Time 07.15, 56 degrees 39.76' South, 65 degrees 26.35' West, overcast with brief sunny spell sin the middle of the day, dry at first with sleet and rain later, Air Temperature 11 oC, Water Temperature 6.9 oC, Wind Southwest for 5-6.
Spent today looking for seabirds on Drake Passage. The albatrosses put in a great display, enthralling the new guests as they passed like small aeroplanes within 30 feet/9 metres of the ship. Sea condition on the Drake were quite good in the morning but worsened as the evening approached, but it was not too bad.
Wandering Albatross from the ship today.
They have a wing span of over 11 and a half feet/3.6metres, the longest of any flying bird in the world.
Wandering Albatross from the ship today.
Wandering Albatross from the ship today.
You may remember reading our marine biologist Sarah Clarke's piece in an earlier blog on the Antarctic convergence or Polar front. For those classes following my blog here are the data for today's crossing of the convergence. Try graphing the data and estimate how wide the front is. The ship was travelling at 17.5 knots.
Time Water Temp (oC)
4.00 7
5.00 7
6.00 6.3
7.00 6
8.00 5.9
9.00 5.5
10.00 5.5
11.00 5.2
12.00 4.9
13.00 4.8
14.00 4.8
15.00 4.2
16.00 3.1
17.00 2.7
18.00 2.7
19.00 2.4
20.00 2.2
We passed the Sailing ship Europa on the way south today. It gave us a glimpse of what it must have looked like to see one of the early antarctic explorers heading into uncharted waters.
For the remaining two weeks of the season I will be features the other members of the Expedition Team. Today I am featuring Daniela Haase who is our Antarctic Management Expert. Daniela is originally from Magdeburg, Germany and now considers Christchurch, New Zealand her home. She is a tourism researcher who is currently pursuing a PhD at Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury, New Zealand. Her research project investigates the effectiveness of the current regulatory regime for Antarctic tourism. An increasing part of her spare time is devoted to educational outreach for the New Zealand Youth Steering Committee for the International Polar Year. In 2006/07, she visited the Ross Sea region as a tutor for an Antarctic sciences graduate course.
For the remaining two weeks of the season I will be features the other members of the Expedition Team. Today I am featuring Daniela Haase who is our Antarctic Management Expert. Daniela is originally from Magdeburg, Germany and now considers Christchurch, New Zealand her home. She is a tourism researcher who is currently pursuing a PhD at Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury, New Zealand. Her research project investigates the effectiveness of the current regulatory regime for Antarctic tourism. An increasing part of her spare time is devoted to educational outreach for the New Zealand Youth Steering Committee for the International Polar Year. In 2006/07, she visited the Ross Sea region as a tutor for an Antarctic sciences graduate course.
Daniela Haase - Antarctic Management Expert.
Over to Daniela - In December 1959, when twelve countries that had participated in cooperative Antarctic research during the 1957/58 International Geophysical Year (IGY) signed the Antarctic Treaty in Washington, DC, a regime governing the area south of 60 ยบ S Lat. was born. This regulatory regime tackled the challenging task of aligning the interests of seven claimant and various non-claimant nations to pursue the goal of maintaining the peaceful status of Antarctica and fostering international collaborative Antarctic research. Over time, the Antarctic regulatory regime adapted to new developments and changing conditions and evolved into a network of conventions and measures that address the most pertinent issues with respect to Antarctic governance. Other countries acceded to the regime, and now there are twenty-eight Antarctic Treaty consultative parties and another 18 non-consultative member states.
The dedication to peace and science of the Antarctic Treaty was soon complemented by a third principle, that of environmental protection. The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, which entered into force in 1998, designates Antarctica as a “natural reserve” and puts a moratorium on all mineral resource activities, except those that are part of scientific research.
The dedication to peace and science of the Antarctic Treaty was soon complemented by a third principle, that of environmental protection. The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, which entered into force in 1998, designates Antarctica as a “natural reserve” and puts a moratorium on all mineral resource activities, except those that are part of scientific research.
Thanks Daniela! Thanks again to everyone who has read my blog or left comments, they are very much appreciated and sorry I cannot reply to you individually. I would like to give a special mention this even to Mr Willie McSweeney and the pupils of Scoil Iosaef Naofa in Cobh who are follow the expedition. Bye for now.
Wildlife seen on our way south on Drake Passage
Mammals
Sei Whale 1
Unidentified Whale 1
Birds
Wandering Albatross 9+
Royal Albatross 1
Southern Giant Petrel 6+
Northern Giant Petrel 2
Grey-headed Albatross 4+
Black-browed Albatross 10+
Cape Petrel 5+
Blue Petrel 200+
Antarctic Prion 100+
Thin-billed Prion 2
Unidentified Prion Species 500+
White-chinned Petrel 3
Wilson’s Storm Petrel 2
Unidentified Diving Petrel 1
Note: A + sign after the counts indicates that we saw at least that number but more may have been present.
Time 20:49, 60 degrees 23.05' South, 63 degrees 20.50' West, Air Temperature 7.0 oC, Water Temperature 2.0 oC, overcast and rain, Wind West force 6-7
PS This evening was formal dress at "the office"
