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Antarctica 2004
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Scientists Discover Undersea Volcano off Antarctica
Domack Leads Expedition Scientists working in the stormy and inhospitable waters off the Antarctic Peninsula have found what they believe is an active and previously unknown volcano on the sea bottom. Geology Professor Eugene Domack was the chief scientist of the expedition.
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Antarctica Update
April 29, 2004  Video Sled Marine Project Coordinator Ashley Lowe (Raytheon Polar Services) Tim Newberger (Lamont Doherty), and Jennifer White (Raytheon Polar Services) prepare the video sled for deployment. The video sled will move across the former flow path of the ice shelf as determined by satellite images taken prior to its collapse.
Antarctica Update
April 27, 2004  Creating a channel We find ourselves at the southern entrance to the Prince Gustav Channel, which was once covered by a portion of the Larsen Ice Shelf, and more recently the Prince Gustav Ice Shelf. We are conducting a series of bottom video surveys in order to assess the nature of seafloor moraines which mark the rafting of debris beneath the Prince Gustav Ice Shelf. The Gould is making a channel in four to six feet of new sea ice through which we will tow a bottom video system, in order to image the seafloor and assess debris trails of the former ice shelf and the dumping of debris during its break up in 1996. This channel will run due northeast from the Antarctic Peninsula shore toward James Ross Island. The channel is oriented in order to run the video sled across the former flow path of the ice shelf as determined by satellite images taken prior to its collapse.
Antarctica Update
Seasmoke  April 21, 2004 This view to the Northeast from our present position illustrates the clear skies, bright sunlight, and cold temperatures of the high pressure zone currently dominating our region. The sea smoke can clearly be seen rising from the few patches of open water that remain as the sea ice begins to form in earnest under temperatures of -21 degrees (-40 wind chill) Centigrade. There are some late fall blooms of diatoms (algae) in the water but so far no seals or penguins. Temperatures may reach -10 degrees Centigrade by midday.
Antarctica Update
April 16, 2004  Stephanie Higgins, Heather Schrum and Gemma Kirkwood Hamilton College students Stephanie Higgins (Physics), Heather Schrum (Geology) and birthday girl Gemma Kirkwood (Geology) are all smiles as cruise LMG04-04 gets underway. In the background are the western edges of Punta Arenas, Chile which sits along the Strait of Magellan. Blue skies and gentle winds were an unusual weather pattern for this time of year in the Strait.
Antarctica Update
Collecting Samples Dr. Robert Gilbert (Queen's University) has been busy putting together sediment traps and here he demonstrates how the yellow collecting funnels will focus sediment into the collection tube. Our moorings will have three to four of these traps located at different depths in the ocean, each designed to collect material derived from potentially different sources (wind, ice berg rafting, ice shelf rafting or laterally transported material).
Antarctica Update
Fair Seas Fair seas surround us as we make way to the South Orkney Islands across the Falkland Plateau and in the bight of Tierra del Fuego. Water depths here are shallow and are dominated by the strong Falklands Current. This view of the stern of the ship gives a good sense as to the number of devices we plan to deploy. On the top of the A-frame are four different sheaves or blocks, the two on the left (to starboard) are to accommodate mooring rope with swivels and shackles (hence the wide clearance within the block) while the large diameter block is to take the large cable of the kasten core, the sheave on the right (to port) is designed for the small benthic grab sample (the Smith McIntyre grab).
Antarctica Update
Departure from Chile  Punta Arenas, Chile The crowded pier at Punta Arenas, Chile includes the local fishing fleet, the Italian Research Vessel OGS Explora (bright orange bridge banner) out of Trieste Italy, and on the far side the orange and tan LM Gould, research supply vessel of the U.S. Antarctic Program. Cruise participants boarded the Gould late on April 15th and were underway by midday on April 16th.
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