June 25, 2011

DUTCH HARBOR, Alaska -- Low clouds and damp, chilly air did little to stifle the anticipation of 47 researchers onboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy as it powered away from Dutch Harbor, Alaska. At 8 a.m. local time, the icebreaker, scientists and crew forged north, marking the start to NASA's 2011 ICESCAPE voyage.

On June 25, 2011, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy headed north from Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Credit: NASA/Kathryn Hansen

The goal, simply, is to collect data from ocean and sea ice stations to find out how changes in the Arctic -- particularly the changing sea ice -- affect the ocean's chemistry and ecosystems. It's a job that NASA does from space, providing coverage over the entire Arctic region. To better understand what satellites see, however, we need boots on deck and on the ice to tease out the Earth system's complex connections and processes.

A few final glances back to shore and we turn our sights ahead. For five weeks we'll be living together, eating together, and executing a well choreographed dance of data collection and analysis.

Get a taste of shipborne Arctic science by following our daily blog posts. Here's a preview oft what's lined up …

Sundays: Tales from ICESCAPE See the mission's drama unfold as we relay the process of scientific discovery, both its challenges and successes. Mondays: Image of the week We present our favorite image of the week along with background information putting the image in context with mission science. Tuesdays: Tech Tuesday Shows off some of the cool instruments and gadgetry that make ICESCAPE science possible. Wednesdays: Q&A Who are the people behind the mission? Here we profile a scientist or crew member with a series of question and answers. Thursdays: Tales from ICESCAPE   See the mission's drama unfold as we relay the process of scientific discovery, both its challenges and successes. Fridays: Sound of the week So you've seen the pictures, but what does research aboard an icebreaker in the Arctic sound like? Saturdays: Arctic history ICESCAPE is not the first scientific mission to study the Arctic. How did we get to this point? How will ICESCAPE continue the legacy?

Long: 166 31.508W Lat: 53 54.231N