Thanks everyone who participated in our webinar! We had a great time answering your questions and sharing some of our expedition with you.
Here we were - answering your questions and sharing our stories.
Our cluster of WATER DROPs watched from above
We have one last webinar coming up in just a few weeks - on Dec. 3 at 10 am (PST) - which is 7 am on Dec. 4 for us here in Antarctica (9:00 AM ADT (10:00 AM PDT, 11:00 AM MDT, 12:00 PM CDT, 1:00 PM EDT).
We'll share more details about our science and what we have accomplished. We'll also explain more about our underwater robot, SCINI, while we listen in on it being deployed in the water. Lastly, we'll share more about the history of exploration of Antarctica and further adventures that your WATER DROPs have experienced.
Register at the following link and we hope the technology works smoothly for you - http://www.polartrec.com/polar-connect/register
If anyone missed the webinar - you can see it online at http://www.polartrec.com/resources/event/antarctic-seafloor-ecology-tina-sander-0
In the meantime, here are some pictures of my underwater experience!
I took a WATER DROP from Nanda's ESL class at the Santa Cruz Adult School to this observation tube out on the ice near a hole that the divers were using.
I climbed down a ladder about 30 feet. Here the tube became a bit wider and windows all around me showed me the world under the ice.
The WATER DROP and I were able to see in all directions.
We could see for what looked like miles - at least 400 feet if not much more. Off in the distance we could see the flat bubbles from the divers racing to the surface. Their white tanks told us where they were with periodic flashes letting us know they were taking pictures.
While I was enjoying the view, Kevin and Julie were taking pictures and looking at critters like this giant volcano sponge.
Giant sponges are all over the seafloor.
They took this beautiful picture of soft coral, a sponge, and bryozoans.
Julie took this picture of Kevin photographing one of Paul's old cages. What will Paul learn from this cage that was put down on the seafloor over 30 years ago?
While they got the be up close and personal with the cages and critters, I could see the vast emptiness of the space under the ice. Watching them with so much space all around them, I could really see why some say it's like flying. I was also amazed that the bottom of the ice was a beautiful brown and green and yellowish mixture of colors. Kevin later explained that these are diatoms or algae that has grown because this area has thin ice and because it's been so sunny and warm out. Other areas are much darker and then the underside of the ice is not as colorful.
Finished with their work, Kevin and Julie swam over to the Observation Tube. Can you see me in the window near the ice? There's a weight at the bottom hanging down low.
Then Kevin and Julie swam over and I was really able to see them.
Running low on air, they returned to their hole and climbed up the ladder to join me back on the surface.
I stayed behind a bit to listen to the eerie echo of the seals and then climbed up to rejoin my team. What an amazing experience! Now I know why the divers love what they do and why Stacy and her team want to learn all they can about this vibrant, diverse world under the ice.