Moar photos from the Arctic

July 13, 2025 • 9:00 am

I’ll try to sneak some photos in as I have time; no guarantee that they will embed.  All wildlife and plants are from Svalbard.

Moss campion, Silene acaulis (this is not a moss but a flowering plant that resembles a moss):

A flower whose name I’ve forgotten. Botanists are encouraged to supply it:

A bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) on an ice bit:

The bridge of the ship, which is open virtually all the time, and which we’re encouraged to visit. The captain, who looks about 25 but is older (and with considerable experience) is second from right, Sarah, the expedition leader, is on the right, and there are several other people on the bridge watching various digital maps and readouts.  The ship is steered not by a wheel, but by knobs on the platform behind the captain.

 

11 thoughts on “Moar photos from the Arctic”

  1. The bridge of a ship is so immense as compared to the cockpit of an airplane. What a way to command a vessel!

    1. Earlier this year I got to steer a tug boat on Auckland harbour (NZ) using 2 joy sticks, one for each propeller. You could steer this tug so it went sideways with 2 monster diesels below deck powering it all.
      It is hard to get a sense of ‘chill’ looking at these photos when sitting in 30°C (86°F) which is what parts of the UK is experiencing at the moment.

    1. Hi PCC(e),

      According to https://www.bbcearth.com/news/the-worlds-tiniest-tree:

      Despite lacking a traditional tree-like appearance, the dwarf willow does produce a single woody stem that bears lateral branches, leading some to classify it as a tree. Although the jury is still out for others, as it does not grow to the considerable height of the more commonly known trees.

      I hope this helps.

      Note: I am definitely not a biologist! Perhaps one of the onboard naturalists could provide a more trust-worthy answer to your question.

      βPer

    2. Here’s an AI answer: “Yes, dwarf willow (Salix herbacea) is generally considered a tree, though it’s the smallest tree in the world, rarely exceeding a few centimeters in height. It’s also known as the least willow or snowbed willow. While it lacks the typical tree-like appearance, it does have a single woody stem and lateral branches, which are characteristics of trees.”

  5. As a field instructor of dendrology for many years, let me suggest that the word “tree” does not constitute a natural category with distinct boundaries. What’s the difference between a tree and a shrub, for example? In my labs, we covered all woody plants found growing in the wild in our part of Appalachia. A woody plant is defined as one that has a stem which remains alive above the ground throughout the year, including what all would agree are trees, plus shrubs such as Viburnums, and vines such as Toxicodendron radicans, better known as Poison Ivy. So, Jerry’s dwarf willow is decidedly a woody plant, and a member of a genus containing hundreds of species ranging in size from minute to 20+ meters in height.

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