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Antarctic-2009-shiplife

1

Land!

15 Apr 2009

After being cleared for customs, the science groups were allowed off the ship late last night.

2

Pilot boats

14 Apr 2009

A pilot boat approached the ship in the afternoon and transferred a pilot from the small vessel onto the ship.

3

Portable laboratories

13 Apr 2009

When it was built in 1992, the Nathaniel B. Palmer was designed to accommodate a wide range of scientific research.

4

Stability

12 Apr 2009

As we cross through the roughest water yet on the cruise, science groups made sure to prepare equipment and themselves for the stormy Drake Passage.

5

Engine room procedures

11 Apr 2009

The engine room, located below the main deck and below the water line, houses the engines, generators, freshwater distillers, wastewater processing, and other essential ship machinery.

6

Inner workings

10 Apr 2009

Four 3,000-hp diesel engines power the 93.9-meter-long ship. The Palmer typically runs on two engines in open water, though some activities, such as breaking heavy ice or maneuvering into port, require more or less engine output.

7

Long sunsets

09 Apr 2009

Sunrises and sunsets last longer in polar regions.

8

Drinking water

08 Apr 2009

As part of being self-contained, the Palmer generates its own fresh drinking water from seawater.

9

Wastewater and plumbing

07 Apr 2009

Our first introduction to the wastewater system on the Palmer was the extremely loud flush of the ship’s toilets.

10

Rushing to be ready for the cruise

06 Apr 2009

Visiting Antarctic waters is a rare opportunity; for weeks in advance, the science team prepared for the upcoming two-month hiatus from ordinary life in various ways.

11

Preserving perishables

05 Apr 2009

When the cruise began, each meal included a salad bar stocked with fresh pineapple, carrots, mango, avocado, melon slices, radishes, and a variety of greens.

12

Life in the Southern Ocean

04 Apr 2009

Today we moved into an area that is rich with icebergs and rich with life.

13

What does it take to be an icebreaker?

03 Apr 2009

This photo, taken while the Palmer was in dry dock, shows the ship’s massive propellers and rudders, which are protected from backing into ice by an ice knife above.

14

Support staff

02 Apr 2009

Land-based involvement in this cruise has been invaluable, but this post will focus on those who are on the cruise with us. The onboard support staff from RPSC accommodate the science that needs to be done while considering the realities of being at sea.

15

Multiple hats

01 Apr 2009

The number of science crew the Palmer can accommodate is fewer than the number of positions available for the science teams. Some people wear multiple hats, participating with multiple science groups or lending a hand where needed.

16

Bringing a little bit of home

31 Mar 2009

Forty days is a long time to be away from home; people onboard had to leave husbands, wives, children, and friends behind. We have been at sea for 26 days now, but many people are still comforted by mementos from home.

17

Venturing outdoors

30 Mar 2009

Preparing to go outside of the ship’s heated interior takes a considerable amount of time. Most indoor areas are heated to 20ºC or higher, while outside temperatures are typically around 0ºC.

18

Long workdays and long vacations

29 Mar 2009

Support staff from Raytheon Polar Services Corporation (RPSC) help scientists with the ship’s logistics, science equipment, chemicals, labs, computers, and electronics.

19

Planning the science

28 Mar 2009

Ben Twining and Maria Vernet study data plots to plan their sampling schedules.

20

A hundred photos during a flicker of sunlight

27 Mar 2009

This afternoon was full of photo opportunities as the Palmer steamed through a strip of ocean called “iceberg alley” for its multitude of icebergs.

Page 1 of 3123

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About MBARI

Research programs at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) encompass the entire ocean, from the surface waters to the deep seafloor, and from the coastal zone to the open sea. The need to understand the ocean in all its complexity and variability drives MBARI's research and development efforts.


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