Author Archives: Andreas Muenchow

Ruins of Fort Conger in the High Arctic

Posted on October 24, 2013 | 8 comments

Retreating from Fort Conger, the U.S. Army lost 68% of its men to death by starvation and drowning. They were delivered to the northern shores of Ellesmere Island within sight of northern Greenland by the SS Proteus on August 12, 1881 and were left with ample food and fuel to survive and explore comfortably for a years or so. Continue reading →

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Posted in Greenland, History, Ice Cover, Oceanography, Uncategorized

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America’s Self-Mutilation

Posted on October 5, 2013 | 1 comment

I am an American and I am infuriated that my country’s government is (a) unable and unwilling to balance its books, (b) unable and unwilling to govern, because (c) a childish minority in Congress throws a temper tantrum, and (d) parental and political leadership fails to lead, guide, and compromise. The shut-down of the U.S. government only serves those who Continue reading →

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Posted in Uncategorized

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Petermann Ice Island Breaks while Plowing into the Bottom

Posted on September 12, 2013 | 8 comments

The Manhattan-sized ice island that last year broke free of Petermann Gletscher in North Greenland plowed into the bottom and broke apart. Force equals mass times acceleration. When 18 giga tons (mass) of moving ice crashes into the ocean’s bottom 200 meters below the surface (acceleration), then something gotta give. And give it did, Continue reading →

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Posted in Greenland, Ice Island, Petermann Glacier

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Petermann Ice Island visited by Vagabond

Posted on September 9, 2013 | 2 comments

An ice-cube with a mass of 18 giga tons left Petermann Gletscher in the summer of 2012 and thus became PII-2012 for Petermann Ice Island 2012. The CCGS Henry Larsen visited and surveyed the waters, bottom, and ice of the fjord that same year. Since then PII-2012 traveled 300 km southward, grounded in shallow water, but continued its voyage south a month or so again. Last thursday it was visited by a 47′ sail boat called “Vagabond.” I just discovered the report by its Master Eric Brossier, Continue reading →

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Posted in Greenland, Ice Island, Wild Life

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Canyon below Ice at Petermann Gletscher

Posted on August 30, 2013 | 5 comments

The Grand Canyon of Arizona stands tall in the mind as the Colorado River carved itself into 6000 feet of rock. A similar canyon has been discovered in northern Greenland near Petermann Gletscher. The canyon without a name is buried under 6000 feet of ice, but its size and scale Continue reading →

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Posted in Greenland, Petermann Glacier, Polar Exploration

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