to see a daily log of the SHADRIL cruise.
April 2006
| Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa |
| -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
March 2006
| Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa |
| -- | -- | -- | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | -- |
February 2006
| Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa |
| -- | -- | -- | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
April 2005
| Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa |
| -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
March 2005
| Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa |
| -- | -- | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | -- | -- |
Location: 64 04.045S, 55 05.533W
Temperature: -7 C
Antarctic Sound to Weddell Sea
Never have so many of us gathered on the bridge as happened this morning while the Palmer entered the Antarctic Sound. We were promised a treat and were given a treat. The journey southward through the Sound was spectacular. The sea was calm and the bright sun brought out the most amazing shades of blue and green in icebergs we passed. They came in all shapes and sizes: from bergy bits in fantastic forms to tabular icebergs, several times the size of our ship, which demanded our awe and respect. Some of them resembled familiar structures, like the one that was almost a replica of the Sydney opera house. Others resembled human faces and animals.
Those few of us who remained cold to the ice, delighted in the menagerie of marine animals. Adelie penguins toddled up and down the floating ice appearing busy about a cause illusive to any observer. Their endearing and aimless totter was reminiscent of a group of two-year-old children at play. Their more dignified relatives, the Emperor penguins stood proudly four-feet tall, as if receiving an audience of admiring visitors.
Marine mammal watch standers might have enjoyed spotting seals carelessly swimming in the water or perched on the floating ice, but their frequent sightings frustrated our geologists who were trying to conduct a seismic survey. We learned how to differentiate the two main pinnipeds of the Antarctic Peninsula. Crabeater seals belong to the grouping of the "true" seals. They have no protruding ears and cannot run or raise themselves on their flippers. Antarctic fur seal are eared, like their relatives the Elephant seals. Using their flippers they can outrun their human observer when provoked.
The Palmer has left the Antarctic Sound and is heading toward the next site in the Weddell Sea. The winds have picked up and there is more floating ice. Geologists will use the night to conduct a seismic survey of the basin. We are hoping for better drilling conditions in the morning.
Alex Injac
 Crabeater seals relaxing
|
||
|
|
