Journal Entry

Have You Ever Seen Calving?

No, not this!

No, not this! MooNo, not this! Moo

This!

Kronebreen Glacier Calving August 8, 2014Kronebreen Glacier Calving August 8, 2014

The glacier was quite active today and with some expert and quick camera skills, we have the following video to share. Prepare to be amazed! Plus, it is even bigger, grander, more powerful and just all-round more jaw dropping in real life. I wish you could all be here to see it, but the video will give you a taste of what it is like for us when we are next to the glacier working. This stuff happens all day long, but we never fail to stop what we are doing, look up and stare. It is pretty incredible.

Second Polar Bear Sighting!

OK, as we were doing our thing (you know, CTD casts, gravity coring, box core sampling, etc.) and intermittently looking up to watch the calving spectacle, Dominique, over in Julie's boat spotted a polar bear about 500 meters away jumping out of the water and onto the ice. The polar bear stood up and looked at Julie's boat. Julie made a beeline out of there while radioing my boat to give us a heads up. It was rifles loaded, flare guns at the ready, polar bear watch on as I also began to maneuver away from the area. Pretty darn exciting day if you ask me!

(I just have to say......I can't believe that all of this is happening to me!)

Kean with the rifle over one shoulder and flare gun in the other hand. Look out polar bears, this guy is BAD!Kean with the rifle over one shoulder and flare gun in the other hand. Look out polar bears, this guy is BAD!

Comments

Fri, 08/08/2014 - 16:05

Susan Steiner

just back from vacation and trying to catch up. wonderful video of the glacier calving...I wonder if the video is slow motion or real time? It looks like you are having an amazing time!!

Fri, 08/08/2014 - 16:11

Lucy

Well, THIS gets to me! What fabulous pictures of calving, and what a beautiful picture of my humane warrior--the one you want to go into battle for you every time, as you just trust him to find the right way out for all involved.

Fri, 08/08/2014 - 19:37

Jonathan McNeal

i want to put some of that glacier in my mouth- looks like all that calving would make me thirsty!!!!!

Fri, 08/08/2014 - 20:28

Peggy McNeal

Susan! The video is in real time...this is what the calving glacier actually looked like, except ten times more awesome in real life! This IS an amazing adventure. It is so good to hear from you! Thanks for the comment.

Fri, 08/08/2014 - 20:31

Peggy McNeal

Lucy- You said it! Totally agree. Plus he tells me he is a barista at Starbucks. What doesn't this guy do?

Fri, 08/08/2014 - 20:36

Peggy McNeal

You know, it's interesting- I take a water bottle out with me everyday. We are dressed warmly and working so I never really feel uncomfortable despite the cold. (It is probably 35-ish out on the ice.) But when I drink my water it is ICY cold and I realize just how cold it is out there! Also, I think it is funny that bottled water companies sometimes advertise as being pristine "glacier water" when in reality you can see how dirty that water is!

Fri, 08/08/2014 - 21:43

Bobby

Looks fun! You could have taken that polar bear down

Fri, 08/08/2014 - 22:10

Peggy McNeal

I'm relying on Kean for that, but on my own.....ya, I think I could take that polar bear down ;)

Fri, 08/08/2014 - 22:17

Jonathan McNeal

lol thats funny! wait glaciers are fresh water right
do you ever see any precious little baby seals

Fri, 08/08/2014 - 22:23

Peggy McNeal

BUT, in light of the situation, the best thing we could do was leave the area and let the polar bear do its polar bear thing. So that is what we did. We like polar bears and want to keep them and their habitat as safe as we keep ourselves.

Fri, 08/08/2014 - 23:28

Peggy McNeal

You bring up an excellent point. Glaciers are fresh water but the fjord is saltwater. When the glaciers calve, the icebergs float because ice is less dense than liquid water. This is a very unique property of water that we just take for granted- most substances are more dense in their solid form. But I digress, back to saltwater. There is liquid fresh water coming from the glacier as well in the form of sub-glacial and englacial streams. This water is less buoyant that saltwater because it is of a different density. So it floats to the top, bringing much sediment with it. These are the "sediment plumes" that we are looking for. Much of our oceanographic work has to do with how these two water masses are interacting with each other. As far as baby seals, not yet. We have only seen adults.

Fri, 08/08/2014 - 23:41

Stephanie

That video is amazing. It seems a little dangerous to be so close! AhhhI would be a total wimp in that cold so maybe your East Coast roots are a help.

Sat, 08/09/2014 - 08:25

Peggy McNeal

It's a little dangerous, but we stay far enough back that we can't get hit. The pictures are a little deceiving. The glaciers are so huge that you lose a little depth perception and we look closer that we are. Then of course, there is the zoom on the camera. As far as being cold, I really am not. I am perfectly comfortable out there. Here is what I wear when I am driving the boat at high speed (that is when it is the coldest): three base layers/pants on the bottom, 3 layers on top plus a fleece jacket, a buff on my neck, balaclava, hat and ear muff on my head, eye protection, gloves liners, plus heavy gloves for hands, 2 wool boot liners, wool socks and toe warmers on each foot plus a survival suit over all. They say that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear!

Mon, 08/11/2014 - 13:46

Guest

Peggy,I wanted you to know how much I enjoyed the glacier calving videos. I've watched them more than once! We saw calving years ago when we were on an Alaskan cruise. I remember the sound of it and how powerless you feel when you observe the power of nature first hand. Majestic and awesome for sure! I'm thrilled you are having this experience. Thanks for sharing!

Mon, 08/11/2014 - 18:28

Peggy McNeal

I agree! In terms of observing the power of nature, it is right up there with my storm chasing experience. It just blows your mind. Seeing pictures, or videos isn't enough to convey the majesty. I encourage everyone to make a trip to see this spectacle of nature some time in your life.