Location
Latitude: 70 degrees, 18.5865 N
Longitude: 006 degrees, 52.3700 E
Weather:
Air temperature: 5 degrees celcius; Sea temperature: 7 degrees celcius; calm sea; solid grey cloud cover with occasional rain.
We left the North Sea some time in the night from the 15th to the 16th of June and when I woke up yesterday morning, the weather had turned from being bright and sunny to being grey and cloudy. We have left the North Sea behind us with all its oil rigs and have entered the North Atlantic after briefly spotting the Norwegian coast on the horizon yesterday. For the last two days the weather has not changed and the JCR is continuously plowing through an ocean which looks like molten lead and on the horizon there is no difference in color between the sky and the sea.
At 5.30 pm yesterday we crossed the Arctic Circle (66 degrees, 33 N)! Despite the dreary weather some of the crew and most of the scientists met on "monkey island", the highest platform on the ship right above the bridge to celebrate our crossing and to have a couple of beers. Despite the latitude and the cold which it accompanies, some of the scientists still wear shorts and flippflopps! Most of us had put on our jackets and fleeces though. last night the sun didn't set anymore and because of the grey clouds, the light didn't change from 10 pm in the evening to 4am in the morning. Some of the scientific crew find it hard to work with continuous daylight because they can't sleep very well. I must admit hat I really enjoy the continuous daylight. This afternoon we had an emergency exercise. It started with a mock fire alarm. All the scientists assembled at their muster stations and then we were told that in a real fire, we'd be expected to help bring the fire under control. We were then taken to the aft deck to learn how to use fire hoses. The exercise was a lot of fun as it is quite hard to hold the hose steady because of the extreemly high water pressure and a couple of people did get wet which cause some amusement.
Its little events like crossing the arctic circle and the occasional emergency drill which break up the monotonous routine of working and eating that govern the days on a ship.
All in all the cruise is going quite well and everybody is having a great time aboard the ship.
17 Jun 2010
15 Jun 2010
Through the North Sea
Location:
(if you substitute the word "degrees" for the symbol which can be found under "symbols" in word, you can enter the latitude and longitude into google earth and you'll see where we are)
Latitude: 60 degrees 25.9103 N
Longitude: 002 degrees 37.3900 E
Weather: White clouds with spells of sunshine and a light sea breeze.
The ship left Immingham docks on the 13th of June at around 3.30 in the afternoon. The scientists aboard were all very happy to finally be on their way and as we left, it started to rain! The rest of the afternoon was spent doing final preparations and making sure all the equipment was tied down and secure for the possibility of rough seas ahead. In the evening the scientists met in the bar for a quick meeting before opening the first bottles of beer and making the first Gin/tonics (I haven't found soda water yet!). Alcohol aboard the ship can be bought tax-free, therefore buying beer for four people comes to about two pounds.
Even though the bed in my cabin is quite small, sleeping on a moving ship is superb. Whenever the ship climbs a wave you are gently pushed into your bed and when it slides down on the other side of the wave, you're gently lifted off of your bed.
Yesterday morning after breakfast we launched our first CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth). A CTD is a circular metal cage which is attached to a winch. It has a number of sensors on it measuring things like conductivity (salinity), temperature and pressure (depth). It also has sample bottles (Niskin bottles) attached to it which can collect water samples from different depths. As soon as the CTD was back up on deck all the scientists took their first samples and started working away in the lab. Until we reach Svalbard, we'll be doing one CTD every morning after breakfast.
In the afternoon I went to the ships gym. With three warm meals a day and nowhere to run, the gym is the only way try and keep fit. Nevertheless, I am dreading my first circuit training session when I am back in Glasgow!
The days are slowly settling down now into a routine which is dictated by the meal times of the ship.
Breakfast: 7.30, CTD 8.30, working in the lab until lunch which is at 12.00. more lab work until 3pm, then gym, then data analysis and computer work until 6 pm, then getting ready (putting on a shirt and tie) for dinner which is at 6.30 pm. After dinner we work for another hour before meeting in the bar and taking our first sun-downer. Until we reach Svalbard the schedule of our days will not deviate much from the description above.
(if you substitute the word "degrees" for the symbol which can be found under "symbols" in word, you can enter the latitude and longitude into google earth and you'll see where we are)
Latitude: 60 degrees 25.9103 N
Longitude: 002 degrees 37.3900 E
Weather: White clouds with spells of sunshine and a light sea breeze.
The ship left Immingham docks on the 13th of June at around 3.30 in the afternoon. The scientists aboard were all very happy to finally be on their way and as we left, it started to rain! The rest of the afternoon was spent doing final preparations and making sure all the equipment was tied down and secure for the possibility of rough seas ahead. In the evening the scientists met in the bar for a quick meeting before opening the first bottles of beer and making the first Gin/tonics (I haven't found soda water yet!). Alcohol aboard the ship can be bought tax-free, therefore buying beer for four people comes to about two pounds.
Even though the bed in my cabin is quite small, sleeping on a moving ship is superb. Whenever the ship climbs a wave you are gently pushed into your bed and when it slides down on the other side of the wave, you're gently lifted off of your bed.
Yesterday morning after breakfast we launched our first CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth). A CTD is a circular metal cage which is attached to a winch. It has a number of sensors on it measuring things like conductivity (salinity), temperature and pressure (depth). It also has sample bottles (Niskin bottles) attached to it which can collect water samples from different depths. As soon as the CTD was back up on deck all the scientists took their first samples and started working away in the lab. Until we reach Svalbard, we'll be doing one CTD every morning after breakfast.
In the afternoon I went to the ships gym. With three warm meals a day and nowhere to run, the gym is the only way try and keep fit. Nevertheless, I am dreading my first circuit training session when I am back in Glasgow!
The days are slowly settling down now into a routine which is dictated by the meal times of the ship.
Breakfast: 7.30, CTD 8.30, working in the lab until lunch which is at 12.00. more lab work until 3pm, then gym, then data analysis and computer work until 6 pm, then getting ready (putting on a shirt and tie) for dinner which is at 6.30 pm. After dinner we work for another hour before meeting in the bar and taking our first sun-downer. Until we reach Svalbard the schedule of our days will not deviate much from the description above.
12 Jun 2010
Joining the RRS James Clark Ross
Location: Immingham Docks, UK
Yesterday Fiona and I drove from Glasgow to Grimsby. Grimsby is quite a grim looking little town next to Immingham where the RRS James Clark Ross (JCR) is tied up at Dock Nr. 1. Apparently Grimsby has one of the cleanes beaches in England. Nevertheless, there are two oil rigs visible form the beach, the beach is full of pieces of coal and the water didn't look inviting enough for us to take a swim.
After a proper English breakfast this morning (it tasted like a proper English breakfast, i.e. not very exciting), I joined the JCR. There was quite a bustle about her. Three cranes were busy shifting cargo, and people were setting up science equipment and getting ready for the cruise. I met the purser who showed me my cabin, gave me a quick safety briefing and sent me on my way. After bringing my scientific gear into the main lab and depositing my personal things in my cabin, I said good bye to Fiona.
After lunch I spent the rest of the afternoon setting up my filtration rig in the lab and getting to know everyone else. I've also settled down in my cabin. At least for the first Leg from the UK up to Svalbard, I'll have my cabin to myself and I have my own bathroom and, because its an outside cabin, I've got a window.
Dinner was served at six. Men are expected to wear shirt and tie and no jeans for dinner! Dinner is served at the table by a waiter and there is a choice of different things to be had and todays dinner consisted of steak.
There will be a safety drill tomorrow morning where we will have to get into our survival suits and live jackets and get into life boats and at two in the afternoon the JCR will set sail!
I've just found out that there are only two computers for the scientists to use which have access to the internet. Therefore these blog entries might become very sporadic but I will try and to my best.
Yesterday Fiona and I drove from Glasgow to Grimsby. Grimsby is quite a grim looking little town next to Immingham where the RRS James Clark Ross (JCR) is tied up at Dock Nr. 1. Apparently Grimsby has one of the cleanes beaches in England. Nevertheless, there are two oil rigs visible form the beach, the beach is full of pieces of coal and the water didn't look inviting enough for us to take a swim.
After a proper English breakfast this morning (it tasted like a proper English breakfast, i.e. not very exciting), I joined the JCR. There was quite a bustle about her. Three cranes were busy shifting cargo, and people were setting up science equipment and getting ready for the cruise. I met the purser who showed me my cabin, gave me a quick safety briefing and sent me on my way. After bringing my scientific gear into the main lab and depositing my personal things in my cabin, I said good bye to Fiona.
After lunch I spent the rest of the afternoon setting up my filtration rig in the lab and getting to know everyone else. I've also settled down in my cabin. At least for the first Leg from the UK up to Svalbard, I'll have my cabin to myself and I have my own bathroom and, because its an outside cabin, I've got a window.
Dinner was served at six. Men are expected to wear shirt and tie and no jeans for dinner! Dinner is served at the table by a waiter and there is a choice of different things to be had and todays dinner consisted of steak.
There will be a safety drill tomorrow morning where we will have to get into our survival suits and live jackets and get into life boats and at two in the afternoon the JCR will set sail!
I've just found out that there are only two computers for the scientists to use which have access to the internet. Therefore these blog entries might become very sporadic but I will try and to my best.
8 Jun 2010
Departure
08.06.2010
Dear Readers,
on Friday the 11th of June, I will drive from Glasgow to Immingham where I will join the RRS James Clark Ross on Saturday the 12th of June. This marks the start of my second research cruise as part of my PhD at the University of Glasgow.
Aboard the James Clark Ross, I will travel as part of a group of scientist from the UK up to Svalbard and from there as far up north as possible to study the effect that climate change has upon the arctic environment.
This is my first attempt at a blog and I aim to relay the experiences and adventures I will have while I am on the ship. The frequency of my entries into this blog will not only be subject to my lazyness, but also to weather conditions and where the ship is at any given time, so can't promise to update the blog every day, but I will do so as often as possible. I also hope to add pictures and we'll see how that goes.
I hope you'll enjoy reading what I have to say.
Heiko
Dear Readers,
on Friday the 11th of June, I will drive from Glasgow to Immingham where I will join the RRS James Clark Ross on Saturday the 12th of June. This marks the start of my second research cruise as part of my PhD at the University of Glasgow.
Aboard the James Clark Ross, I will travel as part of a group of scientist from the UK up to Svalbard and from there as far up north as possible to study the effect that climate change has upon the arctic environment.
This is my first attempt at a blog and I aim to relay the experiences and adventures I will have while I am on the ship. The frequency of my entries into this blog will not only be subject to my lazyness, but also to weather conditions and where the ship is at any given time, so can't promise to update the blog every day, but I will do so as often as possible. I also hope to add pictures and we'll see how that goes.
I hope you'll enjoy reading what I have to say.
Heiko
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