Preparing for the Arctic

Ice, cold waters, and research at the frontline of climate change.

In this episode of Expedition Skagerak, PhD student Wilma Ljungberg takes us on board the University of Gothenburg’s high-tech research vessel R/V Skagerak as she prepares for a month-long expedition to Svalbard.

From instrument testing and long shifts at sea to teamwork, seasickness, and scientific detective work in Arctic fjords shaped by rapidly melting glaciers — this is the reality of polar research at sea.

As researchers prepare to trace meltwater, carbon, and chemical signals through the Arctic Ocean, one central question remains: how do you prepare for the unexpected?