From April 13 to May 22, four scientists from the ASBL Imaqa, a Belgian organization specializing in scientific expeditions in extreme environments, are preparing to undertake one of the most demanding Arctic expeditions: crossing the Greenland ice cap over 1,700 km using kite skiing.
If the team is currently in Norway to train, the departure will be from Kangerlussuaq to reach Qaanaaq. This project, which spans from the south to the north of the territory, combines scientific research and physical endurance. The goal is to take advantage of the wind force and kite skiing technology to advance on icy surfaces where weather conditions can change rapidly, with temperatures often well below zero and sometimes violent winds.
The researchers, specializing in various fields of ice and climate sciences, will document the state of the ice cap, including through the collection of surface snow and chemical analysis. This is an almost unprecedented crossing on a global scale. The data collected will be shared with four international research centers.
Kite skiing is not just an extreme sport: it allows explorers to cover long distances with wind traction, but requires perfect mastery of navigation, sails, and skis on often invisible surfaces. These scientists will face nearly the entire immense ice cap.
Several challenges are on the horizon: extreme weather conditions, wind as the only engine, over 100 kg of equipment to pull on sleds, and especially a very uncertain terrain with risks of crevasses.
This challenge is part of a logic of sustainable polar science and data collection to better understand the climate changes affecting Arctic regions. By using a motorless locomotion method, scientists limit their carbon footprint while gathering information on ice, snow profiles, and potential key elements to assess ice melt.
