From Ittoqqortoormiit, the expedition makes it way on sledge dogs across the bay on ice and slsh to the nearby village of Unartoq in search of the last polar bears of the season. The number of Greenlanders dependent on subsistence hunting dropped from 8,000 to only 2,000 in the past ten years. Protecting bears is not easy but the government is taking sme action to assure the species\' survival as their natural habitat comes under threat from climate change.
Polar bears have been increasingly sighted wandering the coast and glaciers, as their natural ice pack is shrinking. The pack ice surrounding the northern coast is a constant source of uncertainty.
A mountain peak encountered as expedition climbed up to Gunnbjornsfeld - the highest point in Greenland and the Arctic at 12,116 ft.
Rocks are submitted to the cyclical assault of freezing and thawing evolving into striking graphic patterns. Olivier and Adrian walk ot the nearest ivory gull colony on the main island of Henrik Kr¿yer Holme. Regular visits to the colonies were needed to quietly observe the birds. Occasionally these visits were interrupted by polar bear sightings. Over the course of a week, ten ivory gulls were fitted with satellite transmitters
About 30 species of birds were detected during the expedition, some of whom were never found in Greenland before. New species of birds have migrated to Greenland due to increased temperatures while several species have moved further north seeking colder climate.
The world\'s largest land predator, the polar bear\'s survival as a species is endangered due to effects of climate change.
Abia, a polar bear hunter from the village of Ittoqqortoormiit, prepares his sledge and eight dogs for one last hunt of the season on the sea ice.
A solitary iceberg reflected in the dark green sea of evening drifts near Kulusuk, off the coast of Greenland.
Seasonal warming makes the sea ice very dangerous. The pack ice surrounding the northern coast is a constant source of uncertainty.
Half the Arctic sea ice melts during the summer. Climate change may free the Arctic of most summer ice by as early as 2040.
In response to climate warming, glaciers speed up and melt faster. Consequently, the number of icebergs calving from glaciers and hitting the seas is incresing. Greenland\'s melting ice caps (inlandsis) are now contributing more than half a millimeter per year to rising sea levels.
In 1925, the Danish Government colonised the village of Ittoqqortoormiit (Òthe place with the big housesÓ) with a boatload of 70 Inuits brought from Ammassalik. It is probably the most inaccessible community of the Western Hemisphere. Today, the descendants of these Inuit hunters still hunt polar bears and musk oxen. It is one of the last hunterÕs societies in the world.
A spectacular view of the Elephant Foot Glacier, situated around 81 degrees north along the esat coast of Greenland. The gray zone at low elevation has been chiseled away by melt water fractures.
The signs of global warming are close to home in Greenland as villagers notice that the region\'s spring snowmelt is happening earlier every year.
Musk Ox: Hunted by Cro-Magnon men during the ice age, the musk ox eventually migrated to the Arctic. Today, polar bears and arctic wolves are their main predators. When they sense danger, the musk ox form a defensive circle around their young They counter attack using their horns to gore the enemy. The Inuits use the musk ox soft luxurious under fur for weaving.
Team member takes picture of Artic Willow and other species of flowers which have adapted to intense arctic climate.
Snowy Owl: The Snowy Owl is found only in the Arctic and is seen most commonly on the tundra, feeding on its main prey, the lemming. It is an excellent hunter thanks in part to its ability to change color from brown in the summer to mostly white in winter. The Snowy Owl is highly nomadic and as we all know, Harry PotterÕs faithful pet and constant companion during his years at Hogwarts.
Plants have optimized adaptation to the intense arctic climate. During summer, they use the long hours of sunlight to produce flowers quickly, most growing low and close to the ground to trap pockets of warm air and for protection from the cold winds.
One of the objectives of the expedition was to fit certain Arctic birds with solar powered, ultra-light transmitters that permit tracking of the birds over long periods. Solar powered transmitters have the longest life span. These satellite transmitters allow for precise positioning several times a day. Here, we are measuring the wing span and collecting feathers for further analysis (e.g., to evaluate the contamination rate of certain heavy metals).
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Ainhoa and Flaam Hardy, Baptiste Bernard and Vladimir Gilg proudly hold the Green Cross flag at the base camp of Gunnsbjornsfjeld, the highest point in the Arctic.
Greenlanders: A population struggling to preserve their ethnic communities while international exposure lure the younger generation towards the modern world beyond. Traditional Inuit costumes are worn on GreenlandÕs National Day.
Today some arctic plant, animal, and insect species start their summer cycle more than 30 days earlier than a decade ago. Flies are record holders with a jump-start of 35 days. Insects such as this crane fly provide food for certain birds, which in turn allows for earlier nesting. In general, birds and insects in the Arctic are active a full two weeks earlier than they were just a decade ago.
