Explorer Pictures Project Summary. The objectives of the research are to collect and analyse driftwood from Arctic coastlines to reconstruct ocean current dynamics, changes in sea-ice extent and relative sea level over the last centuries to millennia. We also expect to gain information on past climates during the life cycle of the tree itself through the analysis of growth-ring characteristics. The majority of driftwood samples collected are from east Greenland, Svalbard and northwest Iceland. Collecting and analysing driftwood from Arctic coastlines along the Northwest Passage will contribute substantially to our understanding of the ocean transport and temperature history of the area. Arctic driftwood originating from large river systems in North America and Eurasia is carried by ocean currents across the northern oceans and deposited on Arctic coastlines. The spatial and temporal transport and deposition history, and the tree-ring characteristics of the driftwood, represent an exceptional proxy record for environmental change over multiple spatio-temporal scales. We, Explorer Pictures, have planned a journey through the Northwest Passage in 2020 to locate driftwood. This work will expand the geographical range of a successful 2018 pilot study carried out around Baffin Island and West Greenland approved by the NRIB (18YN015). The study was conducted by the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) and the Tree-Ring Unit (TRU) at Cambridge University in the UK.The collection of samples will be filmed as part of an observational documentary by Explorer Pictures following three people on board the Balto. Filming is being organised in consultation with local communities, Nunavut Film Development Corporation and Arctic guide/consultant David Reid. The Balto, a small ship sleeping 12, will be used as the research vessel. The logistics of the ship are being organised with Milos Simovic who has previously led Arctic research voyages.The Balto will sail to the Northwest Passage for three weeks between 11 August to 01 September. The Balto intends to travel from Greenland to Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet) south through Prince Regent Inlet, through Bellot Strait, around Somerset Island, then north to Qausuittuq (Resolute). We will then travel east along Devon Island to Ausuittuq (Grise Fiord) and possibly further north to Tanquary Fiord or up the coast of Ellesmere Island. To allow for changing weather conditions, we need flexibility with our route. If ice conditions prevent the Balto reaching Ausuittuq we may need to amend our plans and travel south to around the Peel Sound/Larsen Sound/Gjoa Haven area. Depending on the changing situation with COVID-19 we can amend the route of the research vessel to avoid communities if required. We will be in close consultation with the communities and their wishes, demands and opinions will be listened to, respected and adhered to. The ship has capacity for fuel, water and provisions and we will have a medic on board to ensure we are self-sufficient for the length of the journey and not reliant on local communities.We estimate there will be ten shore excursions by Zodiac although the number is dependent upon weather and sea-ice conditions. During these excursions, we hope to land on uninhabited beaches at and adjacent to the locations shown on the Project Map. Flexibility is needed for sampling as the location of driftwood shifts, however, we will avoid any protected areas or national parks. We will be respectful towards the harvesting activities of any hunters and not attempt to land on any area where Inuit are hunting or camping. For the safety of both the project team and wildlife, we will not attempt to land in any area where wildlife is present and will maintain a respectful distance from marine life. Where driftwood is present two people will collect samples by removing a section of wood through the centre of exposed logs. The removal of wedges or slices will be by hand saw or chainsaw. Any residual cuttings or driftwood material will be removed and the site returned to its natural state. We will use hand saws as much as possible, reserving the chainsaw only when necessary and where it would have no impact on wildlife.The driftwood samples will be taken back to the ship and then to the Tree-Ring Unit in the UK. There the samples will be analysed as to age, provenance, transport-history and climate fluctuations using state of the art technology including radiocarbon dating, tree-ring counting, species determination, DNA mapping of selected samples and stable isotope tracing. The intention is to increase and expand on the data available to the TRU and SPRI. The samples will form the basis of an archive essential for answering urgent questions across the fields of archaeology, biology, climatology, ecology, and oceanography at a time when more data on climate change is urgently needed.