Wednesday 16 January 2008 à 16:33
Position of Aurora Australis
Sophie Mouge. Correspondent aboard the Aurora Australis
FROM: Martin Riddle
DATE: 16/01/08
REPORT (SITREP) NO.: 331
UNIVERSAL TIME: 0100
LOCAL (SHIP) TIME: 1200
AUSTRALIAN EASTERN STANDARD TIME: 1200
POSITION: -65 55.2, 139 18.3
HEADING: 357
CURRENT SPEED (KNOTS): 12 kts
DISTANCE TO NEXT WAYPOINT (NAUTICAL MILES): n/a
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24
HOURS (NAUTICAL MILES): 96.2 Nm
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Overcast with 8/8ths low
cloud, occasional snow falls, poor visibility, wind 6 kts from 290T gusting
to 10 kts
AIR TEMPERATURE: -0.2
SEA TEMPERATURE: 0
SEA CONDITIONS: Rippled
to slight seas and low NNW swell 0.5 m
ICE CONDITIONS: Isolated bergs and
occasional growlers, otherwise open water.
REMARKS: The run of good weather and cooperative sea-ice continues. In the
past 24 hrs a further 7 sites were sampled, with the night shift once again
completing 4 sites in their 12 hr watch. At mid-day today we had sampled 68
sites, one more than the total of 67 originally planned. We are now sampling
the first of the additional transects in to deep water over the edge of the
continental shelf. The sea-ice has been particularly kind to us - only a few
days ago the western-most sites we sampled yesterday were covered with
sea-ice and were inaccessible for sampling. The high resolution satellite
imagery available to the ship has been invaluable in making decisions about
where and when to attempt sampling throughout the voyage. 56 species of fish
have now been collected, with 16 species added to the list during this
second phase of CEAMARC sampling in the western sector. More than 40 rapid
spleen and cephalic kidney cell cultures have been prepared from a wide
range of fish species and the best ones will be used later for comparative
gene mapping. Primary fibroblast cell lines have been prepared from species
representing the most important families of Antarctic notothenioids and
successfully grown up for, as far as we know, the first time on board a
ship. These will be used for genomic studies on the adaptations of Antarctic
fish to their environment.
Regards, Martin and Sarah.
Wednesday 16 January 2008 à 15:02
Not all equal before the trawl.
Sophie Mouge. Correspondent aboard the Aurora Australis
Each time a drag net is hauled up on the trawl deck of the Aurora Australis, the entire shift is ready to spring into action, outfitted in orange combat suits!
Wednesday 16 January 2008 à 14:58
Data for the Aurora Australis
Sophie Mouge. Correspondent aboard the Aurora Australis
Position of the icebreaker:
- latitude: 65°35.519’ S
- longitude: 139°15.694’ E
Wind:
- direction: N-W
- speed: 15 knots
Water temperature: - 0.5 °C
Air temperature: - 0.2 °C
Atmospheric pressure: 985 HPa
Relative humidity: 96 %
UV B: 2.7 W/m²
Water depth: 440 meters
Sunset: 00h04 / sunrise: 3h41
Wednesday 16 January 2008 à 13:33
Knowing how to adapt!
Stéphanie Pavoine. Based in Dumont D’Urville station
Impossible to carry out an operation this morning. Finally we can work after lunch. The program on board has changed. We must be back in three days. It has passed quicker than I expected.
