Sunday 20 January 2008 à 18:25
Crustaceans in Antarctica?
Sophie Mouge. Correspondent aboard the Aurora Australis
My name is Bertrand Richer de Forges and I am a specialist in crustaceans (malacostracans). In these few lines, I propose to lead you on an exploration of this group.
Sunday 20 January 2008 à 18:14
Data for the Aurora Australis
Sophie Mouge. Correspondent aboard the Aurora Australis
Position of the icebreaker:
- latitude: 65°17.603’ S
- longitude: 139°52.812’ E
Wind:
- direction: W
- speed: 25 knots
Water temperature: -0.6 °C
Air temperature: -1 °C and -20 °C in the wind!
Atmospheric pressure: 990 HPa
Relative humidity: 75 %
UV B: 2.7 W/m²
Water depth: 2,750 meters
Sunset: 23h42 / sunrise: 04h01
Sunday 20 January 2008 à 17:57
Immediate embarkation!
Philippe Koubbi. Correspondent aboard the Umitaka Maru
The team embarks on the Umitaka Maru. The ship is big! There are several decks with the different categories of people on the ship spread among them: cadets (student officers), scientists, sailors and officers.
Sunday 20 January 2008 à 16:15
Position of Aurora Australis
Sophie Mouge. Correspondent aboard the Aurora Australis
FROM: Martin Riddle
DATE: 20/01/08
REPORT (SITREP) NO.: 335
UNIVERSAL TIME: 0100
LOCAL (SHIP) TIME: 1200
AUSTRALIAN EASTERN STANDARD TIME: 1200
POSITION: -65 24.7, 139 50.7
HEADING: 329T
CURRENT SPEED (KNOTS): 4.4 kts
DISTANCE TO NEXT WAYPOINT (NAUTICAL MILES): n/a
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24
HOURS (NAUTICAL MILES): 70 Nm
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Overcast, visibility good,
wind 27 kts gusting to 30 kts from 275T
AIR TEMPERATURE: -1.5
SEA
TEMPERATURE: 0.7
SEA CONDITIONS: Moderate seas and NW swell to 2.5m
ICE
CONDITIONS: Nil, Open water.
REMARKS: Yesterday water samples were collected from 7 sites at a range of
distances from the large ice-berg using the Fast Rescue Craft (FRC). While
sampling was happening, the Aurora Australis maintained its position
down-wind and down-current to ensure there was no risk of the ship
contaminating the surface waters. These samples are to be analysed for
ultra-low levels of trace elements and even the presence of the ship's hull
in the immediate sampling area could compromise the results. Recovery of the
FRC was delayed while a mechanical problem was fixed. The ship then returned
to each of the sites sampled from the FRC and took a CTD sample to be used
to define the extent of influence of melt water from the iceberg. We
returned to the CEAMARC canyon site just before the shift change at midnight
to resume sampling with the intention of deploying the trawl mounted digital
camera in a transect from 850m to 1300m. The plan was to document the
transition from the abundant shallower fauna to the less diverse deeper
communities and then to sample with the French beam trawl. Unfortunately, by
this time the wind was too strong to maintain the ship on the correct course
at the low speeds required for trawling. Prudence dictated it was time to
call a halt and CEAMARC sampling officially finished at 8 minutes past
midnight. Overall, 82 different sites were occupied during CEAMARC, with
samples collected from at least 78 sites; well in excess of the 67 sites we
had hoped for. Everyone involved is to be congratulated for putting in an
enormous and sustained effort to achieve such an excellent result.
Regards, Martin and Sarah.
Water temperature: -0.6 °C