The 2024 Arctic Sea Ice Expedition, led by British polar explorer Felicity Aston, has been completed. Using communication equipment, sponsored by AST Networks, the expedition ventured into the heart of the Arctic to collect vital scientific samples that will contribute to the global understanding of climate change in one of the most rapidly transforming regions on Earth.  

The Arctic is undergoing climate and environmental changes at an alarming rate, with impacts reverberating around the world. Understanding these changes has never been more important. Since 2021, Aston and her team have embarked on annual ski journeys across the Arctic, gathering data on the region’s ice and snow–before it disappears. 

The samples collected during the latest expedition are now undergoing detailed analysis at the U.K. National Oceanography Centre and the University of Southampton. The team is employing advanced techniques, including infrared spectroscopy, to analyze microplastic content in the samples. Simultaneously, black carbon samples are being studied at the University of Colorado to contribute to a broader data set on black carbon distribution across remote regions worldwide. 

Learn more here.