As predicted, the journey plan to Antarctica was evolving as dynamically as the extreme team dynamics data we expected to uncover in such an extreme context. The volatile Antarctic environment seemed to have transcended into the polar mindset. However, after months of preparations and several days of anticipation in Punta […]

Flying over the Kongsfjorden (Spitsbergen, Svalbard) is always an intense moment. This was my second mission for the project The greening of Arctic lake shores under the effect of climate change: a new hotspot for benthic cyanobacteria, yet every arrival feels new: the Arctic never looks the same twice. By […]

As part of our art and science collaboration in the context of the PolARTS programme from Swiss Polar Institute and Pro Helvetia, we (Pauline Agustoni and David Janssen) had the chance to travel to Southern Greenland for a three-week field trip from 24 June until 15 July 2025. For a […]

Lakes are complex ecosystems that host diverse microbial communities, with aerosols, water, and sediments each serving as distinct habitats supporting unique bacterial populations. These habitats offer valuable perspectives on microbial dynamics across spatial and temporal scales. Bacteria are the most abundant life forms in cold lakes, where they play vital roles such as degrading organic matter and contributing to primary production, making them fundamental to the structure and functioning of the trophic chain. Arctic lakes are highly dynamic systems subjected to extreme environmental conditions – including prolonged ice cover for much of the year, intense winds, and heavy snowfall.

A dream come true – after months of preparation and intense exchanges with Benjamin V. Gaglioti and Margaret M. Darrow from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, my trip to the last frontier finally started in May 2023. A few days in Fairbanks first, a big shopping trip to one of […]

Introduction TEMPERA-C is a microwave radiometer designed to measure microwave radiation from oxygen emissions at a frequency of 53 GHz. The resulting microwave spectra are used to retrieve atmospheric temperature profiles up to the mesosphere, reaching altitudes of approximately 60 km. During a test campaign, TEMPERA-C was deployed to take […]

Travelling across West Greenland is probably one the most unique experiences I had the chance to live. Sharing seven weeks of fieldwork in a couple of lines is not an easy task but let’s start with the beginning – the reunion with Brandon, my field mate and friend from the […]

Today, 11 December 2024, the thermometer on the Zulmart Glacier at 4900 metres above sea level read -30°C. Monitoring the meteorological conditions at nine weather stations scattered across the Central Asian Pamirs and Tien Shan from the warmth of my office in Switzerland, I was transported in my dreams to […]

The day began early with a knock on the door of a shepherd’s hut. A groggy shepherd appeared, surprised to find visitors at this hour with an unusual question: could we rent two horses for the day? The negotiations were straightforward, and minutes later, I was in a saddle for […]