How Can Art Assist Climate Science in Antarctica?

Abstract

Sea ice forms when the surface ocean gets so cold it freezes. Sea ice is important for marine life. It can also affect how quickly the ice moving into the ocean from the continent of Antarctica melts. In this article, we describe what happens when an artist takes part in a scientific expedition to measure ocean properties beneath sea ice. The expedition required a team to live in a camp made from shipping containers on skis that are placed on the frozen ocean surface for several weeks while the team does their work. On this particular expedition, the team took an artist. After the expedition, the artist and scientists worked with school classes to build up large artworks, based on what was learned in the sea-ice camp, that help tell the story of the changing Antarctic environment in new ways.