So I got on a ship and sailed away for a 40-day cruise through the Siberian Arctic. But where exactly are we going, and what are we doing? Basically, we're "connecting the dots" - stopping at pre-set coordinates to do a variety of science activities.
The sampling stations on the expedition. Connect the dots to form a crown - it's just like in 2nd grade (Map courtesy of Igor Polyakov, UAF).
During each of these stations, science party members are collecting a wide variety of data: water chemistry, trace element presence, organic compound concentration, etc. Some of the information is collected using a CTD (Conductivity Temperature Depth) apparatus. Other experiments involve testing the composition of the sea water using 24 Niskin bottles. Both of these are attached to a frame called a Rosette.
Scientists and technicians prepare the rosette for launch. The CTD is at the bottom under the 24 Niskin bottles.
Other scientists are studying ice flow and will put buoys both in the water and on the ice itself. One team is investigating the presence of Radium in the water, which involves pumping surface water into barrels, filtering the water, and then pumping it back over the sides. During several of the stations, technicians will set and recover moorings - a chain of instruments anchored to the sea floor that will collect data for the next 2 years. All of this takes tremendous planning and coordination.
The list of testing stations - 135+. It's going to be a busy 40 days.
Even more than the planning, the process takes flexibility. During a 7-hour stop, the captain had to position the ship so that the wind would blow it into the ice pack and keep open water on the other ice. Unfortunately, that interfered with another team's sample collection. They had to jerry-rig a water collection system, which involved several of us baby-sitting a pump so that it didn't freeze before the water was filtered.
Standing on the deck making sure the pump didn't freeze. Thanks PolarTREC for supplying the gear! #warmestcoatever
The captain was also worried that we could get trapped by the ice when we are this far north, so several of the stations have to be re-planned. Hence, "The Board of Lies." This is the daily schedule of stations and times for sampling and transit (sailing) and gets changed regularly.
The Board of Lies. They have to change this so often, we may run out of dry erase markers.
I woke up to help with the 5:00 am sampling, which had initially been scheduled at 2:00, 3:15, and then 4:00. It didn't happen until 7:15. Did I mention this was Day 1 of the data collection?!?
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