Research Update

    Today a drilling team came out and drilled diving holes in the sea ice so Terry and the dive team could collect sediment samples from the seafloor. In the afternoon, a shelter was put over one of the dive holes and Terry and the dive team collected samples.

    Mail for Me!

    This morning I made it to the Post Office before meeting up with my research team. I knew I had a package waiting because I saw my name on a posted list. When I went to the mailroom, I was surprised to see I had two packages waiting for me!

    Michelle Brown at the Post Office
    Michelle Brown picks up her packages at the USAP Post Office.

    Drilling Holes in the Sea Ice

    Since we already marked the locations of our dive holes the other day, the driller could easily find where to drill diving holes. Mel Sannes and Frank Aldridge arrived in a Challenger Caterpillar that was rigged with a snow blade. The impressive machine also pulled a Reed drill, which can drill holes in the sea ice large enough for divers to fit through.

    Caterpillar and drill
    Mel operates the Challenger Caterpillar and Reed drill to make holes in the sea ice.

    Mel Sannes and Frank Aldridge
    Frank Aldridge, left, and Mel Sannes, right, are the people who make it possible for divers to get through the ice.

    While Mel and Frank drilled holes in the ice, Terry and Steve helped shovel out the snow and ice that was pulled up. Andrew, Carl and I then cleared the holes of sea ice with nets and marked the holes with black flags, indicating caution.

    Clearing out dive hole
    Our team clears out the snow and ice from the hole as Mel drills.

    Michelle Brown clearing ice
    Michelle Brown helps Andrew Klein and Carl Green clear ice from the freshly drilled dive hole.

    Collecting Samples Under the Ice

    By the afternoon, all of our holes had been drilled. A "tomato" shelter was then dragged over a diving hole at the intake valve sampling site. The intake valve is where sea water is pumped into the water processing plant to be processed and used for water in the station. It is fairly clean water and the sediment there is not as polluted as other areas of McMurdo Sound. We expect the sediment samples here will be fairly clean.

    Tomato shelter
    Michelle Brown stands outside the tomato shelter where our team stays warm as we wait for sediment samples from the seafloor.

    Our benthic ecologist, Terry, dove under the sea ice along with United States Antarctica Program (USAP(abbreviation) United States Antarctic Program) divers, Brenda Konar and Steve Rupp.

    Terry Palmer climbs out of a dive hole
    Terry Palmer climbs out of a dive hole after collecting sediment samples 120 feet below.

    The divers collected sediment samples from the sea floor, which was about 120 feet below the surface. They also collected benthic organisms (those found on the seafloor) which our research team will sample for pollutants in their tissues.

    Michelle and the Sea Star
    Michelle Brown holds a large sea star which was collected for tissue sampling from the sea floor.

    Polychaete Worms
    A few polychaete worms from the seafloor are collected to sample for pollutants.

    Steve Sweet and the sample
    Steve Sweet examines a sediment sample from the sea floor.

    Critical Thinking

    How did pollutants get inside the tissues of the sea star or polychaete worms? Answer the question in the "Ask the Team" section!

    Bob's Puzzler

    Meals at McMurdo Station are always enjoyable, especially because we often get to talk to interesting, science-minded people. I had the opportunity to dine with an old friend, Bob Melville. Bob is an engineer from New Jersey Institute of Technology whom I worked with in 2011 and who always has a great riddle to share during a meal.

    Bob Melville
    Meet Bob Melville, an adept engineer and entertaining friend.

    Here is a riddle Bob shared with me:

    Measuring Coins

    There are ten bags of coins. Each bag has ten coins in them and weighs exactly 10.00 grams, except one bag which is ever so slightly heavier and weighs 10.03 grams. How can you determine which bag is slightly heavier if you can only measure the bags on a precise, electric scale once? You can do most things to the bags of coins, as long as you only take one reading on the scale.

    The answer is not a trick or surprise, but an elegant solution that requires careful thought. Share your answer on the "Ask the Team" page. The first right response will earn a postcard from Antarctica!

    Ice Picture of the Day

    Today's Ice POD is about the sea stars in Antarctica. You can download a PowerPoint slide here: 12_icepod.pptx

    Ice Picture of the Day, day 12
    This Ice POD discusses sea stars.

    Brought to you by...

    Today's journal is brought to you by a student from Ms. Martinez's class from Eagle Pass ISD. The penguin hung around the dive hole today and has a great motto: "Be yourself, because an original is more than a copy."

    Ms. Martinez's penguin
    Today's journal was brought to you by Ms. Martinez's student from Eagle Pass ISD.

    Date
    Location
    McMurdo Station
    Weather Summary
    Cloudy
    Temperature
    14 F
    Wind Speed
    13 knots
    Wind Chill
    -1 F
    Documents
    Attachment Size
    12_icepod.pptx248.21 KB 248.21 KB

    Comments

    SEAN

    what did you get in the mail? how big was the starfish was it slimy? have you gone diving yet?

    fromsean

    Becca Parker

    Slowly add them one at a time and when they go up more than 10, you've found it?!Good luck - stay warm! - from Tulsa, Oklahoma

    Michelle Brown

    status: 1Hi Sean,
    I received some books and snacks in the mail, including skittles and trail
    mix. Although we can get snacks at the store here, they don't have a huge
    selection! The starfish wasn't really that slimy--it was stiff, and I was
    wearing gloves, so I couldn't feel it anyway. I don't go diving--I'm not
    trained or qualified to go diving under the ice. I do help the divers get
    in and out of the dive hole though--it is called "dive tending". Terry
    Palmer, the ecologist working on our team, does go diving under the
    ice--he's been a few times and is actually getting ready to go again today!

    Theresa

    Is the sea ice pretty sturdy? Is it difficult to drive holes through the sea ice?

    Olivia L.

    How do you locate a good spot for a diving hole?How thick was the ice you had to drill through?

    Michelle Brown

    status: 1Dear Becca,
    Thanks for trying the puzzle! You are close, but you can only use the
    balance once, so you cannot add them together.... keep thinking!

    Michelle Brown

    status: 1Hi Theresa,
    Yes--the sea ice is actually quite sturdy! There are ice cracks, which you
    have to look out for, but for the most part they are sturdy! It can be
    difficult to drive holes through the sea. We use an auger (kind of like a
    big screw) which makes it easier. The other day, the drill team gave us an
    auger that had a drill on the end, so it was very easy!

    Michelle Brown

    status: 1Dear Olivia,
    The diving holes are identified based on past sampling locations. We use a
    GPS to identify the latitude and longitude and the driller then drills a
    hole at the spot. The ice was thinner (about 5-6 feet) in some locations
    and thicker (about 7-9 feet) in other spots. Great questions!

    Laura Leaman

    I think a starfish gets pollutants in its tissue when it suctions onto rocks.

    Period 1 Seff …

    Hi Michelle! First period checking in, we loved the giant sea star!Lisa and students!

    Julian Springs…

    What is It like to Be in the tomato shelter is it warm? Cold?

    Jimmy Springs …

    I want to see that large sea star.Good job catching it.

    Jake springs s…

    What is a sediment sample

    Jake springs s…

    has anybody ever fell through the ice

    Jake springs s…

    has anybody ever fell through the ice

    Nora Conlon

    How would you be able to swim underwater? Wouldn't you have to put on tons of layers just as if you were on land?

    Nora Springs S…

    How would you be able to swim underwater? Wouldn't you have to put on tons of layers just as if you were on land?

    Nora Springs S…

    How would you be able to swim underwater? Wouldn't you have to put on tons of layers just as if you were on land?

    Michelle Brown

    status: 1Hello Nora!
    Our divers have to wear lots of gear to swim underwater. That includes
    layers to stay warm and keep dry, as well as weights to ensure they do not
    float up to the top, air tanks, to allow them to breath, fins to help them
    swim, and more! So yes--you are right, lots of layers are necessary for
    diving under water!

    Michelle Brown

    status: 1Dear Jake,
    Thank you for asking an important clarifying question--a sediment sample is
    a collection of sediments, or dirt, which we collect from the ground. On
    land we simply dig into the earth and put materials in a jar. On the
    seafloor we need to use a tool that is pushed into the seafloor to trap
    dirt and bring it back to the surface. There we push the dirt out of the
    tube and put it in containers to be analyzed. None of our team has fallen
    through the ice--I'm not sure if it has happened to other teams though!

    Michelle Brown

    status: 1It is possible that some sediment could get stuck in a starfish's arms, but
    most pollutants enter tissues by being digested.

    Michelle Brown

    status: 1Dear Julian,
    The tomato shelters are much warmer than being outside--especially if it is
    very windy outside. We were in the tomato shelters on some pretty windy
    days, and it was such a relief to be inside. They also have a small heater
    in them which can be used to heat up the shelter. That being said, I
    usually kept my coat on!

    Michelle Brown

    status: 1Thank you Period 1! Your questions are great--keep them coming!

    Michelle Brown

    status: 1Dear Jimmy,

    Thank you! I actually didn't catch it--the divers did and brought it up in
    a net. My job in the dive hut is to take the organisms and put them in
    containers so their tissues can be checked for pollutants.

    Jake

    Thank you for the information!

    Jimmy Springs …

    Thank you for answering.

    Julian Springs…

    Thank you for commenting back.

    Jake

    On a daily bases what is the average temperature of the water, also what fish do the seals eat?

    Julian Springs…

    Where did you find the giant sea star ?

    Michelle Brown

    status: 1Hi Julian,
    It is my pleasure to comment back! We have found giant sea stars in a few
    dive locations outside McMurdo Station, as well as at Turtle Rock. There
    are lots of them!

    Michelle Brown

    status: 1Hi Jake,
    The temperature of the water is about 28 degrees Fahrenheit. This doesn't
    change very much since water has a high specific heat--that means that it
    can absorb lots of energy and doesn't change temperature very fast. Weddell
    seals eat primarily fish and squid. They prefer to eat Antarctic Silverfish
    and emerald rock-cod.

    SEAN

    what did you get in the mail? how big was the starfish was it slimy? have you gone diving yet?

    fromsean