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Bering Sea Benthic Studies

Hi Emily, After reading your journal "Finally the Ice" I was wondering how the ship's captain or scientists determine when the ice is thick enough?

Do they use some sort of depth finder?

Thanks Emily - hope you are staying warm and aren't feeling ill when the water's are rough!

Elizabeth Eubanks

Wed, 04/09/2008 - 13:53

Emily S. Davenport

Hi Elizabeth-
I spoke to Rolf Gradinger, one of the "ice experts" on board, and he told me that he will go up to the bridge about an hour before they want to go out onto the ice and watch the ice that's being broken by the ship. He looks for ice that is ~30cm (10 inches) thick or more- this is usually safe to walk on. You can see chunks of the ice turn over as the ship breaks through, so it's pretty easy to gauge the ice thickness from the bridge of the ship.
We are staying toasty warm inside the ship- outside it's pretty cold out there!! Right now we are at a deep station- 3000 meters. Stay tuned for a journal posting about this station!

Tue, 04/15/2008 - 18:44

Elizabeth Eubanks

Thanks Emily!
 Very interesting. Reading your journals really makes me desire to go on Ice Breaker!
Have Fun,
Elizabeth