Updates from the Ice

[Written by Elizabeth Leonardis for our old blog, So Civilized]

Alex & I had a busy week filled with late night election coverage, multiple trips out on our boat Bruiser taking seawater samples, and a night out camping on a nearby island.

President-Elect Barack Obama was by far the most exciting thing that happened this week. I would guess that could be said by most of us. I’ll throw in this Penguins for Obama photo one more time becuase it really seems perfect for the occasion.

Gentoo Penguins for Obama

Internet connection here is so amazing that we were able to follow the election coverage flipping between CNN and MSNBC throughout the night. We are currently 2 hours ahead of the East Coast so it was a late night for us. However, not nearly as late as years past, and with a far better outcome this time. Alex & I are REALLY proud to call ourselves Americans.

As for the science of the week, Alex & I took Bruiser out twice this week to collect samples. Everyday there is a volunteer from station who is assigned to assist us for the day. It would be pretty difficult to sample with just the 2 of us, you really need 3 people. One person mans the motor and tries to keep us as close to the designated station as possible. Another person (for now it is always Alex) lowers our bio-optics instruments and communicates with the computer. The last person is there to help Alex with lowering the instruments and dealing with the 100 meters of cable that involves, as well as assist him with the actual sampling. This week we took Russell (one of the cooks on station) out with us early in the week and had a Minke whale sighting, as well as perfectly calms waters. Our first whale sighting of the season. Then on Thrusday we took Amber (the instrument techinician) with us on much swellier day. Driving out there is no problem, but once we get out to Station E we are unprotected and just bobbing around in our little boat. The perfect recipe for getting sea sick. Fortunately, I learned my lesson last week and now take dramamine everytime we go out whether is looks perfectly calm or not. I think that everyone else will now take my lead on that one after Thursday. It was a beautifully sunny day though.

Alex getting Bruiser ready for a day out

me & Amber with the station in the background

That same day we had the opportunity to head out to Delaca Island and meet up with Scott, who had been out photographing all day, and camp out for the night. It was a perfect night, the sunset was endless, there wasn’t any wind, and the temperature hovered around -2ºC (28ºF). It really never gets completely dark here, the sun drops below the horizon around 10pm and then is back up by 4am. Delaca Island, where we were camping, was pretty incredible. The island is very exposed and rocky, which makes for some wonderful scrambling. Alex found us a soft snowy spot to set up our tents and we had a cozy night in our new -10ºF sleeping bags.

Me hiking on Delaca Island

Campsite photo taken around 11pm

Endless Sunset

Scott photographing the amazing sky

our noisy neighbor for the night, the Antarctic Tern