Location: Latitude: 72.59 98 S Longitude: 106.02.65 W Temperature: -5.7 C Wind Chill: -18.0 C
We are in a serious work mode now. The test stations have been coming up about every 4-6 hours. That means a lot of people are working at all hours of the "day"! So how do you get sunburn in the middle of the night? Well, it is very bright even at 12 midnight. If you are on an ice station or working on deck, it is very easy to get burned. However, it's not just the sun- the wind scrapes your face when you are out in it. And if that doesn't get you, the snow that falls like ice picks will!
Midnight on the Oden.*
As I reported in an earlier journal, I have several jobs myself besides putting together these postings. You've already seen me on the ice (I hope to go again!). I also work with the CTD team, recording data as the rosette rises from the bottom up. The bottom depths vary depending on what kind of water samples they need and the actual depth of the water. Recording the temperatures, salinity, oxygen and depth where samples were taken is very important to the scientists using water. I hope to explain the process better during the upcoming Live Event. You will notice that we are wearing our coveralls- that's because the shack is on deck and its cold out there!
Lollie in the CTD shack recording data with Tish Yager.*
Let's take a look at what others were doing today. Here is Sharon Stammerjohn collecting samples from a rosette that just came into the CTD shack. Sharon is working as a Co-Principle Investigator with Xiaojun Yuan, Lamont-Doherty Observatory of Columbia University. They use satellite data to study ice-ocean-atmosphere interactions and sea ice variability to see how this region is responding to climate change. Sharon is here to do actual hands-on ocean observations using the CTD to measure temperature salinity and dissolved oxygen from the surface to the near bottom to produce a full vertical profile of key physical properties.
Caught you working!!* Sharon in coveralls with sample bottles in hand between 2 rosettes.
Next stop was Walker Smith's lab. Walker is a professor at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science/William & Mary. His project is designed to collaborate with Rob Sherrell's trace metal studies. Walker is interested in the phytoplankton that depends on metals, specifically iron. He is looking at variations of phytoplankton health in space and time. Grad student Glaucia Fragoso is assisting Walker in his work.
Walker logs data from last sampling.*
Glaucia at filtering station.*
I worked my way to the lower deck where a plankton tow was underway. This is the biggest plankton net I have ever seen! Agneta and Melissa recruited helpers to get this over the side of the ship. When it came back up it brought a small comb jelly, some krill, copepods and something they couldn't identify!
Where's the bottom to this??*
Kirsty and Melissa look in the canister to see what they have caught.*
What pretty colors! Can you see the little comb jelly?*
Last stop for now was the trace metal clean room. Grad student Eleni Anagnostou was so busy working that she didn't even notice me at the window. I couldn't go in because this room has to stay absolutely free of everything! Eleni is working with Rob Sherrell and Dave Hutchins.
Eleni works in the clean room- keep out!!*
We'll do another tour tomorrow- it's almost time for another work station.
Lollie