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Floating Ecosystems Dispatches


All Kinds of Diatoms

ABOARD THE RVIB N. B. PALMER, ON THE SOUTHERN OCEAN-- After 4 days in transit we arrived at Clarence Island near the South Shetlands. It is too windy to test our new instruments here. So we turn northeast and after 8 more hours we arrive at the C18A iceberg...



Adios Punta Arenas

ABOARD THE RVIB N. B. PALMER, ON THE SOUTHERN OCEAN-- Adios Punta Arenas, Chile. Hello Research Vessel and Ice Breaker, Nathaniel B. Palmer. We, the crew, support staff and scientists of the NBP Iceberg Cruise III, left port in Punta Arenas on March 6th to begin our 40-day cruise...



Journey to the South Pole

300KM FROM SOUTH POLE, ANTARCTICA-- The Norwegian-US Traverse, Year 2, Begins! We still haven't started on our big trip, (the actual traverse), but we are getting closer and closer! This seems amazing given how far we've come already...



Returning to Port

STRAITS OF MAGELLAN-- Today we are arriving in Punta Arenas, Chile at 11am local time. After 8 hours through the Straits of Magellan we have…



Primary Production

SOUTHERN OCAEN-- Phytoplankton were active in these waters during this June cruise. Although ten times lower than in the summer, their rates show an active…



Black Ice

SOUTHERN OCEAN-- Sometimes icebergs contain silt and rocks collected in the continent as the ice moves the mountains down towards the sea, scouring the rock…



End of Our Icebergs

ICEBERG A43K, SOUTHERN OCEAN-- Today is our last day of science. This evening we are leaving at 6pm (or 20 GMT, Greenwich Mean Time, which…



Diving Penguins

ICEBERG A43K, SOUTHERN OCEAN-- Although penguins are not flying birds, we have seen them diving and flying off of icebergs. Chinstrap Penguins will climb onto…



Macronutrients Around the Iceberg

ICEBERG A43K, SOUTHERN OCEAN-- Phytoplankton need dissolved nutrients, such as silicate, phosphate, and nitrate to grow in seawater. Open waters in Antarctica are rich in…



The Ocean’s Carbon Content

ICEBERG A43K, SOUTHERN OCEAN-- Carbon sedimentation in the water, from its surface towards the ocean floor, is expected to increase around icebergs as a consequence…