Daan van den Broek
@daanvandenbroek.com
Researcher @ Finnish Meteorological Institute
Freelance Writer
MSc in Atmospheric Sciences, University of Helsinki
www.daanvandenbroek.com
Main interests: Meteorology | Climate | Polar Regions | Nature | Energy Transition
Opinions & views are my own
Freelance Writer
MSc in Atmospheric Sciences, University of Helsinki
www.daanvandenbroek.com
Main interests: Meteorology | Climate | Polar Regions | Nature | Energy Transition
Opinions & views are my own
I’m grateful for the support of those institutes, as well as the Italians who warmly welcomed me at their station. Together with the logistical support of the MZS, they made our field campaign possible.
🧵(18/18)
🧵(18/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
I’m grateful for the support of those institutes, as well as the Italians who warmly welcomed me at their station. Together with the logistical support of the MZS, they made our field campaign possible.
🧵(18/18)
🧵(18/18)
Polarin funded our campaign, while the Italian Antarctic Program (PNRA) supported our stay and scientific work in and around the Mario Zucchelli Station.
#PolarinAmbassador
🧵(17/18)
#PolarinAmbassador
🧵(17/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Polarin funded our campaign, while the Italian Antarctic Program (PNRA) supported our stay and scientific work in and around the Mario Zucchelli Station.
#PolarinAmbassador
🧵(17/18)
#PolarinAmbassador
🧵(17/18)
I’m looking forward to analyze the data we gathered in the upcoming months.
A sneak peek: the highest temperature our weather station on the Nansen Ice Sheet measured so far is 5.6°C, quite warm!
🧵(16/18)
A sneak peek: the highest temperature our weather station on the Nansen Ice Sheet measured so far is 5.6°C, quite warm!
🧵(16/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
I’m looking forward to analyze the data we gathered in the upcoming months.
A sneak peek: the highest temperature our weather station on the Nansen Ice Sheet measured so far is 5.6°C, quite warm!
🧵(16/18)
A sneak peek: the highest temperature our weather station on the Nansen Ice Sheet measured so far is 5.6°C, quite warm!
🧵(16/18)
According to the experienced personnel at the Mario Zucchelli station, the melt during this summer has been abnormally high. This observation makes our measurements extra interesting and valuable.
🧵(15/18)
🧵(15/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
According to the experienced personnel at the Mario Zucchelli station, the melt during this summer has been abnormally high. This observation makes our measurements extra interesting and valuable.
🧵(15/18)
🧵(15/18)
While I was travelling back home, they went down to Mario Zucchelli Station for the 2nd half of our campaign.
They will be down in the Antarctic for another few weeks.
🧵(14/18)
They will be down in the Antarctic for another few weeks.
🧵(14/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
While I was travelling back home, they went down to Mario Zucchelli Station for the 2nd half of our campaign.
They will be down in the Antarctic for another few weeks.
🧵(14/18)
They will be down in the Antarctic for another few weeks.
🧵(14/18)
After spending 1.5 day in McMurdo, we flew back to Christchurch, where I met Roberta Pirazzini, leader of our WhiteIce campaign, and Anja Mödl, another PhD student on the project.
🧵(13/18)
🧵(13/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
After spending 1.5 day in McMurdo, we flew back to Christchurch, where I met Roberta Pirazzini, leader of our WhiteIce campaign, and Anja Mödl, another PhD student on the project.
🧵(13/18)
🧵(13/18)
It’s the 2nd coldest base on Earth, with an annual temperature of −51.7°C. Now, during summer, it was a mild -31°C.
🧵(12/18)
🧵(12/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
It’s the 2nd coldest base on Earth, with an annual temperature of −51.7°C. Now, during summer, it was a mild -31°C.
🧵(12/18)
🧵(12/18)
Concordia Station (also known as Dome C) is located on the East Antarctic Plateau, at 3.2 km altitude.
There’s nothing but a flat, white surface around, with kilometers of ice below the station.
🧵(11/18)
There’s nothing but a flat, white surface around, with kilometers of ice below the station.
🧵(11/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Concordia Station (also known as Dome C) is located on the East Antarctic Plateau, at 3.2 km altitude.
There’s nothing but a flat, white surface around, with kilometers of ice below the station.
🧵(11/18)
There’s nothing but a flat, white surface around, with kilometers of ice below the station.
🧵(11/18)
On December 14th, I left the Mario Zucchelli Station.
Next destination: the McMurdo base. I was extremely lucky, as we stopped by the French-Italian Concordia station on the way out to McMurdo. 🇫🇷🇮🇹
🧵(10/18)
Next destination: the McMurdo base. I was extremely lucky, as we stopped by the French-Italian Concordia station on the way out to McMurdo. 🇫🇷🇮🇹
🧵(10/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
On December 14th, I left the Mario Zucchelli Station.
Next destination: the McMurdo base. I was extremely lucky, as we stopped by the French-Italian Concordia station on the way out to McMurdo. 🇫🇷🇮🇹
🧵(10/18)
Next destination: the McMurdo base. I was extremely lucky, as we stopped by the French-Italian Concordia station on the way out to McMurdo. 🇫🇷🇮🇹
🧵(10/18)
… We took ice samples, and measured the vertical temperature and density profile of the ice, among other things.
🧵(9/18)
🧵(9/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
… We took ice samples, and measured the vertical temperature and density profile of the ice, among other things.
🧵(9/18)
🧵(9/18)
We mapped the surface with drones….'
🧵(8/18)
🧵(8/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
We mapped the surface with drones….'
🧵(8/18)
🧵(8/18)
On consequent visits to the Nansen Ice Sheet, we downloaded the data from those stations, and did many other kinds of measurements. 👇
🧵(7/18)
🧵(7/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
On consequent visits to the Nansen Ice Sheet, we downloaded the data from those stations, and did many other kinds of measurements. 👇
🧵(7/18)
🧵(7/18)
During our first days in the field, we installed two continuously monitoring weather and radiation stations, powered by solar power and batteries. In the Antarctic summer, the sun shines 24h per day. ☀️
🧵(6/18)
🧵(6/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
During our first days in the field, we installed two continuously monitoring weather and radiation stations, powered by solar power and batteries. In the Antarctic summer, the sun shines 24h per day. ☀️
🧵(6/18)
🧵(6/18)
To increase our understanding on the SSL and how it forms, we performed a wide range of measurements.
A week after arrival, the weather finally allowed us a window to get to the Nansen Ice Sheet, our research area for the WhiteIce campaign.
🧵(5/18)
A week after arrival, the weather finally allowed us a window to get to the Nansen Ice Sheet, our research area for the WhiteIce campaign.
🧵(5/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
To increase our understanding on the SSL and how it forms, we performed a wide range of measurements.
A week after arrival, the weather finally allowed us a window to get to the Nansen Ice Sheet, our research area for the WhiteIce campaign.
🧵(5/18)
A week after arrival, the weather finally allowed us a window to get to the Nansen Ice Sheet, our research area for the WhiteIce campaign.
🧵(5/18)
Because while most ice and snow surfaces become darker as they melt, some ice sheets and glaciers - like the Nansen ice sheet – see an increase in the albedo during the melting season.
This is due to the formation of the so-called surface scattering layer (SSL).
🧵(4/18)
This is due to the formation of the so-called surface scattering layer (SSL).
🧵(4/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Because while most ice and snow surfaces become darker as they melt, some ice sheets and glaciers - like the Nansen ice sheet – see an increase in the albedo during the melting season.
This is due to the formation of the so-called surface scattering layer (SSL).
🧵(4/18)
This is due to the formation of the so-called surface scattering layer (SSL).
🧵(4/18)
The aim of our WhiteIce campaign is to get a better understanding of the ice surface on Antarctic ice sheets and glaciers during the melting period.
🧵(3/18)
🧵(3/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
The aim of our WhiteIce campaign is to get a better understanding of the ice surface on Antarctic ice sheets and glaciers during the melting period.
🧵(3/18)
🧵(3/18)
On November 21st I reached the Mario Zucchelli Station (MZS) 🇮🇹 from New Zealand, just days after a long trip from Helsinki to Christchurch.
🧵(2/18)
🧵(2/18)
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
On November 21st I reached the Mario Zucchelli Station (MZS) 🇮🇹 from New Zealand, just days after a long trip from Helsinki to Christchurch.
🧵(2/18)
🧵(2/18)
This nice visual shows daily global temperatures for each year since the start of measurements.
Temps in 2023 & 2024 were clearly affected by the strong El Niño.
The 2nd half of 2025 was cooler, when the Pacific Ocean shifted to a more La Niña-like state.
Temps in 2023 & 2024 were clearly affected by the strong El Niño.
The 2nd half of 2025 was cooler, when the Pacific Ocean shifted to a more La Niña-like state.
January 14, 2026 at 5:02 AM
This nice visual shows daily global temperatures for each year since the start of measurements.
Temps in 2023 & 2024 were clearly affected by the strong El Niño.
The 2nd half of 2025 was cooler, when the Pacific Ocean shifted to a more La Niña-like state.
Temps in 2023 & 2024 were clearly affected by the strong El Niño.
The 2nd half of 2025 was cooler, when the Pacific Ocean shifted to a more La Niña-like state.
Also closer to the Finnish capital Helsinki, storm damage caused by storm Hannes is still visible. This was Nuuksio National Park, yesterday.
🧵 (2/2)
🧵 (2/2)
January 12, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Also closer to the Finnish capital Helsinki, storm damage caused by storm Hannes is still visible. This was Nuuksio National Park, yesterday.
🧵 (2/2)
🧵 (2/2)
In Southern-Finland, the start of the year is also extremely cold, although temperatures are much less extreme - and clearly away from record levels - compared to Lapland.
January 10, 2026 at 1:45 PM
In Southern-Finland, the start of the year is also extremely cold, although temperatures are much less extreme - and clearly away from record levels - compared to Lapland.