To continue yesterday’s note about rocky water: rocky has become rockier. As I’m writing, we are at 80°N latitude, 107°E longitude, with air temperatures of -1°C, and water temperatures of 0°C (and windy). Before I even left my cabin, I was looking out the porthole – seeing the waves and whitecaps, noticing how the level of the water seemed to go up and down as the ship swayed side to side, and holding onto the wall to I didn’t lose balance. And… WHOOSH! Water splashed up across the window. I can tell you, that makes you appreciate the power of the ocean. Then when we all arrived at the first lecture of the day (and after duct taping the projector to the table), we got some warnings: go back to your cabin and secure anything that could fall… don’t wear flip-flops on the ship… don’t walk with an open laptop … close/open doors using the handles only (i.e. don’t wrap your fingers around the door itself)… and, don’t go outside. We are also not able to do any CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) measurements of the ocean in these conditions, because the water is too rocky to be able to securely lower an instrument into the water on a cable. We’re on our way north again, and I think we’re all looking forward to the bumpy rumbling, but relatively stable, movement through the ice again!
What have you learned from the trip so far?
Dear Brandon, the list is too long to even say! I really had no idea the extent of all the instruments that are used to study the ocean, and what those measurements told us about large scale, and even global, ocean and climate processes. I think it’s so cool that we can send an instrument down into the water on a cable, leave it there, and continually get measurements of the ocean’s temperature, salt content, and currents at different depths – and it’s so cool that if we see a change in some of those data at different depths, that could mean that a whole different water current, maybe even from the Atlantic Ocean, is passing through there.
Does the water come crashing on to the boat?
Hi Brandon, funny you should ask, because in the last two days we had such strong waves (12 foot high) that I was standing at my window in my cabin, and all of a sudden the water reached the height of the window! We were not allowed to go outside the ship that day, because the decks of the ship would be too icy and slippery!
Hi. this is Nicolas Perez. Would u rather be inside the ship or outside looking at the ocean and taking pictures of it?
Hi Nicolas, I love to be outside as much as possible, because the ocean, ice, sky, science operations, and polar bears (when we see them) are so awesome to see – but sometimes you do need to get warm!
Has any one been seriously injured on the trip so far?
Dear Angel, thank goodness, no one has been injured on the expedition. The most serious thing we have had as far as I know is a few colds, some seasickness, and maybe a few nearly-frozen fingers when you want to be outside because it’s so beautiful and you want to take pictures. I’m grateful that I have been healthy so far (I have had some nearly-frozen fingers though), I hope the good streak continues…
Hey lindsay! I find in fascinating that the waves are so high. Do any of the waves come crashing onto the deck. Im guessing that the height of the ship doesnt allow for any waves to hit but maybe some do.
Hi Luiggi, the waves don’t totally come onto the ship even when they’re that high. However, the spray from the waves does make it onto the deck of the ship, which can make it really icy and slippery, which is why no one was allowed to go outside when conditions were like that!
Are there any storms where you are? Snow storms, etc?
Hey Chris, we have had snow yes, and actually we just passed through a storm a couple days ago. It was an Arctic cyclone! It’s like a hurricane, but not as strong. Basically it caused the really high waves (12 feet) that I mentioned, and it made the ship pretty rocky!
what makes you have the courage to go out with waves that high ? do you like risking your life at times to expierence ?
Hi Briana, well I don’t think I would be here if I didn’t think the ship was totally safe. The ship can handle waves and ice, so we have to trust that the ship will do its job. Plus, I think when the waves are that high, more people are worried about their tummies and their heads being uneasy than the ship! 🙂
Hey lindsay has there ever been a storm while you where on the ship ? i think its cool to see how high the waves go.
Hi Jorge, actually when I posted that photo of the waves, we had just gone through an Arctic cyclone, which is kind of like a hurricane, but weaker, and it cause huge waves and a rocky ride on the ship!