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More than 1500 kilometers ice crossing interior of Greenland, using exclusively wind and solar energy. An 8-person team to develop the zero-impact expedition for extreme polar conditions, to explore the inaccessible Greenlandic ice cap, to find out more about the climate change and ice conditions.
Everything without using a single engine, but only thanks to the huge kite pulling the 3-tons sled developed by the Spanish Polar explorer Ramón Larramendi. “The expedition is now over, and it has been a wonderful and very complex adventure. We have collected several scientific data, also thanks to the active participation of of the Istituto di Scienze Polari (Institute of Polar Sciences) of the National Research Council of Italy (Cnr), the University of Maine´s Climate Change Institute (USA) and the Universidad Autónoma of Madrid.
Among the scientific programs operated during the journey, WindSled 2024’s team has provided all the activities needed to perform several experiments such as “Snow Samples” (to elucidate the role of melt dynamics and snow cover trends on the accumulation of pollutants), “PIONEER project” (to develop low-cost sensor (LCS) wireless networks technologies for environmental monitoring of remote areas of the Planet), “MicroAirPolar Project” (to study micro-organisms in the air, provided by University of Madrid’s researchers, and “Monitoring and detection of PFAS”, operated by Climate Change Institute (CCI), University of Maine. The WindSled project began 25 years ago, and the Arctic and Greenland have changed a lot since then. The sea ice extent has decreased considerably, while rising temperatures have been melted the frozen ground, the “permafrost”, contributing to increase the CO2 and methane emissions.
“SOS Arctic – WindSled 2024 has been a great new expedition, together with important research centres of several countries. We are now going to decript the scientific data we have collected during this exciting experience, and above all we must enlighten how we’ve been able to get them. Inuit WindSled is the first wind-powered vehicle in the World to cross Antarctica and the Arctic, and we have demonstrated again that a zero-impact scientific research expedition is possible. It is very hard, and nothing is easy to manage in places like the Greenlandic ice cap. But we have done it again, and Inuit WindSled – designed to be a premier mobile base for both national and international polar research efforts, including those conducted by universities across the globe – offers an eco-friendly solution for scientists and researchers to carry out their projects in the untouched territories of the polar regions. A milestone in the next future research expeditions”, Ramón Larramendi stated.
The expedition has been supported by several international entities such as Gruppo Sella, Sella SGR, Banca Patrimoni Sella & C., Italian National Council of Researches – thanks to the Programma di Ricerca Artico (Arctic Research Program) and the commitment of the Istituto di Scienze Polari (Institute of Polar Sciences) – Terre Polari, together with LCE – Life Cycle Engineering and MAS – Management Around Sports, with the official Media Partnership of Osservatorio Artico.
Ramón Hernando de Larramendi, born in Madrid in 1965, is an experienced polar explorer. He traveled more than 40,000km in the polar territories, and was the protagonist of an unparalleled adventure such as the Circumpolar Expedition of 1990: for three years, from 12 February 1990 to 25 March 1993, Larramendi traveled 14,000 km, from Greenland to Alaska, through the Northwest Passage thanks to dog sleds and kayaks. In this circumpolar expedition he reached the Geomagnetic North Pole at the age of 25, thus becoming the youngest explorer to do so, of which SOS Arctic 2024 has been another milestone to be developed more and more in the future of Polar exploration and scientific global research about climate change and pollution.
This expedition is incredibly ambitious and timely! Using wind and solar energy for such a challenging journey demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability. I’m eager to see how your team navigates the extreme conditions while minimizing environmental impact. Best of luck!
This project is a fantastic way to combine adventure with environmental research. Your focus on sustainability is crucial in today’s climate crisis. I’d love to see updates on how your team adapts to the unpredictable weather of Greenland!
Hats off to this 8-person team for embarking on such an ambitious project! Utilizing renewable energy sources for a polar expedition is a game changer. This effort not only aids in understanding the climate crisis but also demonstrates the power of collaboration and innovation in facing global challenges.
This expedition is a remarkable blend of innovation and sustainability! Crossing over 1500 kilometers of ice using only wind and solar energy showcases what can be achieved when we combine cutting-edge technology with a commitment to our planet. Kudos to the team for taking such a bold step in climate research!
Wow, what an incredible adventure! Crossing over 1500 kilometers of ice using just wind and solar energy sounds like a true testament to innovation and teamwork. Can’t wait to hear more about your findings on the Greenlandic ice cap!
This is such an inspiring initiative! Using wind and solar energy for an ice crossing is not just ambitious but also a great way to highlight the importance of sustainability. Good luck to the whole team!
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Wow, that sounds absolutely epic! 🌍💨 Crossing over 1500 kilometers of ice in Greenland using just wind and solar energy? Talk about going green in the most extreme conditions! 🥶 Can’t wait to hear all about the adventures of your 8-person team and what you discover about the ice cap and climate change. Keep us posted on your journey—this is going to be one for the history books! 🙌❄️