It was "kids in the snow" day according to Dr. Rolf Gradinger also know as the Ice Man. Today the ship was stopped for 6 hours in the perfect place for all of the scientists aboard. On the starboard side, where the ice was very thin, the scientists studying the water and bottom of the Bering Sea could do their work. From the stern of the ship, the helicopter took off with the walrus team to look for walruses. And on the port side was solid ice, perfect for Rolf, Brenna McConnell and 3 volunteers to collect samples from the ice.
To go out on the ice, one must have a purpose. Rolf and Brenna are studying the animals and plants that live in the ice. My purpose was to assist them with their experiments on the ice. Before going out in the ice, we needed to attend an ice briefing meeting with the Coast Guard to review the procedures. Next, we loaded the gear onto 3 large fiberglass sleds. Then we dressed to go out on the ice. Survival training emphasized the need to dress in layers. This would be essential as the temperature was minus -10 F. After deciding the under layers, we needed to put on a MSD 900 drysuit. It was a humorous sight watching everyone squeeze and pull on the suits. Since there is a zipper across the back at the waistline, we had to enter the suit from the back and work with partners to completely zip up. Next came the boots, finger, head, neck, and eye protection. It was hard work to prepare to go out on the ice.
Hands on rails at all times as we climbed down the steep ramp from the boat to the ice. Some of the ice equipment was lowered to the ice with a winch, but our equipment went sliding down the ramp by sled.
Walk slowly because it is steep.
First, use the auger to make holes in the ice for 3 different tests. Next, set the CTD instrument in one hole. The CTD is an instrument that collects samples of water and tests the water at various depths. Then use the water sampler to collect water at 5 meters to fill 6 bottles worth. Since the nozzle freezes, Brenna uses her bare hands to lift the bottom to allow the water to flow into the bottles. My job is to hold the bottles. It is a wet and cold job as the water spills over your hands and sleeves.
A mustang suit is good for warmth (taken by Marisa Guarinello).
Brenna is using her bare hands. I am getting wet (taken by Marisa Guarinello).
Then set the sediment traps. The sediment traps collect anything that falls down in the water like dead microscopic animals or plants and even the droppings from the small microscopic animals. Finally, drilling into the ice to take a core sample, a cylinder of ice. Just like an apple corer removes a cylinder of apple that includes the core and the seeds, an ice corer removes a cylinder of ice. The scientists saw the core in to disc-like pieces at certain measurements. We do 7 core samples. When the scientist return to the lab, they will melt the ice to examine what animals and plants live in the various parts of the ice. Did you know that over 450 different plants or animals live in ice? Most live in the bottom 5 cm.
The corer is a sharp and powerful tool (taken by Marisa Guarinello).
Did you know that the temperature gets warmer as you get deeper in the the ice?
I am using a temperature probe to measure the coldness of different parts of the core. (taken by Marisa Guarinello).
Just a pose- Not part of my job requirements (taken by Marisa Guarinello).
While I can say that I helped with most of the work on the ice and provided important and necessary support, my job qualifications were rather unusual. They included besides being on a ship in the ice in the Bering Sea and being able to dress in cumbersome clothing, the ability to strain out slush with a large flat ladle from an ice hole, an acquired skill, and to be able to open many ziplock bags with bare hand in the frigid temperatures. No gloves allowed except rubber ones as the lint will contaminate the samples.
A hole for the sediment collector (taken by Marisa Guarinello).
Dr. Rolf Gradinger stops working for a quick photo.
I am standing on the Bering Sea (taken by Tom Von Pelt)
Indeed it was "kids in the snow" on this glorious, sunny day on the ice.
Breaking ice in the Bering Sea, Deanna Wheeler 2009 PolarTREC Teacher