Images related to the MBARI News Release
Antarctic icebergs help the ocean take up carbon dioxide
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Ken Smith and researchers from over a dozen institutions spent three month-long cruises in a part of the Weddell Sea that they dubbed "iceberg alley."
Image: Debbie Nail Meyer © 2009 MBARI
Icebergs such as this one carry iron-rich sediment from Antarctica out into the Southern Ocean. The darker parts of the ice contain higher concentrations of sediment.
Image: Debbie Nail Meyer © 2009 MBARI
During the research team's 2009 cruise, the low Arctic sun cast the shadow of the research vessel Nathanial Palmer on the side of this large tabular iceberg.
Image: Debbie Nail Meyer © 2009 MBARI
Instead of avoiding icebergs, the research vessel Nathanial Palmer approached very closely to these floating "islands" of ice during this five-year research project.
Image: Debbie Nail Meyer © 2009 MBARI
Researchers programmed this Lagrangian sediment trap (the gray tube with white funnels) to sink 600 meters below the surface as a large iceberg drifted overhead. After collecting sinking debris for about three days, the trap rose to the surface. At that point, researchers and crew members used a small boat to lift the trap carefully out of the water and then hoisted it onto their research vessel.
Image: Debbie Nail Meyer © 2009 MBARI
Researchers programmed this Lagrangian sediment trap (the gray tube with white funnels) to sink 600 meters below the surface as a large iceberg drifted overhead. After collecting sinking debris for about three days, the trap rose to the surface. At that point, researchers and crew members used a small boat to lift the trap carefully out of the water and then hoisted it onto their research vessel.
Image: Debbie Nail Meyer © 2009 MBARI
Ken Smith (left), Alana Sherman (right), and other members of the research team examine a Lagrangian sediment trap after it was brought back on board the research vessel.
Image: Debbie Nail Meyer © 2009 MBARI
This small remotely operated vehicle (ROV) was customized to collect video and water samples underneath Antarctic icebergs.
Image: Debbie Nail Meyer © 2009 MBARI
Researchers launch a small remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that was customized to collect video and water samples underneath Antarctic icebergs.
Image: Debbie Nail Meyer © 2009 MBARI
Researchers launched this remotely controlled plane from the deck of the research vessel Nathanial Palmer to collect video of icebergs and drop GPS tracking devices on top of icebergs.
Image: Debbie Nail Meyer © 2009 MBARI