Information

Report (sitrep) ID:
18352
Universal time (UTC):
01:30
Australian time (AEST):
12:30
Position:
65° 53′ S, 89° 20′ E
Heading:
NA
Distance in last 24 hours:
180 NM
Weather conditions:
1/8 cloud, wind 6 kts E
Air temperature:
+0.5 °C
Sea conditions:
calm
Sea temperature:
−1.78 °C

Comments

We passed to the south of the featureless icy dome of Drygalski Island yesterday afternoon, its summit in cloud. Minke whales kept us guessing as they popped up ahead of the ship every now and then. And then, just as we thought the weather couldn’t get any better, it got better. We arrived on location in mirror smooth conditions, and cruised through a fantastic collection of ‘bergs in crystal clear light. Our sounder has revealed canyon-like features in the seafloor. Three trawls have been conducted here, including a camera run which revealed very rough conditions on the seafloor below -800 m. Biological samples returned this morning have seen the species count approaching 500 for the voyage. There’s been a lot of interest from all on board, heading down to the wet lab as a trawl comes in, to see the amazing creatures that live in the cold depths beneath our ship. More of the same planned for this afternoon.

Regards, Doug, Aaron & Margaret

Map

180° 170°W 160°W 150°W 140°W 130°W 120°W 110°W 100°W 90°W 80°W 70°W 60°W 50°W 40°W 30°W 20°W 10°W 30°E 40°E 50°E 60°E 70°E 80°E 90°E 100°E 110°E 120°E 130°E 140°E 150°E 160°E 170°E 80°S 70°S 60°S 50°S 40°S 30°S 20°S 10°S 0°N 10°N 20°N 30°N 40°N 50°N 60°N 70°N 80°N Casey Davis Mawson Macquarie Island Heard Island Fremantle Hobart

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.

on