Natasja van Gestel
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Antarctica

Hadar and penguins

2/1/2023

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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.
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    About me

    Growing 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

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    Not all of #Antarctica is covered in snow and ice. The western Antarctic Peninsula has seen nearly 90% of its glaciers retreat as a result of rapid warming. This retreat has exposed soils that are now subject to plant colonization.

    ?: Natasja van Gestel pic.twitter.com/kEe65usYSU

    — National Science Foundation (@NSF) January 4, 2023
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    Funded by the NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
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    Research support managed by the US ANTARCTIC PROGRAM
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