Friday 18 January 2008 à 15:54
Position of Aurora Australis
Sophie Mouge. Correspondent aboard the Aurora Australis
FROM: Martin Riddle
DATE: 18/01/08
REPORT (SITREP) NO.: 333
UNIVERSAL TIME: 0100
LOCAL (SHIP) TIME: 1200
AUSTRALIAN EASTERN STANDARD TIME: 1200
POSITION: -65 39.7, 140 32.8
HEADING: Various
CURRENT SPEED (KNOTS): 2 kts
DISTANCE TO NEXT WAYPOINT (NAUTICAL MILES): n/a
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24
HOURS (NAUTICAL MILES): 102.3 Nm
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Partly cloudy,
otherwise fine and sunny, good visibility, wind 7 kts from 60T
AIR
TEMPERATURE: 1.0
SEA TEMPERATURE: 1.0
SEA CONDITIONS: Slight seas and
moderate WNW swell 3-4 m
ICE CONDITIONS: Scattered grounded bergs including
one very large berg (~35km long) to the NNE, otherwise open water.
REMARKS: We are now sampling the second of the transects into deep water
over the edge of the continental shelf. This one is down the path of what
appears to be a drainage canyon based on detailed multi-beam imagery. The
sea-bed here is very rugged and the sampling is particularly difficult -
which is the reason why it was left to the end of the CEAMARC phase of the
voyage. There is too much risk of damaging the gear for us to have attempted
it earlier. However, the deck crew have done an excellent job of deploying
the equipment over very difficult terrain and we have been rewarded with
superb imagery and samples. We are again seeing many of the species that
previously were only found in the 'coral garden' reported down a similar
slope in the western sector. Here the diversity appears to be somewhat
greater as it is not so completely dominated by a few very abundant species.
We had contact with a second fishing vessel yesterday afternoon, owned by
the same company as the one seen a day ago.
Regards, Martin and Sarah.
Friday 18 January 2008 à 15:27
Parade of stars on the Aurora Australis
Sophie Mouge. Correspondent aboard the Aurora Australis
The popping flashes echo from a distance. Passing before the door to the wet lab, we are blinded by the dazzling and constant bolts of light that filter through the little window. The rumor that has been flying for a bit is finally confirmed: the stars are among us!
Friday 18 January 2008 à 15:20
Data for the Aurora Australis
Sophie Mouge. Correspondent aboard the Aurora Australis
Position of the icebreaker:
- latitude : 65°41.716’ S
- longitude : 140°32.699’ E
Wind:
- direction: SE
- speed: 7 knots
Water temperature: 0.9 °C
Air temperature: -0.8 °C
Atmospheric pressure: 982 HPa
Relative humidity: 80 %
UV B: 7.7 W/m²
Water depth: 623 meters
Sunset: 00h58 / sunrise: 3h47
Friday 18 January 2008 à 13:37
Final operations!
Stéphanie Pavoine. Based in Dumont D’Urville station
Thomas wakes me at 8h to do another filtration shift. The ship is moving slowly because of the Tubai. It pitches a lot. I finish my shift for better or worse, my stomach lurching.
