Previous Expeditions
The Arctic Research Group’s expeditions have a strong focus on the environment. From climate change’s effects on glaciers to plastic pollution of the oceans, we have made environmental research a driving force of the ARG since its foundation in 1988 and its first expedition in 1989. Since then a further thirteen expeditions have been carried out to many parts of the remote and beautiful Svalbard archipelago.
Expeditions
1993
1990
Rindersbukta Paulabre
1991
Rindersbukta Paulabre
Van-Mijenfjorden & Rindersbukta
1994
Van-Mijenfjorden
1994
Rindersbukta & Van Kuelenfjorden
1996
Van Muydenbukta, Bellsund
1999
Ny Ålesund
2017
Bockfjorden
2016
Longyearbyen
2023
Recherchefjorden, Svalbard
1992
Rindersbukta Paulabre
2019
Bockfjorden
1989
Sveagruva
2025
Tempelfjorden, Svalbard
The 2025 Arctic Research Group expedition to the Tempelfjorden area of east-central Spitsbergen was a ten-person, multidisciplinary mission building on decades of Svalbard experience, including revisiting studies from the 1983 Polar Exploration Group expedition.
The 2023 expedition to Recherchefjorden in southern Spitsbergen was a 10-person multidisciplinary mission. It included studies on plastic pollution (beach cataloguing), pingos (water sampling and field tests), archaeology (3D imaging and drone surveys), and factors affecting expedition team dynamics.
A five-person expedition to Bockfjorden in July–August focused on the world’s northernmost warm springs, including water sampling and analysis. The team also studied carbon balance in newly exposed vegetation from ice retreat, recorded and cleaned beach plastic pollution, and used a drone to search for lost hot springs.
Bockfjorden 4 person expedition to visit the worlds’ northernmost known warm springs and evaluate the region for further research opportunities. A commercial vessel was chartered to reach the area and was frustrated by unseasonal ice which limited the expedition activities.
A 2 person recce trip to Longyearbyen.
Ny Ålesund 6 person expedition to Ny-Ålesund looking into naturally occurring ground pollution and radiation, vascular plant species ground cover and species distribution, abundance and distribution of bird species and extended continuing Anthropogenic effects of camping on vegetated Tundra
Van Muydenbukta, Bellsund 10 person expedition around Bellsund & Camp Morton studying sub and supra Glacial Hydrology, Geological features, Anthropogenic effects of camping on Tundra and observing surging Fridjofbre
Rindersbukta & Van Kuelenfjorden, June 11 week, 3 person Van Kuelenfjorden plus 2 persons in Rindersbukta, combined expeditions between ARG and EU funded International Research Expedition working on both glacial hydrology on Finsterwalderbre and ice movement on the surging Paulabre.
Van-Mijenfjorden, April, 2 person reconnaissance to establish base for later Summer visit and revisiting the previously sited survey station to re-establish a sensible communication link with the satellite used for exchanging data between site and the UK.
8 person return reconnaissance to Rindersbukta, Baka surrounding area, repeating work on ground pollution at Sveagruva and glacial survey work. The ground pollution was from past mining activities. A reconnaissance trip to Pyramiden by 3 members was also undertaken in the hope that it might prove a useful location for a future expedition
A small party return to Rindersbukta to continue the glaciology work.
3 person revisit Rindersbukta Paulabre and Bakaninbre to re-establish surveying points and to record a programme for the BBC Radio 4 series ‘Science Now’, that was broadcast later that year
12 person expedition to Rindersbukta area working on Paulabre, surging Bakaninbre, Skoobre and a recently exposed esker, together with observing and assessing the effects of ground pollution on vascular plants pecies relative to remains of coal tailings in and around the mining settlement of Sveagruva
2 person reconnaissance to Sveagruva, Paulabre and around Rindersbukta generally, choosing suitable sites and assessing areas suitable for research work. This included a visit to Sveagruva and to several mountain tops in search of stable bedrock, not an easy task amongst the Tertiary sandstone deposits of the Carolinefjellet.
