Information
Comments
We are continuing working southwards, sampling along the eastern transect of the CASO circuit. This morning we deviated slightly to the west to avoid dense pack-ice that accumulates to the north and east of the Mertz Glacier. To avoid speending time pushing through the sea ice we have re-located the sampling sites so that they follow the ice edge southwards towards the continental shelf break. On each of the CASO stations we have occupied so far we can see a distinct layer of cold, oxygen-rich bottom water near the sea-floor. There is, however, a clear contrast between the bottom water measured on the western and eastern CASO legs. In the west, we sampled the bottom water formed in the Mertz polynya area, which is fresher than the water above it and particularly rich in oxygen and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). In the east, the bottom water is lower in oxygen and is much saltier, indicating this water was formed in the Ross Sea and has travelled west through the deep channel south of the Balleny islands. Regards, Martin and Sarah.
Map
A map showing Australia and Antarctica. The map shows the journey of one voyage that has occured in the season, with each route highlighted in a distinct colour.