Log 1: April 17 2008
Log 1: April 17 2008
Getting ready to sail is almost as exhausting as being at sea. Preparations are well underway for our departure this Friday, with technicians and scientists working hard to make sure everything runs smoothly.
We all made the long journey this week to Punta Arenas on the southern tip of Chile, taking the scenic route over the beautiful snow capped peaks of the Andes.
We’ve spent our days fitting our Extreme Weather Clothing (EWC – see photo!); carrying and loading cargo including dredges and trawls for collecting samples from the seafloor; fitting and testing all the scientific equipment. The Towcam is safely aboard and is being assembled, the oceanographers have met to discuss how the water samples are going to be taken, and there have been general discussions about how science will be carried out on the cruise (be it chemistry, biology or physics). And there is time in the evenings to enjoy some of the finer aspects of life that we will miss at sea, mainly in the form of Chilean food and drink!
Next time: join us at sea!
All photos by Dann Blackwood unless otherwise stated
Flying over the Chilean Andes
A masked Polar Hero (John Swartz) and geophysicist Julian Pearce try on their EWC; from parkas to thermal fleeces, everything has to be tried on in a storehouse in Punta Arenas to make sure we all have clothes that fit, which will keep us warm in the cold conditions we will encounter on the cruise
John and Kathy carry coring equipment on deck
Winching cargo on board, from science equipment to food, we have to take everything on board we will need for the next six weeks
The Nathaniel B Palmer at dock in Punta Arenas, Chile
Maureen dispenses wisdom to the oceanographers on board (Kathy, Taryn, Maureen, Laura S, Kate, Laura R, Tina)
Discussing how to collect seawater samples from the CTD (Conductivity Temperature Depth) rosette (John, Kathy, Maureen, Laura S, Tina, Kate)
Laura and Taryn checking the sediment sampler, which grabs mud samples from the seafloor (Laura R, Taryn)
Kate demonstrating the pump used to filter seawater for silicon isotopes (Kate, Taryn, Tina and Maureen)
Working on the Towcam (John and Taryn)
Don Fornari working on the Towcam, which will take photos of the seafloor as well as seawater measurements and samples.