Clearing ice from the decks of the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy was a regular task for ship’s crew during a 2011 cruise in the Chukchi, Beaufort, and Bering Seas. Wintertime Arctic conditions were harsh; wind speeds topped 70 miles per hour, and the wind chill dipped to -40 degrees Fahrenheit, causing water-swept decks to freeze. WHOI biologist…