www.arcticstation.nl

select keyword  

[home]  [weblog]  [science]  [people]  [station]  [ny-ålesund]  [sightings]  [sitemap]  [nederlands]

more pages with this keyword at the end of this page  klik hier voor nederlands

I received a nice email, that someone read about me in a travel book. Suddenly, I remembered Sara Weeler, with whom I spent a day in the field in 2007.
Below you find an excerpt from Sara Wheeler's book: The Magnetic North. Travels in the Arctic.

(page 203).....Installed in my room, I watched a family of Arctic foxes outside the window. A vixen and six kits rolled in a single furry ball. The tall Dutch scientists going in and out of the hut above the foxes stooped to vanish through the tiny door like characters in Alice in Arctic Wonderland, abandoning yellow clogs to the fox kits. Beyond the Dutch hut, the fjord narrowed towards a glacier blockade: Kongsbreen and Kongsvegen, with the distinctive Tre Kroner peaks, named after Norway, Denmark and Sweden, rising behind.  .....

(page 207).....Our neighbour Maarten Loonen was a familiar figure in Ny-Ålesund. One of the tall inhabitants of the Dutch house, and the chief Dutch scientist on station, he was based at the University of Groningen and had been studying the fluctuating populations of barnacle geese in Kongsfjord since 1990. In 1943 fewer than 300 roosted on the archipelago; at the time of my visit, the population had swelled to 25,000. Extreme weather stresses Arctic ecosystems (and they are relatively young: ten or twenty thousand years, following the retreat of the ice sheets, compared with millions in the tropics). An unseasonal snowstorm or big freeze can destroy a whole generation, in turn jeopardizing species higher up the food chain. Maarten's geese showed what a changing climate can do – if PCB's don't do it first.
    Like many Dutchmen, Maarten spoke better English than me, and with his spiky hair, round belly and smooth skin, I could imagine him turning into a barnacle goose when my back was turned. He invited me to go out observing with him for an afternoon, and so with rifles loaded, we started off past the Japanese station, past the airstrip, past the rocket launch pad and over a bridge fording a river bloodied with sandstone deposits. There we reached a pond, and Maarten put up his tripod and telescope. At a distance of 200 metres, he read out information from rings he had put on geese feet three years previously. I did not believe it, so I looked through the lens myself. 'If the sun is behind me', Maarten boasted, 'I can read them at 300 metres.' We walked on to Brandal Point. The rain had began to pound down again. All around, goslings had hatched. Only the female incubates: to facilitate heat transmission, she has a pair of breast patches without feathers. For the first three days, goslings live off absorbed yolk. Then they learn to feed. A strong young goose pecks 120 times a minute when it finds food. But the Arctic fox population had kept time with the geese. 'The average barnacle couple', said Maarten, 'produce fifty eggs, out of which 2.2 chicks reach adulthood.' I had watched the dog-fox opposite my window ferrying goslings to his vixen and kits.
    We walked on. 'This grass is too long for them,' Maarten remarked after we had reached stands of wet green at the lakeside. 'In this state, it's like spaghetti for geese, and they cannot eat it.' The sun vanished behind a cloud. When it went, the colours went too. 'I see the grass here with my goose mind,' Maarten concluded before stopping to scrutinize a white blob against a patch of scree on the lower slope of the nearest mountain. But it was a boulder, not a bear. After all his years in the field, Maarten had plenty of experience with a rifle, but, like me, he was uncomfortable with the idea of a gun in his hand. 'It's a cultural thing,' he said. 'In Holland you are perceived virtually as a criminal if you hunt. But here in Norway you're almost a homosexual if you don't.'.....



pages with keyword people

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20230720, 09:45
fieldwork

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20230716, 15:55
wet feet

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20230707, 14:17
beton

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20230707, 15:39
visiting family

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20230707, 14:17
concrete

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20230702, 12:00
Nick Cox

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20230626, 15:43
farewell music
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20230623, 15:00
fire and coffee

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20230621, 21:00
international yoga day

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20230616, 09:00
dr Frits

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20230615, 20:00
most northern greek

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20230608, 15:00
dr Martine

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20230604, 12:00
fieldwork 2023

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20230220, 11:00
AWIPEV at Ny-Ă…lesund
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20220816, 23:00
fieldwork Jasmine Zhang

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20220815, 11:13
kings bay veteranklubb

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20220810, 20:00
kingsbay summer staff

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20220725, 18:00
after sees expedition

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20220625, 19:14
mid summer party

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20220623, 11:00
Greg leaves after two winterings

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20211224, 03:00
pink xmas on spitsbergen
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20211222, 12:00
the people of kingsbay

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20211014, 17:30
discussion forum

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20211013, 15:30
dogyard in longyearbyen

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20211003, 18:30
SSF in NĂ…

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210922, 13:05
PhD Margje de Jong

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210917, 11:37
it starts off small

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210801, 16:00
a flabbergasting yacht
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210729, 15:45
Bettina is leaving

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210630, 12:00
AWIPEV team

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210630, 10:00
more weblogs

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210629, 11:00
students from NTNU

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210628, 14:20
minister opens building

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210627, 17:32
gardening

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210627, 14:15
italian air defense
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210626, 18:00
midsummerparty

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210613, 23:00
european football

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210607, 15:00
by boat

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210605, 18:00
team introduction

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210604, 12:00
quarantine

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210430, 12:00
royal decoration

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20210102, 14:37
looking closer into shit
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20201208, 14:25
postdoc position

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20200806, 20:30
swimming in icy water

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20200716, 10:00
terror tern

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20200710, 19:45
gĂĄsebu

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20200706, 15:00
tea time

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20200629, 18:00
team together

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20200619, 11:21
arrived
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20200617, 19:48
10 days quarantaine

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20200614, 18:00
never alone

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20200331, 11:23
NySMAC digital

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20200125, 09:00
newspaper

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20191229, 12:00
NA by Greg

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20190718, 09:45
departure with music

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20190714, 19:38
team 2019
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20190712, 12:47
from antarctic to arctic

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20190712, 23:51
christophe

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20190711, 19:00
on an ice flow

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20190711, 18:50
krikjefjellet

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20190706, 15:00
boatswoman

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20190705, 09:31
renovation

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20190703, 20:58
orange football match
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20190630, 09:17
meanwhile @home

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180805, 19:48
ready to fly

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180730, 13:37
studytur nord

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180728, 17:00
island count

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180728, 19:19
saturday dinner

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180726, 08:58
indian arctic expedition

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180726, 16:19
old soldiers
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180725, 18:36
vegetation change

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180725, 20:26
microscope

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180722, 13:00
from the USA

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180722, 12:00
blogging

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180719, 09:23
mother and daughter

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180719, 08:40
team picture

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180718, 17:54
last balloon
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180715, 16:00
hair dresser

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180713, 11:31
student became guide

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180712, 14:43
veteran visits

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180711, 11:00
blue balloon

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180707, 21:00
Frigga has a job

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180706, 22:00
photo journalist

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180705, 18:45
boat driver jelle
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180705, 22:55
farewell benoit

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180704, 11:00
visiting regional newspaper

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180702, 11:02
chairman of board kingsbay

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180627, 18:14
Chinese delegation

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20180621, 10:30
Maarten and students arrive

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20170807, 09:30
field excursion for students

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20170730, 21:45
tern chicks weighing
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20170728, 19:48
boating course

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20170727, 09:00
team today

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20170723, 19:00
stranded

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20170721, 20:00
happy birthday

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20170713, 23:00
christelle leaving

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20170702, 14:00
Chinese tourists

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20170702, 14:30
veteran kiosk
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20170628, 12:30
Suzanne returns home

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20170616, 15:40
shooting

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20170615, 1848
resue boat

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20170614, 09:30
the team

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20160807, 14:00
boattrip

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20160803, 16:00
father and son

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20160801, 09:25
musical goodbye
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20160731, 23:00
last team

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20160731, 18:35
walk to the glacier

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20160723, 17:00
family pictures

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20160714, 13:40
artists

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20160625, 21:00
midsummer party

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20160622, 22:00
crew

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20160621, 20:30
independent
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20160620, 10:00
plumbing

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20160603, 11:30
safety refresher course

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20160517, 07:00
17th May celebration

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20160103, 16:00
Largest Netherlands Arctic Expedition

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20160103, 17:00
Ramsey Nasr

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20150724, 10:30
Bear hunt

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20150721, 21:15
Leisure trip
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20150721, 13:00
Nitrogen dynamics with Japanese team

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20150719, 18:00
Swimming

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20150706, 16:01
Team change

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20150625, 13:00
Interviewed by Chinese scientists

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20150621, 00:05
Polarsyssel

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20150620, 19:15
Midzomerfeest

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20150620, 19:15
Midsummer party
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20150614, 16:00
On our way to Spitsbergen

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20150504, 14:00
Dutch mining professor as advisor

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20140730, 18:30
Kjaersvika

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20140724, 11:00
a bird song

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20140724, 15:30
departure Willemijn

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20140723, 21:45
mini-concert

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20140715, 09:30
water taxi
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20140714, 10:30
departure

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20140713, 21:00
world championship football

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20140621, 21:30
mid-summer party

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20140620, 12:30
happy

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20130722, 15:30
photography

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20130719, 11:45
kingsbay@work

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20130711, 23:00
ladies night
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20130707, 20:15
swim certificate

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20130703, 17:00
landing

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20130701, 10:00
verwondering

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20130701, 10:00
moments of wonder

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20130630, 20:00
group picture

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20130630, 21:30
swimming in icy water

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20130622, 18:00
midsummer party
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20130621, 13:30
invitation to antarctica

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20130620, 17:30
WWF on doorstep

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120816, 21:15
homeward bound

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120816, 17:10
gelly pudding

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120815, 23:30
bar evening

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120809, 09:30
marion leaves

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120808, 14:50
survival suit
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120807, 20:00
sledge dog riding

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120805, 08:00
feather and coal

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120804, 13:00
sale

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120803, 11:00
svalbardkurset

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120802, 14:00
help coming

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120726, 11:04
departure Suzanne

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120721, 19:04
French delegation
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120719, 20:30
birthday

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120713, 22:00
climbing zeppelin

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120712, 22:30
cod

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120711, 13:05
kings bay crew

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120630, 16:30
teken pauze

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120628, 18:15
veterans

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120625, 14:15
poolstempel verzamelaars
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120616, 1800
stuphallet

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120616, 1800
stuphallet

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120614, 21:00
first team

weblog

click on the picture for more details
shown
above
20120612, 23:30
Alice in Arctic Wonderland

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20120609, 12:00
wedding

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110824, 15:00
dagmar leaves by boat

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110822, 12:00
last crew
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110808, 15:00
vrouwen aan de macht

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110722, 11:00
fire drill

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110720, 10:00
i am a chapter

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110719, 14:00
team

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110716, 00:58
girls party

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110714, 09:30
next generation veterans

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110711, 21:48
nicole reports on facebook
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110709, 14:57
on her head

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110709, 20:30
nick cox about dogsledging

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110709, 18:00
testing survival suits

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110625, 21:00
midsummerdayparty

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110623, 12:00
arrival

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110622, 11:00
Brussels-LYR

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110601, 14:00
station open
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20110407, 10:30
goose team

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20100802, 18:21
national herbarium

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20100802, 23:50
fishing

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20100716, 20:15
fueling

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20100713, 23:45
trip: Camp Zoe

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20100711, 20:00
World champion football?

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20100627, 12:48
EPOCA team
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20100614, 15:30
departure and arrival

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20100605, 10:13
Anne is here

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20090805, 18:00
Friends from Japan

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20090801, 23:30
bar duty

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20090719, 11:30
streetview

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20090716, 10:00
studying planet Mars

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20090711, 10:30
team picture
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20090711, 12:30
dogs

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20090710, 08:30
where is oebele?

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20090709, 20:00
new books

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20090630, 22:45
crew

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20090627, 21:00
midsummer party

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20090619, 10:00
the veteran club

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20080702, 12:00
Ny-Ålesund symposium
 

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20080701, 11:00
India opens station

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20070623, 21:00
mid-summer party

weblog

click on the picture for more details
20060702, 12:00
boat trip to the islands

[home]  [weblog]  [science]  [people]  [station]  [ny-ålesund]  [sightings]  [sitemap]  [nederlands]

click on a picture for more information



select a new keyword

choose a keyword from the list in this box: 

[360 video]  [aquaria]  [archaeology]  [arctic fox]  [arctic tern]  [arcticexplorer.nl]  [artist]  [atmospheric research]  [aurora borealis]  [barnacle goose]  [birdhealth]  [catching]  [cemetery]  [common eider]  [dogs]  [eemshaven]  [expedition]  [faeces]  [fish]  [geolocator]  [geology]  [geopolitics]  [glaciers]  [glaucous gull]  [global warming]  [gps-collar]  [grouse]  [guillemot]  [history]  [houses]  [imprinting]  [insects]  [instructions]  [kittiwake]  [landscape]  [limnology]  [moult]  [nest checking]  [netherlands]  [new species]  [party]  [people]  [pink-footed goose]  [plankton]  [plants]  [podcast]  [polar bear]  [pollution]  [postmaster]  [press]  [publication]  [reindeer]  [ring reading]  [rocket]  [safety]  [science]  [seal]  [skua]  [snow]  [snowbunting]  [space research]  [station]  [streetview]  [sustainability]  [teaching]  [tourism]  [town]  [unusual birds]  [veterans]  [video]  [visitors]  [waders]  [whale]  [wildlife camera]  [young polar scientist