Information
Comments
Our last RM Trawl yesterday at 1630, CPR#2 in, CPR#3 deployed. King Neptune came aboard after dinner, and inducted our first-timers south into his icy realm. It was a really fun evening, with the King and his briney crew in very fine form. The visit was deemed a very special occasion, and most of the ship’s complement repaired to the bar for a very sociable evening.
The ocean continues to be in our favour, and we’re making good progress towards our next objective, due to arrive tomorrow. We have five moorings on board to be deployed along a transect stretching from 62.08S to 65.22S, along the 113.3E line of longitude. The longest of these moorings is over 4000m, with a suite of instruments attached to profile oceanic currents. These moorings are being deployed by a group from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (hence, WHOI 1-5). We’re currently assessing ice conditions along this line of longitude to determine if it will work in with being our best approach to Casey or not. We’ll firm up on a decision as more detailed information becomes available.
Very little in the way of bird life in the last couple of days, apart from a group of prions accompanying the ship this morning, and a lone skua flitting by. One or two larger bergs last night, but otherwise, a fairly heavy grey ocean is all we see. A trip like this makes you appreciate just how much of our planet IS ocean, and when you also consider how much water is beneath our little ship (currently 4500m) you start feeling very small indeed.
Regards, Doug, Aaron & Margaret
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.