View of the skyline of Punta Arenas, Chile.

Packing for a research expedition to Antarctica is a bit different from your average trip. Antarctica is far away from mostly everything, and can be very cold and rough at times. No detail is small enough, including what clothes to wear. Upon arriving in Chile, we were issued Extreme Cold Weather gear to make sure we were equipped to work in any and all conditions we could face. When spending 59 days at sea, the little comforts of life (including being dry and warm) can make a huge difference.

Clothing issue at the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) counter.

While choosing what clothes to wear can seem tricky enough, figuring out what scientific equipment to bring and how to get it to the southernmost tip of South America before loading it on the ship, presents even greater of a challenge. This project brings together scientists studying a wide array of subjects, from oceanography, geology, to glaciology and biology, to try to understand how the ecosystem of the Larsen B ice shelf has changed since its break up in March 2002. And to accomplish these lofty goals, participants have brought a whole slew of instruments to measure everything from sediments, to ice thickness, and algae concentrations. The oceanographic ‘toys’ we’ll be working with include a CTD rosette (named after variables it measures, Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth) to sample water from the surface to thousands of meters deep, a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to get live video feed of the ocean floor, coring equipment to bring samples from the ocean floor back to the surface and to collect ice cores to look at ice algae, and even helicopters to allow scientists onboard to sample ice and rocks from the continent itself. It takes time to assemble this kind of gear, and we are now stuck waiting for everything to be loaded and organize. It’s amazing how little space there is on a ship the size of a football field!

The ROV (nicknamed Suzee) getting put together and cleaned on the back deck.

We’ll be bringing you updates from Antarctica as often as we can, and will be talking about both the science and life onboard our research vessel. Please post any questions you have on the website, or send them directly to me at mattias.cape.guest@nbp.usap.gov and I’ll try to answer by my next post. I know working in the Antarctic can seem strange and out of reach, but you’d be surprised the many different paths people onboard this ship have taken to get to where they are. You don’t have to be a scientist to experience the Southern Ocean and the Antarctic! None of our work would be possible without the help of the ship’s captain, crew, engineers, and science support staff.

View of the RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmer at night.

During the last few days we have taken the time to share results and evaluate our performance. The consensus is very positive: there is satisfaction from all parties for the work accomplished.

The scientists studying icebergs in this project are truly an interdisciplinary group. We look at iceberg physical properties, how they affect the physics and chemistry of the surrounding ocean water, and the consequences of those changes on the biota, microbes, phytoplankton, zooplankton, fishes and birds.

A group photo on the bow.

Carbon is the common denominator (or the currency) used by the different researchers to understand the flow of matter through the different components. Carbon is analyzed as gas (carbon dioxide or CO2), particulate and dissolved, as it moves from the atmosphere to the ocean surface and ultimately to the ocean floor.

During this cruise, instruments were tested and new ideas were generated on how to improve them. Methods of water collection, sampling approaches and data sharing schemes to optimize sampling around icebergs were successfully implemented.

A view of an iceberg off the back deck.

Results on the changes in water temperature and salinity due to iceberg melting were clear cut and shown on a scale useful to all science groups. Biological response was somewhat depressed, as expected at this time of the year when short days and low phytoplankton biomass cannot maintain rich marine communities.

We will be ready by next March 2009 to participate on a cruise to estimate the extent of iron enrichment by icebergs in iron-limited waters of the Southern Ocean.

We thank Raytheon Polar services and the crew from ECO (Edison Chouest Offshore) for excellent support during the cruise, in particular Captain Mike Watson and Marine Projects Coordinator Adam Jenkins. And special thanks to Ken Smith from the Monterey Aquarium Research Institute who organized the science (and the scientists) with great skill and dedication.

View of Punta Arenas as we return to port.