Juillet 2005
H.S.H. PRINCE ALBERT II IN SPITZBERG, IN THE TRACKS OF HIS GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER PRINCE ALBERT I OF MONACO
1906 – 2006 : the adventure continues
At the beginning of the 20th century, Prince Albert I, pioneer of oceanography and forerunner in the field of environmental protection, explored the unknown regions of Spitzberg.
In difficult climatic conditions, the Prince and scientists on board his ship made an inventory of marine life and took meteorological and photographic readings in order to study the movements of the ice floe and glaciers.
From 25 to 31 July 2005, H.S.H. Prince Albert II visited the same places as his illustrious ancestor during his campaigns, in particular the glaciers «Lillihöök» and «Monaco».
http://www.monaco.gouv.mc/Dataweb/Actus.nsf/f22b0d423f072d3e88256a31006acb36/252894b0650715e1c1257058004bd565/Body/26.176!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=jpg
S.A.S. le Prince Albert II devant le Glacier "Lillyhöök"
Through photographs from the period, Prince Albert II was able to see for himself the consequences of global warming, the front of the Lillihöök glacier has receded by six kilometres, specialists estimate that almost 40 % of its volume has melted in one century
During this expedition, His Most Serene Highness invited a team of scientists specialised in the pole to accompany him, composed of Mrs Samantha Smith, who directs the WWF «Arctic Programme», Mr Roberto Cassi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (Marine Environment Laboratory) and Professor Jean Jaubert of the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.
The main scientific objectives of this expedition were :
* To study the accumulation of pollutants exported by industrialised countries in certain marine organisms, representative of the food chain, in order to better evaluate the threat that this pollution poses for arctic ecosystems and populations;
* To measure tracers imprisoned in the growth rings of the shells of certain molluscs with a very long lifespan, to reconstruct the exact evolution of the climate over the last two centuries.
The plankton organisms were captured in nets whereas animals living at the bottom were collected by divers who ventured into the icy waters adjoining the ice floe.
During this trip, Prince Albert II and the members of his expedition were able to observe a varied fauna including polar bears, walruses, seals, as well as numerous birds, such as guillemots of Troil and Brunnich, monk puffins and little auks.
They travelled more than 670 nautical miles (about 1,200 kilometres) around the archipelago; the latitude of 80° north and 36' minutes was reached.
H.S.H. Prince Albert II would like to return to this region of the world.
From 10 to 19 April 2006, he will attempt to reach the North Pole with huskies, from the Russian base of Borneo about a hundred kilometres away.
A press conference, in the presence of His Most Serene Highness as well as members of the future expedition, will take place at the Oceanographic Museum on 28 November 2005 at which further details will be given.
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