Swedish Arctic Expedition Research Articles

The North seen by People from the South. Italian Explorers about the Arctic. The Journal of Giacomo Bove

The objects of my analysis are the travel writings and expedition reports of Italian Arctic explorers. In the present paper I will analyse the Journal of Giacomo Bove, who was a member of the Swedish Arctic expedition of the ship "Vega" (1878-79) headed by Nordenskjold (Il Passaggio del Nord-Est. Spedizione artica svedese della "Vega". Diario di Giacomo Bove. A cura del dott. A. Fresa, 1940, Memorie della R. Società Geografica Italiana, volume XIX. Roma.). One of the tasks given to Giacomo Bove by the Italian Geographic Society was to describe the expedition. One of the problems that Bove had to solve in this case was which words to use when speaking of an alien reality. This other reality was for him constituted not only by natural phenomena (like, i.e., fauna and flora, ice and weather), but also by an unfamiliar material culture (the life of the northern people), and by the life of the expedition.

Origin and isotopic ratios of plutonium in the Barents and Greenland Seas

Isotopic ratios 238Pu/ 239 + 240Pu and 241Pu/ 239 + 240Pu vary depending on the source of the Pu. The values for samples contaminated from distinct sources can be compared with those affected only by global fallout. The present study reports isotopic ratios determined radiochemically in samples collected in the Barents and Greenland Seas during the Swedish Arctic Expedition “YMER 80”. Long-range transport and transfer factors of plutonium from European nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities into the Arctic Ocean were evaluated. About 80% of the plutonium released in dissolved form from such facilities is removed by sedimentation processes before reaching the Barents and Greenland Seas.

Trace metal levels in the Eastern Arctic Ocean

During the Swedish Arctic Expedition “Ymer-80” into the Eastern Arctic Ocean between North Greenland and Franz-Josef-Land, surface and deep sea water samples were collected. Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) at rotating mercury film electrodes with a glassy carbon substrate was used on board the ship for the determination of Cd, Pb and Cu. Mean trace metal levels in surface waters were: 8.1 ± 1.4 ng kg −1 Cd, 14.8 ± 3.5 ng kg −1 Pb, 93 ± 38 ng kg −1 Cu and 126 ± 54 ng kg −1 Ni. Deep water samples show lower values of Pb and higher values of Cd, Cu and Ni. The values at depths of 1500 and 2000m, respectively were: 21 and 13 ng kg −1 Cd, 3.9 and 2.1 ng kg −1 Pb, 180 and 400 ng kg −1 Cu and 220 and 230 ng kg −1 Ni.

Seasonal variations of Cd, Pb, Cu and Ni levels in snow from the eastern Arctic Ocean

During the Swedish Arctic expedition “Ymer 80” into the area from North Greenland to Franz-Josef-Land in late sumnier 1980, freshly fallen snow, and snow from the previous fall/winter season were collected from ice floes. Lead. cadmium and copper analysis was performed on board ship, using I he advanced voltammetric determination method of differential pulse anodic stripping voltammeuy at rotating glassy carbon electrodes. The analytic operations were performed under a clean bench in a clean room container. Nickel. and tentatively. cobalt levels were analyzed in our home laboratory by differential pulse voltammetry after preconcentration by chelate adsorption at a hanging mercury drop electrode. Results from freshly fallen snow compared to snow from the previous season show that there exists a strong seasonal variation in trace metal deposition, indicating that pollution of the Arctic atmosphere is clearly limited to winter time, when atmospheric conditions favour long-distance transport of polluted air masses from Europe to the Arctic. Unexpectedly low mean levels of 0.4 ng kg -1 Cd. 13 ng kg -1 Pb, 20 ng kg -1 Cu and 22 ng kg -1 Ni were found in freshly fallen snow. levels that represent about 1/10 to 1/20 ofthose in annual condensed layers. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.1983.tb00017.x

Glacial Traces on the Island of Hopen, Svalbard: A Correction

As part of a programme dealing with the extent of ice sheets in northern and arctic Europe during the latest (Weichsel, Wiirm, Wisconsin) glaciation the Department of Physical Geography, University of Stockholm, from 1957 until the early 1970's, undertook a series of expeditions and field trips to different parts of the Svalbard archipelago. A main result of these investigations was an isobase map demonstrating land-uplift during the last 6 500 years; the 6 500 BP reference date being chosen because of the abundance of datable raised strandlines formed at that time. The uplift area is centered east of Spitsbergen and southeast of Nordaustlandet, and is believed to represent rebound from glacio-isostatic depression caused by an extensive ice-sheet over Svalbard and adjoining parts of Barents Sea during Weichsel time (Schytt, Hoppe, Blake and Grosswald 1968, Hoppe 1971). The idea of a vast ice-sheet in the Arctic during the Weichsel time was not totally new when we first presented it in the late 1960's. However, earlier presentations were based on rather weak arguments, if any. Since our early publications, numerous papers have appeared dealing with the same subject and arriving at very different conclusions, both as to the extent of the glaciation and as to the time of its maximum. For these reasons a special programme of further study, with data sampling from both land and sea bottom, was included in the Swedish Arctic Expedition YMER-80, undertaken in the summer of 1980.

The Swedish Arctic Expedition of 1898 (Continued)

The Swedish Arctic Expedition of 1898 (Continued)

The Swedish Arctic Expedition of 1898

The Swedish Arctic Expedition of 1898

The Swedish Arctic Expedition

The Swedish Arctic Expedition

The Swedish Arctic Expedition of 1898

The Swedish Arctic Expedition of 1898

The Swedish Arctic Expedition of 1898

The Swedish Arctic Expedition of 1898

The Swedish Arctic Expedition

The Swedish Arctic Expedition

Geographical Notes

THE gold medals of the Royal Geographical Society have just been awarded as follows:—I. To Lieut. A. Louis Palander, of the Swedish Royal Navy, in recognition of the services he has rendered to geographical science as commander of the Vega in the Swedish Arctic expedition under Prof. Nordenskjöld, during which he safely navigated the ship along the unsurveyed shores of the Asiatic continent for nearly 3,000 miles, and took the leading part in charting the coasts of Northern Asia. 2. To Mr. Ernest Giles for leading four great expeditions and several minor ones in Australia, and for his route-surveys, geological and botanical collections, and published descriptions of his various journeys. A gold testimonial watch was voted to Bishop Samuel Crowther for his services to geography in the Niger region during the past forty years, and for having aided various expeditions on that river between 1841 and 1857. Prof. Nordenskjöld, having received a gold medal in 1869, was, we believe, in accordance with all precedents, ineligible for another, but, as we have already recorded, he has been elected an honorary corresponding member—an honour accorded to Mr. H. M. Stanley under analogous circumstances. The Council of the Society of Arts at their last meeting elected Prof. Nordenskjöld an honorary life member of the Society in consideration of the services rendered to science by his recent explorations.

Scientific Serials

Zeitschrift der Oesterreichischen Gesellschaft für Meteorologie, April.—This number contains an article by Signor Denza, director of the Observatory at Moncalieri, on an inspection by him of observatories of the second order, according to the recommendations of the Leipzig and Vienna Conferences, for the correction of barometers. He has found that a safe verification can only be made when all the rules and precautions are observed, and recommends that the barometer taken in travelling from place to place should not be too narrow in bore, and should be carefully compared with the standard before and after the journey.—The next article is by Dr. Hann, on the results of observations made by the Swedish Arctic Expedition of 1872 in Spitzbergen and East Greenland, published in Stockholm. The observations are of great value, and deserve the full notice here given them by Dr. Hann.

The Swedish Arctic Expedition

The Swedish Arctic Expedition

Letter on Aërolites from Greenland

Copenhagen, Oct. 10, 1871. My Lord,—Two Swedish-Government vessels have lately visited this port, having on board a scientific commission which has just returned from an expedition to the coast of Greenland. They brought with them a number of aërolites which had been found on the coast upon the surface of the ground. These aërolites are all of the iron class, and consist of masses of what is called meteoric iron, of various sizes, the largest weighing no less than 25 tons. As these curiosities were discovered in Greenland, one of them, the second in size, has been presented by the discoverers to the Danish Government, and has been placed in the arsenal in this city. I have, &c. (Signed) Charles Lennox Wyke . Discussion . Mr. David Forbes having recently returned from Stockholm, where he had the opportunity of examining these remarkable masses of native iron, took the opportunity of stating that they had been first discovered last year by the Swedish arctic expedition, which brought back several blocks of considerable size, which had been found on the coast of Greenland. The expedition of this year, however, has just succeeded in bringing back more than twenty additional specimens, amongst which two were of enormous size. The largest, weighing more than 49,000 Swedish pounds, or about 21 tons English, with a maximum sectional area of about 42 square feet, is now placed in the hall of the Royal Academy of Stockholm; whilst, as a compliment to Denmark, on whose territory they were found

Societies and Academies

Societies and Academies

I. Account of explorations by the Swedish arctic expedition at the close of the season 1868, in a letter to the President. By Professor A. Nordenskiöld. Communicated by the President

Sir,—The second geographical part of our expedition anchored a few days ago in the harbour of Tromsö, after a difficult and adventurous autumn cruise of a month in the polar basin north of 80° lat.; and as these regions were never before visited in such a late season, I hope that our observations will be of interest for the arctic men of Great Britain, as contributing to settle some points of the polar question recently much debated. According to the plan adopted for the Swedish Expedition, five of its naturalists returned, in the middle of September, to Tromsö with one of the small ships that brought coal to our depot at Amsterdam Island, and the same day the ‘Sofia' with the remaining part of the expedition (consisting of v. Otter, Berggren, Nyström, Palander, Lemström, and myself), steamed northward for Seven Islands, where it was our intention to wait for a favourable occasion to go further. But finding these islands so surrounded by ice that no anchorage was accessible, we were compelled to abandon this plan and go directly northward, following a tolerably large opening in the pack. After a cruise of some days among the ice we, on the 19th of September, at 171/2° long, east of Greenwich, reached 81° 42' N. L at.; but, as may be seen by the adjoined photograph, the ice further northward was so closed that it was impossible even for a boat to advance. We turned westward, in vain looking for another practicable opening. Following the border of the pack, we were, on the 24th September, at a longitude of 2° W. already south of 79° lat., after often having passed fields of drift-ice covered with particles of earth, which seems to indicate that land is to be met with further northward. Despairing of finding the ice westward more favourable, and anxious to make a new survey later in the autumn of the position of the ice-field between 0° and 20° long., we returned to our coal-depot.

VII. Further particulars of the Swedish arctic expedition, in a letter addressed to the President, by Prof. Nordenskiöld. Communicated by the President

Sir,—In my last letter from Stockholm I promised to send you, with the returning naturalists, a detailed relation of the first scientific part of the Swedish Arctic Expedition of 1868; but unfortunately our last coalship, with which five of our fellow travellers, with the rich geological, zoological, and botanical collections, made during this season in the arctic regions, return to Tromso, and which gives us the last occasion of communicating with Europe, leaves this harbour some, and that makes it impossible for me to keep my promise. However, a detailed report will immediately be sent to you by one of the returning naturalists, Dr. Malmgren, a member also of the expeditions of 1861 and 1864. The remaining part of our expedition will from here go, first, to Seven Island, and then (perhaps one of the first days of October), after having deposited a boat and a depot of provisions on Ross Islet , further northward. The polar sea was in the end of August quite covered with ice north of 81° 9', the highest latitude hitherto reached by our steamer. But a week later the sea was open to Walden and Table Island, and the 8th of September I could, from one of the highest peaks of Parry Island, discern only traces of ice further northward .