lucky to study with. I'll write more about each sometime soon!



Many types of glaciers are easily acessible by scooter from UNIS. During our course, the class is going to go on four excursions to visit these glaciers, so we can see examples of the phenomena we are discussing in class. Tomorrow we are scheduled to travel to Scott Turnerbreen to learn how to measure the snow pack and explore an ice cave deep inside the glacier!

Perhaps most importantly, today sunlight was seen reflecting on the mountains far on the other side of the fjord. Look closely in the picture below–its subtle, but a very hearwarming and welcomg sight for everyone here. People were pretty excitied and many of us were staring at it and enjoying the view. Pretty amazing how something so simple can be so satisfying. The days are definitely getting longer, as the amount of light we are receiving increases 20 minutes each day until there is 24 hour light in April.