As we walked out onto the wooden boardwalks, sometimes through ponds of meltwater, we could just make out the polygons on the land surface. These are a distinctive feature of the tundra landscape caused by the frequent freeze/thaw cycles. The vegetation hugged the ground to avoid the harsh elements around it. As it started to snow, we stepped out onto the tundra surface. There, the research team showed us a block of soil they extracted to show the complex layers of roots and soils. The roots penetrate the soil, acquiring the resources the plants need. In some cases, these plants store five times more mass below ground than above. I held the soil to my chest and breathed in (you may have heard of tree huggers, but I firmly classify myself as a soil hugger). The team then let me kneel on the ground to insert my entire arm into the now empty hole, reaching down to touch the permafrost below. The ice below was not only cold, but completely solid. If I tried hitting it, I think my whole hand would have shattered. Despite my expertise, there was so much going on below my feet that I didn’t know about. The researchers have devoted years of their career to this region, as they discuss in the Sound of Science podcast, “The Unseen World of Climate Change.” The team is finishing up their decade-long data collection in the tundra in Utqiaġvik. Next, they are planning on using what they have learned here to test and validate their models in different Arctic environments.  

As we packed up to head home, I reflected on how all three experiments work together to give us insight into two essential ecosystems: peatland bogs and Arctic tundra. Both are key environments to understand how climate change is affecting our world. All these experiments will better inform our Earth system models to predict how changing climates will affect people and communities, like the one I got to know in Utqiaġvik. The success is bittersweet. While there are new challenges to address, it is also the end of our research in the community of Utqiaġvik. I am thankful that they regret seeing us go as opposed to rejoicing over our absence. 

Although these are my observations of the experiments, they’re shaped by the insightful people we met and talked with, the community we learned from, and the scientists who guided us along the way.  I am forever thankful for their time and dedication.