Steffen Thomsen

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Steffen Thomsen is a pioneering polar researcher whose work centers on the development and application of unmanned aerial systems for cryospheric science. His primary research areas include robotic sampling of sea ice and icebergs, the ecological impacts of meltwater in Greenlandic waters, and the advancement of field-deployable technologies for extreme environments. Thomsen’s major contribution is the creation of the Ice Drone, a small, unmanned robot designed to retrieve ice samples from hazardous and inaccessible locations—a breakthrough that dramatically reduces the risk, cost, and labor of traditional field methods. His landmark 2019 paper on this system has garnered 26 citations, establishing a foundational methodology for safer polar sampling. By enabling more frequent and precise observations, Thomsen’s work directly addresses critical gaps in understanding how meltwater from icebergs and sea ice influences marine ecosystems around Greenland. His innovations represent a significant leap forward in polar robotics, offering researchers a powerful new tool to study rapidly changing ice environments while prioritizing safety and efficiency.