Decommissioning a remote research outpost.
globally coordinated support
Services provided
Expedition Planning Field Camp Management Aviation Charter Support Frontier Logistics Risk Management Instrument Demobilization
Every story has an ending. This story begins in the heart of the Arctic, where approximately 33 real-time sensor stations have been scattered across the vast icy wilderness as part of an international collaboration funded partly by the National Science Foundation (NSF) called the GLISN - Greenland Ice Sheet Monitoring Network project. These stations, designed to detect and study the seismic tremors of glacial earthquakes and other cryo-seismic phenomena, have been helping elevate Greenland’s seismic infrastructure from a sparse patchwork to an innovative network that will reshape how we understand the forces at work beneath the ice.
What began as an ambitious international venture—united through the efforts of Denmark, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Norway, Switzerland, and the USA—now faces the realities of budget cuts, shifting collaborations, and evolving funding partners. The challenge of scaling down portions of this project landed with PFS through the Battelle Arctic Research Operations (ARO) contract, with our first mission focused on demobilizing a station we initially supported installing, nestled in the remote Sødalen Valley of Sermersooq, Greenland.
“We take pride in fueling the spirit of scientific discovery by championing the thrill of exploration, but we never shy away from the behind-the-scenes work to gracefully bring a project to its close.”
Perched on the remote, rugged east coast of Greenland, far from any road or infrastructure, a GLISN seismograph station—powered by 22 massive batteries, wind towers, solar panels, and sensitive instruments—awaited its removal which would return the site to pristine wilderness. To tackle this mission, PFS dispatched two team members via chartered aircraft from Iceland. Against the clock and with limited resources, the team set out on a steep slope about half a mile from a tiny, austere hut and landing strip. Secured with heavy stones and steel brackets, the station presented plenty of challenges: from a combination of man-hauling gear to carefully dismantling the setup and transporting 22 hefty batteries (120 lbs. each) down the rocky terrain. Step by step, they conquered stubborn bolts, preserved precious data, and carefully removed the seismometer. Despite the logistical puzzle of moving the main housing unit, the trusty ATV made transport possible—though it took a few trial runs to perfect the balance. The team prepared for every situation they could foresee—and even a few they had not imagined. Little did they know just how essential a shovel and game cart would be: the shovel to dig the ATV out of the thick silt, and the game cart to haul equipment from the site. Without these unexpected heroes, finishing the demobilization would have been impossible. In the end, the project was a resounding success, equipping PFS with invaluable insights into remote operations and field equipment handling.
Elsewhere on the Greenland Ice Sheet and along the island's coasts, other GLISN stations remain active, revealing the hidden forces shaping the world of glaciers and feeding data to assist with understanding the pulse of a changing climate. This project goes beyond gathering data—it opens doors to groundbreaking discoveries and strengthens our bond with Earth’s essential ecosystems. Although we closed the chapter on the Sødalen station with its successful removal, the experience brought invaluable insights that will pave the way for future missions. With each end, a new journey unfolds.
