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On passage conducting marine science. The sun was out for most of the day, the sea is relatively calm and the temperature is a balmy 7.2 C, compared to the last couple of days this is heaven! The beam sea and swell continued with us right up until around 0600 this morning. At about 0250 we were hit by a series of swells that, combined with a strong current going in the opposite direction, caused a number of 35+ degree rolls. This woke a lot of people up, not that there were that many asleep to begin with due to the sea conditions! The bunk ping-pong is really starting to lose its appeal this late in the voyage. But the sunshine today has brightened the mood and the calmer sea is allowing quite a few to catch up on some Z's. This may help reduce the number of people stalking the alleyways of the ship at around 0300 most mornings. Another successful CTD cast completed this morning and we are now on our way to Site 10, the second last site on our way home. The cast went to a depth of 3,000m in around 3,400m of water. All other sampling procedures went to plan and it was all done and dusted within about three and a half hours. During the night the ship crossed over the Antarctic Convergence, which divides the two hydrological zones of the Southern Ocean. The convergence is the area where the cooler northward moving waters of the Antarctic sink beneath the warmer waters of the sub-Antarctic zone. This was clearly shown on the ship's underway data display, which showed the rapid increase in temperature over 24 hours from 2 C to its current 9.1 C. The convergence zone is not just important for the distribution and diversity of the area's marine life but also has a significant effect on the air mass above it. Yesterday we were travelling in thick fog, which seemed to lift quickly in the evening as we started to experience the effects of the convergence. The study of the convergence continues to be an important part of understanding the weather of the Southern Hemisphere. The rapid increase in water temperature meant that our Krill comrades are now enjoying the pleasures of chilled recirculating seas water for the rest of the trip home. This morning as we were being thrown from our bunks by the roll of the ship, we made our closest point of approach to Macquarie Island, which past down our starboard side at a distance of about 300nm. All the best to the team on Macca, especially those waiting to come home on Voyage 5, which is the next job for the AURORA AUSTRALIS. Gary, onboard maritime historian, reports that April 2010 is the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Macquarie Island by Captain Frederick Hasselborough, aboard the Brigantine PERSERVERANCE. In recognition of his discovery there is a bay on the north-west of the island named after him. Sir Douglas Mawson visited this bay whilst embarked in the AURORA on his famous 1911-14 Australian Antarctic Expedition. All aboard doing well. regards Rob, Aaron & Mick
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.