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Science and Adventure

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Cosmic Rays

The PolarquEEEst device measured the intense cosmic ray flow above the Arctic circle.The CLOUD experiment at CERN has recently demonstrated that cosmic rays may influence cloud cover either through the formation of new aerosols (tiny particles suspended in the air that can grow to form seeds for cloud droplets) or by directly affecting clouds themselves: Clouds exert a strong influence on the Earth’s energy balance; changes of only a few per cent have an important effect on the climate. Better understanding the connection between cosmic rays and clouds is therefore key to improving our ability to make more accurate mathematical models able to predict how climate will evolve.
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Microplastics

Microplastics, i.e. plastic particles smaller than five millimetres in size, are a pervasive pollutant, widely dispersed in the marine environment and can be found in the water column, on beaches and on the seabed. Recently, microplastic presence was reported in ice cores from remote areas of the Arctic Ocean. This is particularly worrying as polar waters, and the Arctic region in particular, support an important and diverse marine food web and ecosystem, from planktonic communities to marine mammals, which is very vulnerable to marine pollution. In spite of the potential threat of this emerging pollutant, there are few regulations in terms of production, use or emissions of microplastics, very few ways of monitoring it, and, last but not least, there is a lack of awareness among people worldwide of the gravity of this threat. There is therefore an urgent need to assess the levels of microplastic pollution in the Arctic, to allow for future microplastic monitoring and to assess the risk of the potential impacts of decreasing sea ice, increasing shipping and commercial activity in the area.
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AURORA Accessible UAV's

Small flying drones are becoming widespread as tools for scientific research and communication on remote environments. The current opportunity of using “consumer-level” technologies of this kind allows to remarkably widen their uses and therefore the potential of knowledge acquisition. This approach, however, depends highly on the fact that instrumental configurations and workflows are properly integrated with deployment needs in the specific conditions and environments. The Scientific group onboard NANUQ are equipped with several small multirotor drones, optimized for different and complementary research and documentation activity. They are used to acquire data and to validate methods of observation, analysis and documentation. The overall purpose of activity program is to contribute to scientific knowledge and information on the present state of some relevant Arctic environments.
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Airship Italia

On May 25 1928, Airship Italia, commanded by Umberto Nobile, one of the founding fathers of Arctic exploration, crashed on the way back from the North Pole, about 120 km northeast of Nordaustlandet, Svalbard (81°14 N 28°14 E), killing part of the crew trapped in the still drifting airship envelope and leaving the survivors stranded on the pack ice. The crew managed to salvage several items from the crashed airship gondola, including a radio transceiver, a tent which they later painted red for maximum visibility, and, critically, boxes of food and survival equipment which quick-witted engineer Ettore Arduino had managed to throw onto the ice, before he and his five companions were carried off to their deaths by the wrecked but still airborne airship envelope and keel. POLARQUEST continued the search with a pioneering attempt at relocating the sunken wreck of Umberto Nobile’s Airship Italia, on the 90th anniversary of its crash, taking advantage of the melting ice in the region for the first time in centuries – but like their predecessors were unsuccessful.

B&G onboard Nanuq

The Zeus³ 12 is an easy-to-use chartplotter navigation system for blue water cruisers and regatta racers, incorporating a 12-inch touchscreen display, high-performance electronics, and a wide range of functionality designed specifically for sailors. Comes with world basemap
£3,655

This powerful 5-inch, sunlight viewable, colour display with a straightforward user interface is packed with unique sailing features including SailSteer and Start Line.
£1,090

The powerful H5000 CPU with Hercules software is geared for race track success featuring expanded data options and enhanced racing features.
£1,855

The record-breaking B&G Pilot features dedicated steering modes and sailing algorithms including Gust Response, Recovery and High Wind Response.
£2,290

Provides secure autopilot control and setup from its dedicated keypad. As the primary Pilot controller, or as a second station to a Zeus chartplotter, the Pilot Controller provides assured control and feedback via its high-resolution display.
£610

B&G Wireless Pilot controller and base station use the latest in Bluetooth® technology to give the helmsman control of his yacht from anywhere on-board.
£220

The 213 Masthead unit is an ocean-proven high performance wind sensor, providing raw wind speed and angle data to the instrument system.
£1,060