LONGYEARBYEN – The great expedition of the Arctic Centre Groningen is Friday returned to Longyearbyen, capital of Spitsbergen. With a symposium, where Bert Koenders, Minister of Foreign Affairs at present, the expedition is complete.
A symposium, where Foreign Minister Bert was Koenders at present, the expedition ended.
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Although some sites could not be visited because there were polar bears, is scientific expedition leader Martin Loonen very satisfied. The main study site, Kapp Lee on the island Edgeøya, has been extensively studied, there is a weather station placed on a glacier, almost all researchers – at least partly -. Can do what they were planning
most outstanding preliminary results are the huge differences that are found in the vegetation at Kapp Lee. Which is mapped by Dutch extensively in 1977. In comparison, the shift is spectacular. Plants and mosses are much more developed, suggesting that the growing season has lengthened by East Spitsbergen.
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René van der Wal, of the University of Aberdeen, vegetation that normally does research on West Spitsbergen has never seen such big differences. He is eager to look at Edgeøya. ,, It must be very strange if I did not go back there. ”
Also Loonen normally geese researcher, helped with the mapping of vegetation. ,, The collaboration between the disciplines was amazing. “” He warns against premature conclusions. ,, We are three days spent there. Now it begins. ”
Loonen sees the expedition as a starting point. In nine days you can not complete a survey. He hopes that this was the beginning of more cooperation, new applications for polar research and the continuation of pilots who have done this trip.
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