Greetings from Sisimiut, Greenland’s second-largest city above the Arctic Circle!

The last two weeks have been nothing short of spectacular. Perched on the edge of the Davis Strait in central-western Greenland, Sisimiut is about 198 miles north of Nuuk. The name “Sisimiut,” meaning “the residents at the foxholes,” reflects its fascinating 4,500-year history. Our final stops in Greenland will be Sisimiut and possibly Maniitsoq before we set course towards Labrador, Canada.

With the S/V Arctic Earth crew, we have explored new fjords, hiked the Arctic tundra, and witnessed calving glaciers. The crew invited me aboard the Arctic Earth for an afternoon sail with Captain Chase, a former captain of the Bowdoin and an MMA Alumni who navigated the Bowdoin to the Arctic in 1991.

The sheer beauty, remoteness, and rawness of these places––even the most stunning photos cannot fully capture. An Arctic summer hike reveals a world of stark beauty and surprising color. As the snow recedes, wildflowers burst into bloom, painting the tundra in shades of purple, yellow, and white. Tiny Arctic poppies and vivid purple saxifrage peek through the rocky soil, thriving in the brief warmth of the season. The crisp air is filled with the fresh scent of greenery, and the sun lingers high in the sky, creating a serene and otherworldly experience.

Greenland’s ice sheet and sea ice are crucial to the Arctic ecosystem, which is pivotal in regulating the global climate and sea levels. The Greenlandic Ice Sheet, our planet’s second largest, is an awe-inspiring natural wonder—its immense ice fields are a testament to Earth’s polar splendor. The seasonal rhythms of the sea ice create breathtaking landscapes that sustain vibrant marine ecosystems. Our science team has been collecting eDNA water samples and oceanographic data using a CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth) sensor to learn about the water currents. These deep ocean currents are crucial in distributing nutrients throughout the oceans.

Our excitement soared when the Bowdoin sailed into the charming port town of Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island’s southern coast. We were thrilled to discover that King Frederik X, Queen Mary of Denmark, Prince Vincent, and Princess Josephine were also cruising Greenland’s coasts for a week-long royal visit aboard the Dannebrog.

Everyone we have met in Greenland has been welcoming and has made us feel like part of an extended family. In a way, we are a family connected by the sea and the Bowdoin at home floating in Arctic waters.

Posted by, Jorge Morales-Lopez
Graduate Student, Global Logistics & Vessel Operations

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