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Nick Cobbing Photography

Nick Cobbing

A hole on the bed of a melt lake, melted into the ice of Petermann Glacier. The brown material at the bottom of the hole is referred to as 'cryoconite' and is of particular interest to scientists. It lowers the 'albedo' of the ice -the ability to reflect radiant heat from the sun- because its colour is a darker part of the spectrum. The cryoconite which resembles a sludge or silt, absorbs more heat than the surrounding lighter coloured ice, which causes the ice underneath it to melt deeper causing the hole formation.
A hole on the bed of a melt lake, melted into the ice of Petermann Glacier. The brown material at the bottom of the hole is referred to as 'cryoconite' and is of particular interest to scientists. It lowers the 'albedo' of the ice -the ability to reflect radiant heat from the sun- because its colour is a darker part of the spectrum. The cryoconite which resembles a sludge or silt, absorbs more heat than the surrounding lighter coloured ice, which causes the ice underneath it to melt deeper causing the hole formation.

Cryoconite deposits form a melt hole

Finger rafting in sea ice photographed from the air. Finger rafting can be described as interlocking fingers of ice and occurs only in thin ice. It happens when the ice is pushed together by action of the wind on the ice's surface. There is a threshold of 10 cm; above which the ice will raft, but not make the delicate finger pattern.
Finger rafting in sea ice photographed from the air. Finger rafting can be described as interlocking fingers of ice and occurs only in thin ice. It happens when the ice is pushed together by action of the wind on the ice's surface. There is a threshold of 10 cm; above which the ice will raft, but not make the delicate finger pattern.

Finger rafting in sea ice

Two glaciologists fit a remote camera on Petermann Glacier, one of Greenland's largest and most northerly glaciers. They will later return to collect the data from the camera which is set to make a sequence of single images at time lapse periods.
Two glaciologists fit a remote camera on Petermann Glacier, one of Greenland's largest and most northerly glaciers. They will later return to collect the data from the camera which is set to make a sequence of single images at time lapse periods.

Fitting a remote camera on Petermann glacier

A melt lake forms in the shape of a heart, visible from the air, a few miles inland of the edge of the Equip Sermia glacier that feeds into the fjord of Åta Sund near Disko Bay in South West Greenland. This one, measuring approximately 300 metres across, the tiny ravine at the top stretches back through the ice cap's surface. Photographed from the air using a tiny helicopter.
A melt lake forms in the shape of a heart, visible from the air, a few miles inland of the edge of the Equip Sermia glacier that feeds into the fjord of Åta Sund near Disko Bay in South West Greenland. This one, measuring approximately 300 metres across, the tiny ravine at the top stretches back through the ice cap's surface. Photographed from the air using a tiny helicopter.

Heart shaped melt lake

Ivory gull over sea ice

Kittiwakes in front of glacier

The Lance in Arctic sea ice 82 º N, photographed from high up in the rigging. This could be the last major trip for the Norwegian vessel, soon to be retired. She is an ex sealing ship built in 1978 in Kristiansund, Norway. She is well built and strong in the ice, but not technically not an icebreaker, so for this special project, deeper into the ice than usual, she has help from the larger more powerful coastguard ship. Right now the deck is crowded with boxes, cables and snow-scooters which are soon to be unloaded onto the ice for science work.
The Lance in Arctic sea ice 82 º N, photographed from high up in the rigging. This could be the last major trip for the Norwegian vessel, soon to be retired. She is an ex sealing ship built in 1978 in Kristiansund, Norway. She is well built and strong in the ice, but not technically not an icebreaker, so for this special project, deeper into the ice than usual, she has help from the larger more powerful coastguard ship. Right now the deck is crowded with boxes, cables and snow-scooters which are soon to be unloaded onto the ice for science work.

Lance in sea ice

Patterns made by melt rivers and pieces of ice that form the edges of the retreated glacier of Frederikshåb Isblink. Fast flowing dirty water which has churned up silt, then meeting clear clean melt water to make this stark contrast. West Greenland.
Patterns made by melt rivers and pieces of ice that form the edges of the retreated glacier of Frederikshåb Isblink. Fast flowing dirty water which has churned up silt, then meeting clear clean melt water to make this stark contrast. West Greenland.

Melt water ravine

The schooner sailing ship Noorderlicht, photographed from the mast, amidst broken glacial ice in Barclay Sound on East Greenland. The ship is home to artists, scientists and broadcasters who have joined an expedition organised by Cape Farewell. Together they plan to provoke debate, research and discussion about climate change -the organisation calls itself 'the cultural response to climate change'
The schooner sailing ship Noorderlicht, photographed from the mast, amidst broken glacial ice in Barclay Sound on East Greenland. The ship is home to artists, scientists and broadcasters who have joined an expedition organised by Cape Farewell. Together they plan to provoke debate, research and discussion about climate change -the organisation calls itself 'the cultural response to climate change'

Noorderlicht photographed from the mast

Iceberg castle

Noorderlicht with aurora

Kayaking on Petermann

Town of Narsaq through hole in the ice

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