5 December 2007

Polarstern ANT-XXIV/2

Heading towards Antarctica in stormy weather

Polarstern makes her way through rough seas. Photo: V. Wadley

Polarstern sailed from Cape Town on 28 November to reach the first sampling position on 2 December. A Continuous Plankton Recorder, capturing zooplankton between two rolls of silk while the ship is underway, was over the side first. This device, used since 1920, provides a long time-series of samples and global coverage of zooplankton abundance by species. It may provide the first hints of the ocean biosphere’s response to our changing climate.

On 5 December the initial long station was started with a variety of sampling gear. Cooperative thought and discussion produced a schedule that will suit all users:

• crustacean traps require at least 20 hours underwater to attract scavengers
• trawls need a standard bottom time with additional wire time for deployment and hauling at depth
• some samplers require clean conditions
• others samplers gather up to three tonnes of mud!

On board the physical, chemical and geological laboratories are festooned with equipment to investigate various aspects of the productivity and movement of the ocean. Allocation of laboratory space on the ship is also a challenge:

• Formalin fixation of specimens requires good ventilation
• for the safety of the operators
• also to safeguard the nearby molecular biology project that could be contaminated by a whiff of this chemical
• We take the minimum sample of animals for our research, to understand the biodiversity that we study and value
• Microscopes are lashed to benches, cameras to seafloor sledges, binoculars to seabird observers; everywhere lenses provide a different view of the marine environment

Retrieving a multinet from the ocean. Photo: V. Wadley

Lander sediment sampler. Photo: V. Wadley

Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) equipment being prepared for release from the Polarstern. Photo: V. Wadley

Each evening the 53 scientists gather for a lecture; each takes a turn to tell about their project, sampling gear and anticipated results. Strategies for sampling and sharing data are discussed. Our different scientific disciplines, ages, eleven nationalities and eight languages provide a lively background. After only a week at sea, we have developed a community spirit and a lively sense of adventure as we approach Antarctica.

This is the first of nine reports at weekly intervals during the Polarstern voyage ANT-XXIV/2. The following reports will focus on different aspects of the marine life in Antarctica and how the organisms are collected for studies of biodiversity.

5 December 2007 [PDF]