In the last couple of hours we
have arrived
at Shag Rocks Passage and should soon start our intensive survey of the
region.
We are particularly interested in this area as it is here where a large
branch
of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (the world’s largest) squeezes
through a
deep channel in the North Scotia Ridge that separates the Scotia Sea
from the rest of the South Atlantic. We aim to test whether this process
causes intense mixing of water by conducting surveys both upstream and
downstream of the feature to observe the change in dye concentration to
either side. We shall also be measuring mixing directly at close spacing with the HRP and
VMP. Our nerve centre during this operation will be the main lab of the
ship.
Xinfeng has kindly contributed a few photos of this area for today’s
blog post.
This bank of computers has a data feed from many of the ship's instruments including echo sounders and navigation
Meteorological data from the met platform at the front of the ship is displayed on this screen. Measurements of wind speed/direction, temperature and humidity are amongst those taken
View of the met platform (where the sensors are mounted) from the bridge
Alex, Peggy and Luc inspecting maps of our route in the plotting area
Lots of computer screens! The two illuminated screens at the back of the shot display real-time information from the ship's hull-mounted acoustic current meters
Alex on the day watch in the main laboratory
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