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SIMBA Antarctic Sea Ice

Hi Sarah! By now you have been on the icebreaker for a few days. Tell us about all those first impressions and feelings you have experienced. What's it like on the seas? How long before you reach the ice ?

Stay warm Laughing

Lollie

Fri, 09/07/2007 - 09:57

S. Anderson

Hi Lollie - the ice is very beautiful. We hit our first ice yesterday and started our ice observations. I've got a picture in my journal entry of pancake ice that's really cool - so many colors in the ice, water, and sky during the day. I didn't think there were so many shades of blue and white! We've had to detour a bit...we're at Palmer Station on the Antarctic Peninsula. We're the first visitors the group has had here since June.The weather has been good - its never been too cold or windy to be on the deck (except in the Drake Passage when there were 6-10 foot swells!) - the gear we were issued makes you very comfortable. The wind will likely be a lot stronger when we are working on the ice, but I don't think it will be a problem. We rode in a Zodia from the ship to the station - just a foot or so from the water and large chunks of ice. Aquamarine blue water...the ice biologists are going to get a sample of ice with algae in it to analyze back on the Palmer. We're headed along the ice edge south from Palmer Station this afternoon - should be in ice now for the next 6 weeks or so.
Having a great time - learning a lot!
Sarah