Science on Ice: How We’re Helping Climate Research

After months of training, planning, and dreaming, we had our why, we're raising funds for The King’s Trust. But we also wanted to do something more with this journey, something that could give back to the planet we’re crossing. And it was a conversation with Cat, the Modern Explorer, that really got us thinking deeper about how.

During one of our regular catch-ups, we started to talk about the historic era of polar exploration: Scott, Amundsen, Shackleton. Back then, these weren’t just daring adventures; they were also scientific missions. Teams would carry out complex experiments, collect data, and contribute to the growing body of knowledge about our planet.

We thought: Why aren’t more modern expeditions doing this?

Given Darren’s background, a PhD in Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, and former Data Engineer at Forest Research, it was a no-brainer. We knew any scientific angle to our trip needed to centre around data and climate. In our recent trips to Norway, we’d started to see the effects of climate change firsthand: thinner snowpacks, unpredictable weather, and stories from locals whose livelihoods depend on stable seasons. The impact was real. The need for better climate data, urgent.

Then, we came across an Instagram post from Ayuka Kawakami (@thepolarjournal) at The Explorers Club. She was learning how to collect ice samples through a citizen science initiative called Science in the Wild, led by Dr. Ulyana Horodyskyj Peña from the University of Colorado. That was the moment it all clicked.

We reached out to Dr. Ulyana, and to our amazement, she said yes.

Now, we’re proud to officially collaborate with Science in the Wild. As part of our expedition, we’ll be collecting snow samples along our route to study Light Absorbing Particles (LAPs); particularly black carbon, tiny soot-like particles that absorb heat and accelerate snow and glacial melt.

What makes our journey truly unique is that we’re not just heading to the South Pole, we’re coming back the same way. Most expeditions are one-way, which means samples are only taken once from any location. But because we're doing a return trip, we’ll collect samples from the exact same points twice. That means scientists will get a rare comparative dataset, something that’s virtually never been done before in this context.

What is Black Carbon?

Black carbon consists of ultra-fine particles (around 2.5 microns) created through incomplete combustion, from engines, wildfires, and fossil fuels. These particles are dark and absorb sunlight, so when they land on snow or ice, they cause it to melt faster than clean snow would. Understanding where black carbon is falling, and how much is present, is vital for modelling future climate impacts in polar regions.

Combining polar exploration with citizen science isn’t just a bonus, it’s a return to the roots of exploration. And we’re incredibly proud that Frozen Horizons won’t just leave tracks in the snow, but also data points that may help scientists better understand the changing world we live in.