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Microphones Dropped into Ocean off Greenland to Record Melting Icebergs

The audio of melting icebergs is being captured and preserved by an expedition of scientists and an artist in the waters off Greenland.

Before being collected, harvested for data, and the recordings being used to create an acoustic composition, the hydrophones will capture noises every hour for two years.

In order to create an archive of the "ocean's memory," the instruments are being dropped to various depths and temperatures to record earthquakes, landslides, fauna, pollutants, and meltwater.

The Irish artist Siobhán McDonald stated on Tuesday from the expedition ship, "What you're hearing in the hydrophones is a snapshot of time. It's similar to a time capsule.

The Davis Strait, an Arctic passageway connecting Greenland and Canada, features 12 moorings overall that the expedition has deployed, including five moorings equipped with hydrophones.

The recordings, which will be gathered in 2024, will be used by McDonald in collaboration with a composer to create an auditory installation that will examine how humans have affected the ocean. She'll also create sculptures, paintings, and other pieces inspired by the journey.

"I'm curious to hear the noise pollution. The acoustic spectrum and the entire biodiversity will likely be impacted by the increasing sea levels. Animals in the ocean and the Arctic depend heavily on sound. Communication, reproduction, eating, and ultimately survival all depend on hearing. It emphasises the importance of being aware of the pollution we are bringing to the ecosystems nearby.

Funded by the US National Science Foundation’s polar programme, the 21-strong team of researchers from Europe, the US and Canada has been at sea for four weeks studying sea salinity, whale migrations, ice floes and other phenomena. The material will be used in scientific analysis and artworks including paintings, sculptures and films.

Strong winds, rain, snow, and the calving of the Nuup Kangerlua glacier were all part of the adventure. On October 22, the researchers are scheduled to return to the port of Nuuk in western Greenland.

The decision was taken in the midst of mounting evidence that the melting of Greenland's ice cover, which has dumped trillions of tonnes into the ocean, may result in significant sea level rises.

According to a new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change, the effects of burning fossil fuels will result in a minimum rise of 27cm (10.6in) from Greenland alone. A other study conducted last year discovered that a sizeable portion of Greenland's ice sheet was on the verge of tipping, at which time increased melting would be unavoidable even if global warming is stopped.

When compared to her 2017 visit, McDonald claimed to have seen less ice. One of the tipping points I'm working with is the melting of the Greenland ice cap, a moment that may have already passed.

She claimed that despite this, marine life appeared to be adjusting. One significant finding was that life is still thriving in the Arctic high up. Despite appearing desolate, the seascape is teeming with possibilities. A few hydrophones from a previous expedition were discovered appearing like strange animals emerging from the Greenland water. Rusted surfaces were inhabited by lichens and small plants.

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McDonald also investigated how permafrost melts releases methane and how Irish peat is similar to other peats. bogs and soil exposed by vanishing glaciers, which will feature in an exhibition at the Model, an arts centre in County Sligo, next year.

The European Commission, the Arts Council of Ireland, Trinity College Dublin, Monaghan County Council, Creative Ireland, and the non-profit organisations GLUON and the Ocean Memory Project all provided funding for McDonald's project.

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