At the end of the expedition, scientists were very happy with the amount of sediment core that had been collected – over 2,000 meters! We were able to recover rocks, sand and mud that were carved off the land in Greenland millions of years ago and deposited into the ocean by icebergs. In some of the core samples, there were lots of shell fragments and microfossils, which will help the micropaleontologists accurately determine the geologic age of these records. Scientists even discovered some wood fragments, which made them wonder if Greenland used to be forested. When scientists return to their labs, they will continue studying and analyzing these samples for many years to come. Scientists also met other scientists from around the world as part of the JOIDES Resolution’s international mission, and they will continue working together for many years to better understand what happened to the Greenland Ice Sheet the last time it melted. Understanding the past can also help us predict the future, and I’m looking forward to reading more about the results of this expedition.
If you spent 2 months at sea, what would you miss the most? Most people onboard the JOIDES Resolution missed three things: friends and family, favorite foods, and having weekends off! I formed some amazing friendships with many people onboard, and it’s hard to say goodbye!
Despite the storms and ocean swells, we arrived safely back to Iceland. Just when you think the sickness would stop, there was a new type of sickness I discovered – land sickness! Oddly, when our bodies are back on solid ground after being in motion for a long time, it can take a few days for our brains to realize that our body isn’t constantly moving anymore.
