We were once again able to return to Qeqertat to accompany the narwhal hunt!

Qeqertat is the only area where the traditional narwhal hunt using kayaks still remains. Spending several days on a boat with the engine turned off, waiting for the narwhal pods to appear. Then, hunters silently approach them by kayak to hunt.

Narwhals are very skittish, making it impossible to get close with motorboats. However, here in Qeqertat where traditional narwhal hunting is practiced, we can approach them at close range and observe their natural behavior.

We do not return to land until the hunt is successful. This time, we spent seven days floating on the sea with icebergs, surrounded by narwhals, and occasionally seals. The breathtaking views made it impossible to get bored. The Inuit cuisine we enjoy between hunts was always so delicious! My favorite dish is, of course, seal meat – it goes really well with mustard!

This was my second time accompanying the hunt, and my fifth time helping with narwhal processing. I’m gradually beginning to understand Greenlandic, learning the procedures of the hunt, and enjoying interacting with the hunters more and more.

Eventually, we were able to observe over 500 narwhals in total and successfully conducted behavioral observations using a drone. I’m always grateful to the hunters for providing such precious opportunities, and now I’ll begin analyzing the data!

At the end of July and beginning of August 2024, our team completed a mission to retrieve and partially redeploy long-term oceanographic and seismic stations around Inglefield Bredning Fjord in Northwest Greenland. All operations were possible thanks to local pilots skillfully sailing us between icebergs. Our stations were deployed a year ago to the sea floor and on islands near glacier calving fronts for interdisciplinary studies on glaciers, sea ice, ocean, and marine animals.

While retrieving the stations, aerial drone imagery was also taken to generate a Digital Elevation Model of the Bowdoin Glacier calving front. In addition, an NHK TV crew working on a documentary about our research and the region filmed our ocean and land operations from the boat and UAV.

The retrieved oceanographic stations continuously monitored the sounds of the ocean and seawater’s physical properties and performed acoustic profiling of the water column. Seismic stations recorded cryo-seismicity (i.e., ground shaking produced by icebergs and glaciers).

Retrieved data will be analyzed by different specialists. Analysis should reveal (i) the variability in the presence of such acoustic reflectors as zooplankton, fish, and icebergs, (ii) temporal variation of biological, natural, and anthropogenic sounds produced by marine mammals (like narwhals and seals), environment, and humans, and finally, (iii) timing and scale of glacier calving. The data analysis is expected to contribute to a better understanding of ice-clad glacial fjords, which serve as biological hotspots and hunting grounds undergoing rapid environmental changes nowadays.

We also continued observations at Qaanaaq Glacier’s outlet stream between July 19th to August 6th, 2024. In 2023 and earlier years, the bridge over the stream was washed out because of its overflow caused by heavy rain and glacier melting, and the connection between Qaanaaq village and Qaanaaq airport was cut off. To determine the impact of a warmer climate on the village’s society, measurements of the river discharge have been sustained by participants of Japanese expeditions since 2017.

The former method for discharge measurement has been labor and time-consuming. It required an observer to enter the river, measure the depth profile of the stream bed, and repeatedly insert an electromagnetic current meter into the stream, corresponding to a stay in cold water (~2℃) rushing at difficult-to-stand speeds (<2 m/s) for at least 10 minutes.

Motivated by a need to reduce the manual component of observations, this year, we installed four acoustic sensors and three time-lapse cameras near the river for testing and developing a discharge measurement method without entering the river. For this purpose, acoustic sensors were placed between the bridge and the stream’s source (at the Qaanaaq Glacier terminus) approximately every 500 m along the stream length of ~2.5 km. The change of the stream width and geometry might affect the properties of the acoustic signal; thus, we added three time-lapse cameras to capture the dynamics of the stream. Comparison of directly observed discharge with acoustic and imagery data is expected to improve our ability to interpret and employ remote sensing methods for high-frequency monitoring of glacial runoff.

We hold workshops every year inviting villagers to learn about research activities in the Qaanaaq region. This year, the workshop was held on July 28, and more villagers than usual gathered at the venue. The number of participants reached a record high of about 70 people, and we could sense that our research activities in this region have taken root, and that the villagers are showing a strong interest in the content and results of our research (Fig. 1).

The workshop began with an opening speech from a local collaborator, Ms. Toku Oshima, followed by Prof. Sugiyama (Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University) introducing research themes and researchers of the Coastal Environments team. This year, seven researchers gave presentations, and we were able to provide a wide variety of topics (Fig. 2). In the first half, four presentations were given on the theme of nature. Dr. Podolskiy (Arctic Research Center, Hokkaido University) introduced the biorhythms of appaliarsuk (Alle alle), and underwater acoustics caused by iceberg movement and narwhal behavior, with the theme of the sounds of ice and animals. Ms. Ogawa (PhD student, Hokkaido University) introduced the results of research on marine ecosystems, and the villagers showed great interest in the results of analysis of the stomach contents of seals and narwhals obtained with the cooperation of local hunters. Dr. Thiebot (Hokkaido University) introduced the ecology of seabirds that live around Qaanaaq region, such as appaliarsuk. At the end of the first half, Dr. Nishimura (Shinshu University) of the Cryosphere team, which is also conducting observations based in Qaanaaq village, gave a presentation on their work on snow, ice and meteorology.

During the break time, we prepared sushi, okonomiyaki, and sweets for the villagers to enjoy the taste of Japan (Fig. 3). Everyone’s feedback was very positive, with many saying “Mamartoq! (delicious)”, and the plates were emptied in an instant.

In the second half, three presentations were made with the theme of social impact. Mr. Imazu (PhD student, Hokkaido University) explained the causes of river flooding that occurred in Qaanaaq last summer. Next, the author, Watanabe (Kitami Institute of Technology), gave a presentation on the landslide mechanism in Siorapaluk and slope hazards in the Qaanaaq region. Finally, Dr. Fukazawa (Hokkaido University) gave a talk on village waste issues and the bioconcentration of toxic substances, and presented analysis results showing that contaminated water runoff from the dump site is affecting coastal ecosystems.

After the presentations, there was time for discussion, and we deepened our mutual understanding. Seeing the serious eyes of the participants renewed our determination to accomplish our mission. We will continue to value our relationships with the villagers and engage in research activities aimed at solving the issues and questions facing the community (Fig. 4).

Every year, birds renew their feathers to keep a good protection from the weather and an optimal flying ability. The chemical composition of the newly grown feathers will be based on the food that the bird was eating at the time: it is thus possible to study the feeding conditions and the concentration of toxic contaminants that the birds experienced seasonally, just by analyzing their feathers’ composition. And because the feathers from different body areas grow in different seasons, scientists can examine the conditions experienced by the birds in different seasons, by sampling a few feathers from the wing, belly, etc.

Little auks (Alle alle, locally known as “appaliarsuk” in north-western Greenland) are small seabirds (~150 grams) that can be seen almost exclusively in the Arctic, year-round. They can thus be considered good bio-indicators of environmental conditions across seasons in Arctic marine ecosystems. Little auks are extremely abundant, with a large part of their population breeding in northwestern Greenland, where they are seasonally exploited as part of a traditional subsistence harvest by the villagers. In the spring and summer, little auks build a nest under loose rocks in high coastal slopes; they then fly in and out of the nest every day to feed on the marine organisms they can find nearby, and raise their chick. At the end of summer, little auks migrate to the south of Greenland and east of Canada, where they spend the winter eating small crustaceans.

In July-August 2024 we organized a fieldwork trip to a large colony of little auks near the village of Siorapaluk, to sample their feathers. In the two previous years, we were able to study feathers from adult little auks, which provided information on feeding conditions and mercury (Hg) contamination in the late summer and autumn. This time, we were particularly interested in sampling feathers from chicks. First, the down feathers of young chicks reflect the nutritional elements present in the egg while the chick developed: these elements are thus representative of the food that the mother little auks were able to find at sea while growing their eggs, prior to breeding. Second, by sampling the feathers newly grown on chicks before they leave the nest, we will be able to examine the feeding environment that the two parents experienced specifically during the chick-feeding period.

On the last day of our visit, we went on local hunters’ boats, to study the marine distribution of little auks across the fjords. By doing this, we aim to better understand the type of marine conditions that the birds target when searching for food at sea, and to examine the influence of glaciers on these marine conditions.

Biochemical analyses will be conducted this autumn at Hokkaido University to analyze the composition of the feathers, providing new insights on seasonal interactions in Arctic marine ecosystems. In combination with our data collected during the two previous years, these new results will be important to understand how marine ecosystems in the Arctic respond interannually to increasing contamination levels of highly toxic elements such as Mercury, and how this mechanism may affect the people from the Arctic who rely on these marine resources.

We are in Qaanaaq in northwestern Greenland from July 10 to August 14, 2024 for a field campaign on Qaanaaq Glacier as a part of the ArCS II Research Program on Coastal Environments (Fig. 1). When we arrived at Qaanaaq village, air temperature was 5 degrees, which reminded me winter in Japan. There are many dogs in the village (Fig. 2), sea ice and icebergs in the ocean, and glaciers on the mountains. This is my first trip to Greenland, thus I, Yazawa (Hokkaido University), am impressed at the beautiful landscape.

We have been monitoring mass balance and ice velocity of Qaanaaq Glacier since 2012, by using aluminum poles installed at six locations on the glacier (Fig. 3). The long-term observations are important to understand the evolution of not only Qaanaaq Glacier, but also glaciers and ice caps in northwestern Greenland, where glacier mass loss has accelerated recently. The mass balance observation this summer showed that mean mass loss of Qaanaaq Glacier was 0.52 m w.e. (water equivalent) from 2023 to 2024. The rate of the mass loss was 32% smaller than that in 2022–2023. We also perform ice velocity measurements to investigate the role of ice dynamics in recent mass loss of the glacier. To repeat the mass balance and ice speed measurements next year, we installed new aluminum poles at the survey sites (Fig. 4).

We have repeated UAV surveys since 2022 to study the spatial distribution of surface elevation change with a high spatial and temporal resolutions (Fig. 5). The high resolution aerial photographs are also utilized to investigate supraglacial streams formed by meltwater on the glacier and their influence on the glacier mass loss. This summer, we have performed UAV measurements 3 times, taking 6671 photographs in total. We generate digital elevation models based on the photographs from the UAV. Spatial distribution of surface elevation change and the development of supraglacial streams are investigated by comparing the results with those from 2022 and 2023.

Biological Darkening over the Qaanaaq ice cap (BDQ)

Host Researcher: Yukihiko Onuma (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)
Early Career Researcher (Writer): Giacomo Traversa

In this project, surface biological impurities, known as glacier algae, darkening the glacier of the Qaanaaq Ice Cap in northwestern Greenland will be analyzed using a multidisciplinary approach using satellite remote sensing, field observations and numerical modelling.
This approach will be fundamental to evaluate the evolution of surface darkening caused by their biological activities, leading to a better understanding of its effects on a glacier and the surrounding environment.

Time to say goodbye

(2024/3/29)

Seminar at the National Institute of Polar Research in Tachikawa

(2024/3/11)

Meeting at the Meteorological Research Institute in Tsukuba

(2024/2/26)

Ice sample analyses at the Department of Earth Sciences of Chiba University

(2024/2/21)

Business trip to the Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University

(2024/2/9)

At last, ready to leave for Japan

(2024/1/30)

Study of ion outflow in the Arctic upper atmosphere

Host Researcher: Yasunobu Ogawa (National Institute of Polar Research)
Early Career Researcher (Writer): Lindis Merete Bjoland

In this project, the observational database accumulated by the EISCAT Svalbard radar in Northern Europe and data obtained by the new EISCAT_3D radar will be analysed in combination. This will help us to understand the characteristics of the ambipolar electric field, one of the key parameters for the outflow of the Arctic upper atmosphere.

Trip to Tromsø and Longyearbyen

(2024/8/22)

Trip to Tromsø and Longyearbyen

(2024/6/4)

Radar studies of the polar atmosphere

(2024/2/16)

Ready for a year in Japan

(2024/1/9)

On August 17, 2024, two of the researchers (Suzuki and Kobayashi) left Qaanaaq and started their return journey.

A few days earlier, it had rained heavily in the village of Qaanaaq, but snow had accumulated at higher altitudes around Qaanaaq, and white snow could be observed covering the distant islands (Fig. 1). This year’s observations, which started when the snow began to melt, have come to an end as the snow started to fall.

Looking back, the first half of this year’s observations (from early June to early July) started with two advance team members (Nishimura and Suzuki) arriving in Qaanaaq in early June to set up the base. The advance team started surveying before the snow cover melted, accumulating data from snow cover cross-section observations and setting up AWS at new sites. In mid-July, they were joined by a follow-on team of four (Shimada, Arie, Ono and Kobayashi) in Qaanaaq and were able to smoothly pass the baton to observations during the melting period.

In the second half of the observation period (mid-July to ongoing), the six-man team conducted a wide range of observations, including recharge area observations, ice core drilling, microbiological observations and optical observations. Of these, the recharge area observations in particular involved the risk of crevasse slips and falls, and could not have been achieved without any one of the six rope partners and base keepers. Ice core drilling and microbiological observations also could not be carried out by one person, and the six-person team was put to good use.

In the small detached base, all of us experienced communal living with six other people, although it lasted only 32 days. In group living, there are restrictions that prevent each person from spending time as they wish. At the same time, we were made acutely aware of the importance of committing to the rules. Just as an ice cap is formed when snow is piled on top of a foundation of land, it is possible to carry out observations when there is a foundation of life, so we learnt the importance of putting life (living) first and working hard at our jobs.

The members who returned home first left the base to the remaining four members (Nishimura, Shimada, Arie and Ono). The remaining members will stay in Qaanaaq for a few more days to organize and remove the observation equipment.

Although the ArCS II project will end this fiscal year, snow and ice observation in Qaanaaq will continue to be an important task, and the author believes that it is highly necessary to start a new project to continue the work. We hope that you will continue to pay attention to this project in the future.

（2024/8/18）

As August began, the melting of the Qaanaaq ice cap progressed, and the area of the dark-colored ice surface expanded. The observation team conducted optical observations of the ice surface (Fig. 1) and drilled ice cores to clarify the internal structure of the ice cap (Fig. 2). Ice cores were drilled four times from late July. The drilled ice cores will be brought back to Japan for further analysis.

（2024/8/12）

The group of the ArCS II Research Program on Cryosphere is observing glacier changes using the satellite-mounted L-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (L-Band SAR), which is able to observe the interior of the ice cap by irradiating and receiving highly penetrating long-wavelength microwaves (wavelength: about 24 cm). Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is currently operating two L-Band SARs, the “DAICHI-2 (ALOS-2)” and the “DAICHI-4 (ALOS-4)”. ALOS-4 was launched by the H3 locket on July 1, 2024.

The group plans to conduct ground-penetrating radar surveys over the entire Qaanaaq ice cap as verification data for glacier observations (internal structure of the ice cap) using L-Band SAR. However, it is necessary to establish a safe route before the survey because there are hidden crevasses near the top of the ice cap.

Therefore, on July 27, 2024, we confirmed which route is safe near the top of the ice cap. The team members secured each other’s bodies with ropes and walked in single file to prevent slipping into the crevasse (Fig. 1). The front member of the low used a sonde stick to check for crevasses (Fig. 2), while the following team member marked the established route while ensuring the safety of the first member (Fig. 3). Approximately 6 hours after departure from the base, the team reached the top of the Qaanaaq ice cap (Fig. 4). On the same day, the group also conducted snow sampling (Fig. 5), grain size observation (Fig. 6) on the top of the ice cap, and maintenance of the AWS installed at an altitude of approximately 950 m. The group will continue to be vigilant in its field observations.

On July 23 and 24, 2024, the observation team headed for the Qaanaaq ice cap. On snow and ice surfaces, red snow and dark-colored ice caused by the growth of microorganisms have begun to appear (Fig. 1 and 2). The small red spherical objects in Fig. 1(b) and the dark filamentous objects in Fig. 2(b) are microorganisms called snow/glacier algae.

A wide area on the ice cap is still covered with white snow and ice. We will continue to observe the surface condition.

On the long journey back from the ice cap, we returned to our base, gazing at the distant mountains, Qaanaaq village, and the sea of clouds (Fig. 3).

On July 17, 2024, Rigen Shimada, Masato Ono, Kino Kobayashi, and Kenshiro Arie, members of the follow-on team for the Sub Program 1 of the ArCS II Research Program on Cryosphere, arrived at Qaanaaq village.

Upon arrival at the observation base, we met up with Motoshi Nishimura and Takumi Suzuki of the advance team and were happy to see each other again (Fig. 1).

The next day (July 18), the observation team headed for the Qaanaaq ice cap. The advance team conducted snow pit observations and maintenance of the Automated Weather Station (AWS), while the follow-on team conducted preliminary inspections and surveys (Fig. 2 and 3).

The observation will be a long-term project until the end of August, and we will continue to work as one team.

The ice surface below the snow layer was exposed earlier in this year’s Qaanaaq ice cap because the low snowfall compared to previous years.

Fig. 1 is a photo taken at the SIGMA-B site on June 9, 2024. Snow cover surface, which was directly under the white logger box at the same time of last two years, is at a lower position this year. Fig. 2 is a photo of the SIGMA-B site taken one month later (July 9). It can be seen from this photo that the surface has decreased further. The snow depth at this time was 5 cm.

Fig. 3 shows the daily mean air temperature and surface height observed at the SIGMA-B site from June 1 to July 12, 2024; the temperature was below freezing in the first half of June, but it was stable and positive from the second half of June. The observed data also show that the surface height decreased as the temperature increased, with a 36.1 cm decrease in June, for a total of 54.3 cm for the analysis period.

This was the third largest surface decrease in June in the 12 years since observations began in 2012, making it a relatively unusual year. We will continue to monitor the state of the glacier as the survey continues.

On July 9, 2024, we conducted observations at the SIGMA-B site.

In our reports, we have documented the gradual disappearance of the snow cover on the Qaanaaq ice cap. In the area we have been monitoring, extending from marginal area of the ice cap to SIGMA-B, the snow cover has almost completely vanished. In the marginal area of the ice cap, we observed that the ice, once broken upstream, was transported downstream by the water flow, where it was deposited and spread out in a pattern resembling a palm (Fig. 1).

In the marginal area of the ice cap, we frequently encountered columnar ice (weathered ice), as depicted in Fig. 2. This was a significant change in appearance compared to the previously snow-covered conditions.

We also observed cryoconite, a composition of mineral particles and micro-organisms, under the ice surface. Some cryoconite holes (Fig. 3) were scattered across the ice cap.

The snow and ice surface temperatures, as observed by the SGLI sensor, were visualized on the JAXA Global Environment Monitor (https://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/JASMES/index_map.html ) (Fig. 4). It was evident that the snow and ice surface temperatures on the Qaanaaq ice cap were higher in early July than they were in early June.

The sea ice around Qaanaaq village is melting.

When we arrived in Qaanaaq on June 5, 2024, the surrounding sea was covered with ice (Fig. 1). On July 5, the wind was blowing strongly, and the following day we could visually see that the sea level extent had increased (Fig. 2).

The sea ice concentration around Greenland on the AMSR Global Environment Viewer (https://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/AMSR/viewer/index_e.html ) shows that the concentration has decreased over the past month (Fig. 3 and 4). In addition to sea ice concentration, the AMSR Global Environment Viewer allows the visualisation of various physical quantities related to water in the ocean, land and atmosphere, as observed by the AMSR sensor on board the GCOM-W satellite.

The sea ice has also opened up, and on July 7 the Royal Arctic Line (transport ship) arrived in Qaanaaq and started to transport supplies (Fig. 5). Foodstuffs and other supplies, which had almost been depleted, were brought to the supermarkets, enriching the lives of the villagers. We, too, are looking forward to seeing the new food products on shop shelves.

Today, July 8, the weather is fine. When we meet villagers, even complete strangers say “Good morning.” to each other. So far, this may be a common conversation in Japan, but exchanging the words “It is a beautiful day.” may not be common in Japanese cities. In Qaanaaq, the day starts pleasantly.

On June 24, 2024, we visited the upper area of the Qaanaaq Glacier to observe changes since our previous visit. We noted the formation of water flows on the glacier’s surface (Fig. 1). The air was clear and the sky was blue, providing ideal conditions for observation. We successfully installed a new Automated Weather Stations (AWS) upstream of the Qaanaaq Glacier, which we hope will provide accurate weather data.

On June 30, we traveled to the SIGMA-B site, located at the upper area of the ice cap, for further observations. It had snowed the day before, leaving about 1 cm of fresh snow on the surface, but dark dirt material was visible beneath the snow (Fig. 2 and 3).

At the SIGMA-B site, we conducted snow pit observations. The snow cover was 17 cm deep to the ice, indicating that more than 30 cm of melting had occurred since our previous visit (Fig. 4).

In Qaanaaq village, a beautiful flower known as the Arctic Poppy was in bloom (Fig. 5). Despite ongoing snowfall events on the ice cap, summer is steadily approaching.

On June 19, 2024, we visited the SIGMA-B site (Fig. 1). We measured the snow depth and found it to be about 54 cm (Fig. 2). Upon arriving in Qaanaaq, our first visit to the SIGMA-B site was on June 9, where the snow depth was about 70 cm-deep enough to conceal a squat person (Fig. 3). Despite 5 cm of snowfall since June 9, the snow had significantly melted in just 10 days. Our arrival in Qaanaaq was likely just before the snowmelt accelerated, allowing us to begin observations at a critical time.

June 21 was “National Day” in Greenland, and a festival celebrating midsummer was held in the gymnasium of Qaanaaq Village (Fig. 4). At the festival, stewed matta (whale skin) (Fig. 5), bread, coffee, and other drinks were served free of charge. In the evening, a live band of villagers entertained the crowd. It was evident that people of all ages and genders were celebrating and enjoying the day.

On June 13, 2024, we visited the SIGMA-B site for observations. We reviewed the data retrieved from the camera installed on June 9 and found it captured a clear image of the sky over SIGMA-B (Fig. 1). Additionally, we examined the snow cross-section and identified a fresh 5 cm layer resulting from snowfall on June 11-12.

Subsequently, on June 15, we conducted observations at the glacier-connected site. Using a drone, we successfully captured images of the sea and the glacier towards Qaanaaq Village (Fig. 2). Notably, the sea surface remains frozen, while the glacier is snow-covered.

The only two traces were carved on the fresh snow on our way to the ice cap (Fig. 3).

Moving forward, we will closely monitor the melting processes affecting the snow and ice.

On June 5, 2024, Motoshi Nishimura and Takumi Suzuki, members of the advance team for the Sub Program 1 of the ArCS II Research Program on Cryosphere, arrived at the observation base in Qaanaaq Village.

Two days later, we conducted a reconnaissance mission to the base of Qaanaaq Glacier to assess its condition. Our observation revealed that the glacier was covered with snow.

On June 9, we proceeded to the SIGMA-B site upstream of the glacier to carry out maintenance on the Automated Weather Station (AWS) under our care. We retrieved data from the AWS and conducted snow pit observations, noting a snow cover of approximately 70 cm deep until the ice became visible.

On June 10, we revisited the glacier area to conduct aerial snow cover assessments using a drone and to collect snow samples.

These observations will persist until the conclusion of August.

We accompanied an experienced hunter and his two assistants for narwhal (Monodon monoceros) hunting from August 17 to 21, 2023. Narwhals migrate off Qeqertat (Inglefield Bredning), northwest Greenland during summer months. This area is one of the few areas in Greenland where traditional hunting methods using kayaks are still practiced for narwhal hunting. The tusks and mattak (sliced blubber and skin) of narwhals are an important source of income for the Inuit and villagers. Because the narwhal is the marine top predator of the region, studying diet and contaminants of narwhal helps understand the impacts on the ecosystem in the region, on narwhals and even on human.

We have joined the hunting to collect materials to study diet and contaminants. We left Qaanaaq for Qeqertat at 11 pm on August 17. We wait for narwhals to come off Qeqertat. We found a pod of narwhals at 2 am. One hunter jumped on his kayak to approach to the pod, but it was unsuccessful (Fig. 1). Later, two hunters captured for a total of three narwhals for over the four days (Fig. 2).

We dissect these narwhals during low tides (Fig. 3). Before dissections, we measured the length of a narwhal. Norther fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) started gathering near the narwhal before dissection, and fed on pieces of narwhal blubbers that were thrown into the water (Fig. 4). We collected stomach, muscles, livers, and eye balls. We use stomachs to identify diet of narwhals, muscles for stable isotope analysis and contaminants, livers for contaminants and eye balls for age estimation. We hope that we can report our results in other opportunities that we may have.

We arrived in Qaanaaq on September 9th, and from the next day onwards, we conducted a field survey and collected soil samples.

We conducted a survey on waste in the same area last year, and based on the results of that survey, we planned a more detailed sampling this time. According to interviews in Qaanaaq village, open burning of waste was discontinued from December 2022, and combustible waste has been incinerated once a week in small hut near the site. Therefore, we had the impression that the amount of waste is increasing.

In addition, it was confirmed that as a new attempt, hazardous materials (batteries, waste oil, etc.) are accumulated around the hut and backhauling is trying to carry out. It seems that improvements are being made little by little.

Air quality was measured at the dump site using the VOC Index. The VOC concentration increased after midnight. The wind velocity was probably high during the daytime, but after midnight, the gases generated from the waste stayed around the dump site because of low wind velocity, and high values were measured.

We interviewed a resident about energy costs. Although the energy cost is currently rising all over the world, the cost in Greenland is stable due to the long-term contract. However, the contract will expire at the end of 2023 and a new contract will begin, at which time energy costs are expected to rise significantly.

We surveyed the landslide mechanism around Siorapaluk settlement from July 27 to August 3, 2023. The landslides are generally characterized by shallow collapse depth of about 2 to 3 meters, but they flowed down to the coastline several hundred meters away as debris flow（Fig. 1）. These landslides were triggered by heavy rains in the summers of 2016 and 2017. However, the heavy rain events are not the only reason why a number of huge landslides occurred. We think that geological structures and permafrost also play an important role in the occurrence of the long-distance landslides.

In this year’s survey, we applied electrical exploration to understand the internal structure of the landslide (Fig. 2). The electrical exploration measures the distribution of underground resistivity by sending current from a number of electrodes installed on the ground. The cross-sectional diagram of the electrical exploration showed a low resistivity (moist) zone near the collapse source.

We also attempted to detect springs on the landslide slopes using thermography. The slopes had been dry because of little rain, resulting in no springs detected at first. However, at the end of the survey period, when it rained for the first time in a while, thermography detected spring water coming from the landslide sources (Fig. 3).

The results of electrical exploration and thermography indicated that subsurface structures tend to collect water near the landslide sources. Such structures are often hidden by unstable debris covers in cold regions with low landslide frequency. If the amount of rainfall increases in the future due to climate change, the risk of debris-flow occurrence will increase. It is important to tell residents the risks of slope disasters.

What happens if you travel to one of the most northern settlements in the world and mix the following ingredients? Innuits, kids, Japanese sushi, cookies, powerful loudspeakers, slides, and lots of coffee (Fig. 1)? Of course, a workshop! Such kind of public events have been held by the members of our expedition almost annually in a small village of Qaanaaq, Northwest Greenland, and this year was not an exception.

This summer, on August 3, we organized a workshop in collaboration with locals and it was a blast (at least in our opinion). Moreover, this time we had the youngest audience ever, because many families came all together. In total, around 40 people and a film crew from Japan gathered in the local school building to listen to presentations by 5 members of our expedition (Fig. 2). This was not only an opportunity to explain what kind of research the expedition had been conducting, but also allowed us to exchange information with the locals. In addition, during coffee breaks, some valuable interviews could be conducted with locals.

In the beginning, our key local supporter, Ms. Toku Oshima, introduced us to everyone. Then, the leader of our expedition, Prof. S. Sugiyama (ILTS, HU) briefly outlined the key objectives of field observations and expressed concerns about the potential threat from waste-management practices in the village. Afterwards, Assoc. Prof. E. Podolskiy (ARC, HU) played sounds of ice and animals recorded around Qaanaaq and used to understand otherwise unseen environmental dynamics. Later, M.Sc. candidate T. Imazu (GSES, HU) told about the Qaanaaq ice-cap melting and runoff monitoring, which strongly affect the strategically important road between the airport and the village. Next, Ph.D. candidate M. Ogawa (GSES, HU) presented her work on seals’ diet and the ongoing bio sampling effort, aiming to understand migration of pollutants through the tropical chains. Finally, historical photographs taken in the region (from the 1970s) and shown by Dr. R. Kusaka (ILTS, HU) were welcomed with a greatest interest and some participants could recognize their relatives or even themselves.

Thanks to a simultaneous translation to Greenlandic and earlier rehearsals aiming to find the right words, our communication with locals was smooth and easy (Fig. 3). With kids playing in the room, the atmosphere was relaxed and joyful. On top of everything, we even got a giant Arctic Char as a present, which we grilled for dinner (Fig. 4). We are certainly looking forward to this kind of event next year again! Let’s see if the fish will be even larger!

In 2015 and 2016, the glacier outlet rivers flooded and destroyed an important road connecting the village and airport. The disasters were caused by intensive glacier melting as well as heavy rain events. To better understand the impact of climate change on the society of Qaanaaq as well as the glacier, we have measured river discharge since 2017. This summer, we measured discharge 54 times (Fig. 1), while the water level was continuously monitored with pressure sensors. We also installed acoustic and infrasound recorders to find relationships between the measurements and discharge. During the campaign this summer, flooding and destruction of the road occurred twice in July and August (Fig. 2). We work on the collected data to contribute to the prediction and mitigation of such disasters.

On the glacier, we have been monitoring the mass balance and flow velocity for more than 10 years since 2012 (Fig. 3). In 2022, we started drone survey to analyze glacier changes from high-resolution images and digital elevation models (Fig. 4). Since the ice temperature of Qaanaaq Glacier is below 0°C, meltwater does not penetrate into the glacier and forms channels on the glacier surface. One of the objectives of the drone survey is to analyze the formation and development of these channels (Fig. 5). We have succeeded six drone flights, covering the area from the terminus to the upper reaches of the glacier. Under the influence of relatively fine weather conditions, intensive melt, channel formation and ice darkening due to glacial microbes were observed in July. High resolution images should help us to understand the mechanism of rapid glacier changes.

The ArCS II Cryosphere Program (Sub-1) Snow/Ice and Climate Team stayed at the SIGMA-A site, northwest Greenland ice sheet from 21 to 27 June 2023 to carry out research activities for the project. Originally, this expedition at the SIGMA-A site was planned in 2021; however, it was impossible to perform during the past 2 years due to COVID-19. In this year, we did our best to perform the expedition. For the access to/from the site, the Twin Otter by Kenn Borek Air (Canada) was used (Fig. 1).

During the period, the research team installed a new Automatic Weather Station (AWS) successfully (Fig. 2).

In addition, the research team conducted in-situ glaciological measurements, GPS measurements, and drone measurements. The AWS measures surface pressure, air temperature/relative humidity/wind speed/wind direction at 3 and 6 m above the snow surface, snow temperature at 3 difference depths, and upward and downward shortwave/longwave/near-infrared radiations (Fig. 3). Because the AWS is equipped with the ARGOS satellite transmitter, the in-situ measured data can be monitored near-real time. The present-day Greenland ice sheet has experienced drastic snow/ice mass losses due to various kind of processes, which affects the global climate system substantially through e.g. sea level rise. It is expected that the SIGMA-A AWS provides important basic measurement-based information of the rapidly changing physical conditions of the ice sheet.

On June 14, all members of ArCS II Cryosphere Program (Sub-1) observation team for FY2023 gathered for the in-situ field works. From right to left: Nozomu Okawara (MRI), Tetsuhide Yamasaki (Avangnaq Arctic Project), Masashi Niwano (MRI), Rigen Shimada (JAXA), Sojiro Sunako (NIED) and Motoshi Nishimura (NIPR).

The observation site in Qaanaaq Village is equipped with a kitchen and beds for each participant, providing a comfortable living environment. While living together at the site for more than one month, we will conduct field observations on the Greenland ice sheet and ice cap, set up and maintain observation equipment, and cooperate with each other.

Currently, we are steadily preparing for the installation of meteorological instruments (SIGMA-A) on the inland ice sheet, which is the most important mission of this year.

SIGMA-B site is one of the most important meteorological observation sites in the Arctic, where one of the Automatic Weather Station (AWS) is installed by the ArCS II project. This was the first visit to the site in about a year, and maintenance work was performed.
The team improved the performance of the instrument by quickly and accurately removing weather sensors that needed to be replaced and installing new ones. We also checked the overall functionality of the instrument, paying close attention to other functions such as battery charge status and communication capabilities.

After the maintenance work was completed, meteorological observations of the Qaanaaq Ice Cap resumed and monitoring will continue. These data will play an important role in the study of climate change and other environmental factors in the Arctic region. The data will also be shared with the international scientific community and is expected to contribute to the improvement of global climate models.

SIGMA-B AWS data is available on the Arctic Data archive System (ADS):

• SIGMA-B Automatic Weather Station (AWS) Data