Emily An is a first-year master’s student in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences’ marine geology and geophysics concentration. She is working with CEOAS associate professor Emily Eidam on the TERMINUS project and recently participated in fieldwork in Greenland.
Where were you working?
The tidewater glacial fjords of western Greenland, specifically Kangerlussup, with the boat leaving from the capital of Nuuk.
How much time have you spent there?
This was my third summer conducting field work in Greenland, but first summer on a research vessel (R/V Celtic Explorer) rather than on land. In total I have now spent approximately three months over the past three years.
What are you studying?
Sediment processes around tidewater glaciers; specifically, suspended sediment in the water column and how it is related to ice sheet retreat. This is one piece of the puzzle where researchers are aiming to predict how fast glaciers retreat so they can better estimate sea level rise amid warming temperatures due to climate change.
Photo by Casey Vigilia from UT Austin.
What languages are spoken there?
Greenlandic, Danish and English.
What’s the coolest thing a local has shown you?
During my undergraduate research in Greenland, I assisted a grad student working with a local fishing family for sampling the water in the fjords of Kangerlussuaq. The boat captain invited us into their home to plan for the field, where a polar bear skin was displayed next to the kitchen and seal meat was cooking on the stove.
What’s the best food you’ve eaten there?
Greenlandic Thai food is surprisingly excellent.
What’s an important phrase you’ve learned to say in the local language?
"Qujanaq," which means thank you.
What’s the biggest challenge of working there?
Getting there in the first place. Weather delays and cancelations are extremely common when flying into Greenland, and although I had good luck on the way there, everyone was delayed three or four days leaving Nuuk. A science party that joined halfway through the cruise lost all their luggage in the process and didn’t recover it before the end of field work.
Photo by UT-Austin Ice Dynamics Lab.
What’s one thing you’ll take away from this trip?
The thundering sound of calving icebergs (and getting woken up by a huge wave because of it).
What were you most surprised to learn?
90% of Greenland’s population is Indigenous, and the country’s whole population is slightly less than that of Corvallis, despite Greenland being around 9 times the size of Oregon state.
Besides family, what do you most miss from home?
Quality fresh produce. Whether on a research boat or field station in Greenland, fruit and veggies have to travel a long way to get there.
What piece of advice would you give others who might travel there?
Read about the history of Greenland before visiting and/or stop by the national museum in Nuuk. If hiking the Arctic Circle trail or elsewhere, bring bug spray. The mosquitoes are no joke.
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