August 23 & 24, 2008

At 22:10 GMT on Sunday, we are at 87o 25.02N, 07o 22.43W. Saturday's weather was warmer, almost -0.5C and very calm which translated into fog, fog, fog. The physical oceanography camp consisted of a large canvas tent that held inside an ice hole with instruments deployed down to the water, a winch and multiple computers; yesterday, the tent was replaced by a cubic, hard-shell hut (similar to the one we have at the lead) for bear security reasons. At one point, there were 13 people assembling the hut in order to do it as fast as possible. There still is too much ice to sample seawater at the lead. Now we need stronger winds and of a different direction to dislodge and/or break the ice! Mmm, some days there is too much wind, others not enough...

A plan was conceived Saturday night by one of Oden's oilers, Per Blad, to go swimming and thus break the ice at the lead. And it was implemented on Sunday morning! Oden's Captain and Staff Captain wore orange immersion suits and went into the water, while tied at the waist. Thank you!! The orange suits keep the wearer mostly dry and warm; most oceanographers have to try them on at least once in each cruise but few get to actually wear them in the water, even as training. Hopefully, no one needs to wear it! The ice beaking will facilitate sampling the surface microlayer with our remote controlled boats; Carlton and Johan are at the lead right now sampling. Keep your fingers crossed!

While the ice breaking was going on, Andy and Carlton drilled an ice core, about 3m long. They sliced into 10 cm sections which were brought to the lab where we are slowly melting them in the refrigerator. We will sample them in a few days when they have melted.