Arctic preparations on Wisconsin’s frozen lakes
Exeter’s Staines Medical Research Fellow, Dr Lukas Krone, is currently preparing for his deployment as expedition medic with the Svalbard team of the Oxford Centennial Arctic Expedition during his research visit at the Centre for Sleep and Consciousness at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Living in Wisconsin during the winter provides a unique training opportunity in cold-weather conditions. During the Arctic blast in late January, temperatures dropped to –28°C, university courses were cancelled, and some public services were suspended – yet the unusually cold weather provided an ideal simulation of conditions in a polar region. Training on the frozen, snow-covered lakes Mendota and Monona in Wisconsin’s capital, Dr Krone practised long-distance travel on skis and snowshoes, building both physical endurance and experience in assessing and safely crossing cracks and pressure ridges between the ice floes. Reflecting on his experience, he said:
“The human body struggles to adapt to temperatures so far below freezing. It is astonishing to experience how difficult it is to find the right pace at which the body stays warm, while the breathing rate remains slow enough to allow the air to warm up before it reaches the lungs. One also quickly learns the importance of covering every square centimetre of skin, especially on the face, as frostbite to the nose and cheeks is not uncommon when individuals underestimate the effects of these temperatures — something you don’t experience on a normal winter holiday.”
Dr Krone will support a team of five scientists conducting climate research in Svalbard this summer. Following approval of the project by the Expedition Council, the team has been invited to begin their work from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) station in Ny-Ålesund, the world’s northernmost permanent civilian settlement, starting on 6 August 2026. The project, which investigates the interplay between seasonal seabird populations and the freshwater ecosystem in the Kongsfjorden region, has recently received a Gino Watkins Award from the Royal Geographical Society.
To cover the remaining costs for safety training, equipment, and travel, all team members are currently engaged in fundraising activities. Support from the Exeter community for Dr Krone’s participation in this expedition would be greatly appreciated: you can support Dr Krone via his Go Fund me page.
