Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 07/19/2008 - 03:44
Forums
Ocean Dynamics Beaufort Sea

Hi, Gerty,

I am looking forward to your posts!

I am curious about the mosquitos. All of you look pretty bundled up in the photo, so I am assuming that the temp. was brisk, yet you were plagued by mosquitos. I thought that mosquitos needed warm weather. Can you explain more?

I know that you are now on the boat. Do you have your own little cabin, or do you share? Any problems with sea-sickness?

How does the boat handle five weeks' worth of trash and waste? And what about fresh water? Are there tanks for water on board, and are you encouraged to ration what you use? What happens if the water runs low?

Have you seen any large sea beasts yet? Whales? Polar bears? Seals?

Best,

Marty

Sun, 07/20/2008 - 04:10

Gerty Ward

Hello Marty! Thank you for following along. Your questions:1) We are bundled up to keep off the bugs! It was not chilly but any exposed body part would be subjected to bites. I asked Alice Orlich, a Fairbanks resident on the boat, about the bugs. Mosquito eggs can survive almost anything. The growing season is very short on the Arctic tundra so they make the most of it, hatching all at once with a vengeance. While it is better for female mosquitoes to have a blood source, it is not required. Hence the zillions and zillions of mosquitoes.
2) I share a cabin with a veteran Arctic researcher, Kristina Brown. She is full of very useful info such as keeping a hat and mits inside your warmest coat so in the event of a drill or emergency you are fully prepared.
3) No problems with seasickness! We are currently in "first year ice" that breaks up quite easily. The motion is actually restful and soporophic.
4) The trash is burned, except batteries and aerosols. I have not yet learned about the water system. We do have plenty, though we are asked not to waste.
5) We have seen seals from afar.
It is all quite amazing!
Gerty