Journal entry from Hamilton's Antarctica 2001 research expedition:
12/7/01 1715 Hrs.
58 degrees 29 minutes S
61 degrees 08 minutes W
3 degrees C
Clear skies, light winds and calm seas
Good Evening from the Palmer.
We have had a beautiful day and looking forward to a nice sunset. Our introduction to the Drake has been very nice. We cleared Cape Horn last night and around 2 p.m. this afternoon cleared the 200 mile limit from the nearest Chilean landfall. During the night there was some minor rolling of the ship but today under clear skies and light winds the motion has been quite smooth. The weather map shows a large area of high pressure over us so the forecast for smooth sailing looks good.
Now that we have cleared the 200 mile limit data collection can begin. Instruments are being fired up and tested and seawater is being collected and filtered every hour.
Dr. Rob Dunbar of Stanford University, as part of a multi-faceted study of seawater chemistry, is examining the changes in total organic carbon content of surface seawater across the Drake Passage. As part of his study we are collecting and filtering liters of seawater every hour and a half, 24 hours a day, as we transit the Drake. So from now until we reach the peninsula the first of an increasing number of tasks has begun.
The two watches, noon to midnight and midnight to noon, are working on adjusting their sleep schedules so the ship is beginning to seem less populated.
That's about all for now.
Cheers,
Dave
Caption for photo:
Scott McCallum, Kate McMullen, Diana Duran and Neil Basu look over the tectonic map of the Scotia Arc working to figure out the age of the opening of the Scotia Sea and the separation of Antarctica from South America.
