Today we collected samples for an incubation experiment for my postdoc Dr. Alicia Purcell. It was a beautiful day! To get to Litchfield we go on a Zodiac - it is the same type of inflatable boat used by the military, the F-580. With a 60 horsepower engine, we arrived at Litchfield in no time. However heading back we went through some brash ice, so best to slow down!
Thanks Hannah, for helping us with sampling today! And Sara, great job driving the Zodiac back onto the trailer: a 10/10 score!!!
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The penguins around station never cease to amaze me. They can be graceful one moment, and clumsy the next. When they are in the water they sometimes porpoise: they shoot out of the water, are airborne briefly, then return back into the water. Such a pretty sight. They sure make my summer. I hope you enjoy my penguin video on instagram.
A science team on station is collecting data on transects, week after week, and year after year. The small vessel they use is Hadar, a rigid hull inflatable boat or RHIB (see first photo). Data are collected to understand more about the ocean environment that is home to penguins, whales and seals. Today - while I was helping out - we saw heavy penguin traffic on a bergy bit (i.e., mini-iceberg). Penguins shooting out of the water to land on the ice (with some scrambling involved sometimes), and some dropping right back into the cold water.
It is pretty amazing how a penguin has so much speed and strength that it can porpoise - a movement whereby a penguin is airborne for just a moment before it dives right back in. Incredible! Thanks Sneha and Matt for having me join on Hadar. |
About meGrowing up watching nature documentaries, I find myself now immersed in nature's splendor. As an ecologist I study how ecosystems function. Here I share with you my love of doing research in Antarctica - a place of sheer beauty Older posts
March 2023
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