The Arctic explorers locked down in the Svalbard archipelago

Arctic lockdown: Adventurers Hilde Falun Strom and Sunniva Sorby have spent close to nine months in remote Bamsebu, situated in Norway's Svalbard archipelago, as part of the Hearts in the Ice expedition.

Ambitious expedition: The duo are the first women in history to "overwinter" in the Arctic without a male team member.

Temporary home: They've been staying in this wooden hut, which was originally built in the 1930s and used by whalers.

Canceled pick-up: Strom and Sorby are unable to leave the isolated location due to global travel restrictions.

'Citizen scientists': They spend their days collecting weather and wildlife data as well as monitoring clouds, sea ice and organisms.

Raising awareness: Strom and Sorby launched the Hearts in the ice project with the aim "to engage a global community in the dialogue around climate change and what we can all do."

Back to basics: The pair have been using solar power and windmills for electricity during their expedition and collecting logs to use for fires during the winter.

Extended stay: The duo have chosen to stay until September in order to continue their work.

Strange times: "We could never have imagined when we started this voluntary self-isolation, that the whole world would be in an involuntary isolation," says Sorby.

Staying put: Although they're looking forward to eventually reuniting with family and friends, both women feel they're "more useful" where they are.