The research vessel, Helmer Hanssen, departed from Tromsø harbor on the evening of July 30. After greeting the new research members who would be spending time with me on the ship, I watched the stunning view of the fjord under the midnight sun as we sailed into the open sea. I was both nervous and excited about the journey ahead.

My main task was to process bathymetric and water-column data from the multibeam sonar, a method used to map the seafloor by analyzing sound wave reflections transmitted from the vessel. It was fascinating to check the data in real-time, and I occasionally saw characteristic landforms like volcanic craters and seamounts. I also assisted with work on deck when deploying air guns and cables for seismic surveys, which were the primary focus of this cruise. I shared this task with Luca, another intern student from Germany. He and I worked in alternating shifts, and when we switched, we enjoyed chatting about how our day had gone.

The ship's meals were traditional Norwegian fare! I particularly liked the seafood stews and fish cakes. It was fun to exchange stories about food culture with researchers and students from different countries. When Helmer Hanssen docked in Ålesund, I felt sad to say goodbye to those who were leaving. Ålesund was beautiful and has become a special place in my memory.

In the second half of the cruise, we continued the multibeam sonar and seismic surveys and began sediment sampling using gravity cores. I watched as a large gravity core pipe was unloaded through a hole (commonly called moonpool) in the ship's deck, and I assisted in photographing the samples and packing them into containers. Another task was to search for gas flares erupting from the seafloor by examining water column data, which contains information between the ocean surface and the seafloor. The study area was dotted with oil platforms, and it was impressive to see such massive structures out at sea! I worked the night shift, and although I sometimes felt tired, the sight of the oil platforms’ lights twinkling in the dark sea lifted my spirits. Toward the end of the cruise, Luca and I created a map using QGIS to display the seafloor topography from the multibeam data as well as the sampling sites and gas flare locations. I also enjoyed a fjord cruise as we sailed back from the survey area to Tromsø!

Now, I’m staying in Tromsø and experiencing a student life completely different from Tokyo. The town is very close to nature, and I can even walk through the forest on my way home from the university! At UiT, my task is to analyze seafloor heat flow data off Svalbard that was collected during a previous cruise. I’ve been working with my supervisor, Andreia, coding in Matlab to calculate porosity and grain density from sediment conductivity and density data. This area includes an ultraslow-spreading ridge, which is crucial for studying the relationship between the thermal structure of the oceanic crust and the distribution of gas hydrates.

Outside of work, I’m really enjoying my daily life here, too. My friend Anniken, whom I first met in Tokyo when she came to our lab as a GeoInternInternational, is also here in Tromsø. I’m so happy to see her again! Before the cruise, we drove from Tromsø and took a ferry to Vengsøy Island for camping. We picked cloudberries and blueberries in the mountains, cooked Sami dishes, and watched the midnight sun from the coast, experiencing the unique Norwegian way of enjoying nature.

Through this internship, I’ve made friends from all over the world. Every moment has been special and exciting, and I’m grateful to have shared these experiences with such wonderful people. I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved in the internship—especially Mr. Helge Vogt, Professor Andreia Plaza-Faverola, Professor Stefan Bünz, as well as all the researchers, students, and crew members who made this journey unforgettable.