Keith Tuffley, a former Citi and Goldman Sachs banker and CEO of The B Team, is leading a crew of explorers, scientists and adventurers on an expedition across the Northwest Passage to shine a light on the Arctic’s climate tipping points. The team is collecting science samples, including eDNA and microplastics, and making a documentary about the voyage.
—
I am currently typing this from onboard my expedition yacht, the Abel Tasman, in the Arctic.
What brings me here? I am leading a crew of filmmakers, young scientists and climate activists on a four-month expedition through the infamous Northwest Passage, from Norway to Iceland, Greenland, the Canadian Archipelago, and finishing in Alaska.
Why? We are here to learn and discover more about the Arctic’s climate tipping points, and to undertake critical science data gathering.
Tipping points are critical thresholds in the Earth’s climate system, beyond which a small change or disturbance beyond a certain warming level can lead to a significant and often irreversible shift in the system’s steady state.
On this expedition, we aim to raise awareness about just how precarious a position our planet is really in. While many may hear about tipping points through graphs and news articles, few may understand what impact the crossing of these tipping points is likely to have on our planet, on people everywhere, and on the future of humanity.
On this journey, we hope to help change that.
On the first section of our trip – from Norway to Greenland – we have been documenting the slowdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). This is the circulation of water across the entire Atlantic Ocean and acts as a giant conveyor belt that transfers warm water from the eastern coast of North America to northern Europe. Part of the AMOC is also known as the Gulf Stream.
Of the six tipping points we are journeying through, the AMOC is the least visible but one of the most consequential. The AMOC has already slowed down by 15% in the past several decades, and there is a risk of a sudden collapse which would fundamentally change the land temperatures and climate stability in many regions of the world.
We have also been collecting scientific data, including environmental DNA (eDNA) samples, microplastic samples, and seawater temperature, salinity and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration. By measuring the salinity of the water, we have been able to grasp a closer sense of how much fresh, glacial meltwater is in southern waters of Greenland.
Whilst we have been collecting plenty of data, we are also collecting a treasure trove of experiences. One thing is taking ocean salinity samples, another is seeing waterfalls of freshwater cascade off glaciers and how local communities and wildlife are impacted by climate change.
The rapid melting of glaciers and icebergs is exactly what I witnessed when sailing across Disko Bay in Northern Greenland. The scenery was sublime, with thousands of icebergs protruding out of a calm, turquoise ocean. The Jakobshavn / Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier that feeds these icebergs produces 10% of all of Greenland’s calf ice, more than any other glacier outside Antarctica.
Yet, the idyllic scene was juxtaposed with the drama of its implications. In a fortuitous coincidence, it just so happened that we were crossing Disko Bay on July 22, 2024, the hottest day ever recorded.
We had never seen this scenery before. This scenery had probably never seen these temperatures before. We were in uncharted territory in every sense.
Of course, the trip has been far from blue skies and plain sailing. For example, we were heading to the very remote and desolate Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island in the world, to seek an anchorage in a protected bay. But as we sailed into a narrow fjord to reach this bay, we were suddenly hit by a very strong gale. As we tried to drop our large genoa sail, it jammed, and we started getting blown towards the rocks on the other side of the fjord. Eventually, we were able to dislodge the sail and avoid disaster.
Unpredictable winds, strong currents, icebergs, fast-moving sea ice, uncharted waters, and unprotected anchorages are all part of the experience of sailing through the Northwest Passage. The Arctic instills an unparalleled sense of awe and danger when sailing on a small vessel.
The threat of storms and the promise of bluer skies have hung symbolically over our entire journey.
This may all sound alarmist. But there are times when being alarmed is justified. However, this expedition has also given me an immense sense for hope and optimism.
The first hurdle in the climate crisis is simply understanding the nature of the problem. On our expedition we have had the privilege of working with partner organisations with cutting-edge scientific methodologies and technologies.
One such science project is with our partner, NatureMetrics, to collect seawater samples for eDNA analysis. This is the first time eDNA sampling has been conducted across the Northwest Passage. NatureMetrics will be analysing these daily samples in their laboratory in London to identify the presence of life forms, from humpback whales to microbes.
You might also like: Toward a New Global Approach to Safeguard Planet Earth: An Interview With Johan Rockström
With our partner, The Ocean Race, we are also measuring the quantity of microplastics in the water. It has been well-proven that microplastics can end up in the food chain. Identifying the level of these microplastics in the Arctic waters is important when we consider how deeply they have permeated the natural environment.
One of the most enthralling of our data collection projects is in the form of ocean acoustics. We have several hydrophone devices that allow us to listen to the cacophony of sounds in the Arctic Ocean.
I found myself listening to the scrapes, creaks, cracks and crackles of melting ice, on the hottest day ever recorded. On this expedition, I have not only seen humanity’s dance with our climate’s tipping points, I have heard it, too.
This next-generation equipment and technologies helps us see the crisis with new clarity. I am hopeful that this data will also enable us to understand the solutions with new clarity.
It is not only the scientific equipment and methodologies that fill me with hope but also my companions on this voyage. The range of experience in storytelling, filming, and scientific rigour is inspiring. One cannot help but feel hopeful in solving our climate crisis when surrounded by such energy and passion.
In the 1990s, I remember seeing former US Vice President Al Gore give numerous powerful speeches about climate change. My hope is that by documenting from the frontline of our climate crisis, we can help trigger the same sense of urgency that I felt back then.
To echo the United Nation’s Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, “Humanity is on thin ice … Our world needs climate action on all fronts – everything, everywhere, all at once.”
That is precisely why we have chosen to print one of the climate movement’s most salient images on our new gennaker sail, as featured below. The Climate Stripes, created by climate scientist Professor Ed Hawkins, are a visual representation of the Earth’s long-term rising temperature over time.
More on the topic: What the Warming Stripes Tell Us About Climate Change
The reality is that graphs and numbers can only communicate so much. While they may portray a cold, mechanic understanding of the climate crisis, they often fail to help us feel its severity.
It can be hard to understand how numbers on a chart translate to real-world impact. By using the potent image of the world-famous Climate Stripes on our gennaker sail, we hope to show what the climate crisis looks like in the Arctic, the epicenter of climate breakdown.
Climate tipping points are a scientific reality. But it is not too late for the world to avoid catastrophe. With the right combination of personal responsibility, political will, financial firepower and innovation, we can still hand our children the planet they deserve.
Featured image: Northwest Passage Ocean Science Expedition / Ramon Gonçalves, MEDIA.etc.
—
Check out the expedition’s official website.
This story is funded by readers like you
Our non-profit newsroom provides climate coverage free of charge and advertising. Your one-off or monthly donations play a crucial role in supporting our operations, expanding our reach, and maintaining our editorial independence.
About EO | Mission Statement | Impact & Reach | Write for us
