Press Releases
Explorers Participating in Catlin Arctic Survey 2010 Begin Mission on Floating Sea Ice
15 March 2010
LONDON – A team of veteran polar explorers on Sunday began up to a 500-kilometre trek across the floating sea ice of the Arctic Ocean as part of Catlin Arctic Survey 2010, an international scientific mission to learn how increased carbon emissions could be affecting the seawater of the Ocean.
Before leaving the northern Canadian town of Resolute on Sunday, Explorer Team Leader Ann Daniels commented: “We’re as ready as we’re going to be and eager to get started. Our work is to capture data which scientists would otherwise not be able to get, as it is extremely hard to operate in this environment in the winter.”
The Catlin Arctic Survey is sponsored for the second consecutive year by Catlin Group Limited, the international specialty insurer and reinsurer.
The second phase of this year’s Catlin Arctic Survey will begin later today (Monday 15 March), weather permitting, when a team of research scientists will be flown to a purpose-built ‘Ice Base’ which will become their home for the next 45 days. The Ice Base – located at 78°45’N 103°30’W on the shore of Ellef Rignes Island, only 750 miles from the North Geographic Pole – will provide living, dining, research and communications facilities under the supervision of experienced polar guides.
The Twin Otter plane carrying the Explorer Team successfully landed on the ice late on Sunday at 86°N 80°W following a six-hour flight from Resolute. The explorers, who also includes Martin Hartley and Charlie Paton, will today begin their scientific work by heading northwards across the rugged sea ice, measuring its thickness and taking samples of the seawater beneath the ice.
The Catlin Arctic Survey is a unique collaboration between explorers and research scientists to gather data in the inhospitable conditions of an Arctic winter. This year’s survey will focus on the potential impact of rising levels of carbon dioxide (‘CO2‘) in the Arctic Ocean, including ocean acidification. There is a need for much more information about any changes in the Arctic Ocean, especially as CO2 is more readily absorbed in cold water and could act as a barometer for possible changes in other regions.
Some scientists believe that, based on current projections, the pH of the world’s oceans could reach levels by 2050 not seen on Earth for 20 million years. If this occurs, there could be serious consequences for marine life in the Arctic and elsewhere.
Pen Hadow, Director of the Catlin Arctic Survey, said: “Scientists really want to know more about what is going on in this region of the Ocean, but to operate on the Arctic Ocean in winter is extremely difficult. The Catlin Arctic Survey not only gives scientists a way of working in the Arctic themselves, but the efforts of the Explorer team will also allow data to be obtained far beyond the areas where it is safe for scientists to work.”
During the Survey, both teams will be facing temperatures as low as minus-45C (minus-49F) with wind-chill factors as bitter as minus-75C (minus-103F).
The academic institutions whose researchers will work from the Ice Base include CNRS-Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Laboratoire Oceanographie (Villefranche); Plymouth Marine Laboratory; Institute of Ocean Science (Fisheries and Oceans Canada); University of Exeter; and Bangor University. An international group of scientists based in Europe, Canada and the United States will be able to use the results of the data gathered by the Survey.
During the expedition the team will be sending video, reports and photos to show what it takes to capture data under the extreme condition of the Arctic Ocean. The public can follow the Catlin Arctic Survey at www.catlinarcticsurvey.com.
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For more
information contact:
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Media Relations: |
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James Burcke, Head of
Communications, London
Jackie Pedersen Catlin Arctic
Survey |
Tel: Mobile:
Mobile |
+44 (0)20 7458
5710
+44 (0)798 076
7710
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Investor Relations: |
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William
Spurgin, |
Tel: E-mail: |
+44 (0)20 7458 5726 +44 (0)7710 314
365 |
Notes to editors:
| 1. | Catlin Group Limited, headquartered in Bermuda, is
an international specialist property/casualty insurer and reinsurer
writing more than 30 classes of business worldwide through six
underwriting hubs. Gross premiums written in 2009 amounted to more
than US$3.7 billion. |
| 2. | Further information about the
Catlin Arctic Survey is available at
www.catlinarcticsurvey.com. |
| 3. | High resolution photos of the drop-off operation
are expected to be available later today (15 March). Other news
photos are available from
www.catlinarcticsurvey.com/press.aspx.
Access passwords can be obtained by calling the media
contacts. |
| 4. | A press release with more detailed information about the Catlin
Arctic Survey was issued on 25 February. It is available at
www.catlin.com/cgl/media/press_releases/pr_2010/2010-02-25/. |
| 5. | Catlin shares are traded on the London Stock
Exchange (ticker symbol: CGL). More information about Catlin can be
found at
www.catlin.com. |
| 6. | Catlin has established operating hubs in London,
Bermuda, the United States, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and
Canada. Through these hubs, Catlin works closely with
policyholders and their brokers. The hubs also provide Catlin
with product and geographic diversity. Altogether, Catlin operates
47 offices in 20 countries. |
| 7. | Catlin's underwriting units are rated 'A' by A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. |