Heading for the new MOSAiC ice floe, Polarstern takes the shortest way to the area of interest: via the North Pole. On tghe way north, the sea ice is surprisingly weak, has lots of melt ponds, and Polarstern is able to easily break it.
US scientists say the world is heading towards a “seasonally ice-free Arctic Ocean.” Germany’s research ship Polarstern is on its way home after even reaching the North Pole through open water patches.