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A beautiful day in the Southern Ocean, or more accurately, subtropical Indian Ocean. The water temperature jumped by 4 degrees C in less than an hour during our transit from the last station to this one, as we crossed a branch of the Subtropical Front. This front marks the transition between the relatively cool and fresh waters of the Southern Ocean and the warmer, saltier waters of the subtropics. Between here and the coast we will cross several different current systems, including an extension of the shallow and warm Leeuwin Current and some deeper currents over the continental slope. In order to determine the net amount of water flowing between Australia and Antarctica, we need to measure these currents accurately as well as the true Southern Ocean currents that were the main focus of the voyage. We have been able to make up some time in the latter half of the voyage, so we will now be returning to Fremantle on Sunday, February 12.
Regards, Steve and Barbara
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.