Not every day is a good day even in paradise. News have been trickling on the boat about a very destructive earthquake in Christchurch. A gloomy mood filled the corridors and rooms of the vessel, as we remember the wonderful people we met at that amazing city. Tragedies happen daily around the globe, but we internalize and make them more personal when we feel a connection with the people and place. I was in Mexico City when a devastating earthquake flatten many buildings back in 1985 and thousands of people died (some unofficial numbers placed the death toll at 90000), so I have an idea of what might be happening in Christchurch. We all wish the best to people in New Zealand as they come together to rise from this terrible event.
Our own news are that we have been unable to do science due to heavy seas. We crossed a weather system with large waves last night. The captain deemed the conditions to be unsafe to deploy our instruments, so we spent large part of the night steaming randomly (not really) around the location of our first station waiting for calmer seas. Here is a picture of a wave breaking on the bow of the Palmer. Unfortunately it fails to convey the size of the waves, but I can say it was quite a ride.
Not a great picture fro showing the size of the waves, but it was quite a ride
And here is an e-mail from Jim that describes the Captain orders:
'Dear S4P Team, The captain has been notified that a second intense/quick weather system is hard on the heels of the one which brought us today's 35-45 knot winds. He is taking the ship to the ice in a more nearly protected area until the weather improves to the point where we can work. (My rough guess is that we will be about four hours from station position.) When the captain estimates that conditions may be acceptable for station work at about the time we would arrive at the station, he will leave the protected area. This protected area may offer some scenic opportunities, but please remember and respect applicable restrictions about being on the decks. I know you are frustrated and want to do what we came here to do. We'll get S04P started some day! Jim'
I am doing better than I though I would on these seas. Medication and sleep have helped me ride the two storms we faced last night.Here is picture of the snow covered Palmer before the seas turned rough.
It snowed on us part of the day, and then the waves arrived
We will wait until conditions improve to begin our mission.