What a busy day! First, Aslan dove to take some more light readings with a light sensor, to take some pictures of the experiment, and to retrieve Hal. We are packing up to head back to town. The experiment, so far, is a great success! Everything is working and buttoned up nicely. Ian attached the solar panel today, so the instruments will have power during spring, summer, and fall months!
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The solar panel that will be left out on the lake as a power supply
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Hal, with lift bag attached, ready to return to the surface
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The Shade Screens
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Two of the light arrays and one of the light sensors
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The three light arrays!
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Another view of the light arrays and sensors
Hilke spent some time in the lab finishing up experiments she has been doing with some of the mat samples we have been bringing back from the lake. She is trying to see if the model they have created to determine oxygen levels is accurate. So far - everything looks great! She will do more experiments back in New Zealand.
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Hilke has been busy in the lab. Here, she is putting a set amount of light on the mat and measuring its oxygen production.
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Another view of the direct light experiment
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Hilke has also been busy in the fridge with some samples! Here, she is exposing the mat samples to different levels of oxygen within air that has been pumped into the mats to see how the mat reacts.
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Hilke adjusts the probe that is penetrating the mat.
After the dive, it was pack up camp time. Phew - what a job it is to pack up all the gear to move out!
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Aslan returns to camp with the ATV full of gear!
Tomorrow we head back to town. I am scheduled to go to a penguin colony on Wednesday - I am very excited about that! I am also going diving in McMurdo Sound where there are numerous seals hanging around. The robot from Rye Junior High should get launched within the week, and the ENDURANCE is coming - stay tuned! There's still lots to do!
You can also check out my journals and pictures from previous seasons at: http://www.ryejrhigh.org/ellwood