Already for the second day now, we travel through the seemingly endless pack-ice landscape of the Southern Ocean. We passed the ice edge in the night from 9th to 10th December. Passing the ice edge is a magic moment for many of us on board. This expedition is already my 5th trip to Antarctica. Assuming a certain habituation to emotional ice moments, I was still overwhelmed by the impression that awaited me the moment I stepped on the bridge and saw the ice for the first time this year.
That was right before midnight, yet a dim light still revealed the frozen landscape far into the distance. Another indication that we finally arrived in the Antarctic realm: from now on it will not get dark anymore.
While steaming through the ice, the ship produces strange noises. It bangs and scrapes and screams, bringing to mind associations with various “Titanic” movies. There would be reason to worry indeed if we were not on an icebreaker with an extra strong steal hull, designed to cut through the ice. Experiencing this special sound in combination with the typical shaking of the ship at repeated times, merely gave rise to a feeling of familiarity in me. “We’re there” was my spontaneous thought when I felt the shaking in my bed again.
If the workload allows it, people spend more time outside now than they did before. There is plenty to see: bizarre ice formations, turned-over ice flows, pitch-green from ice algae, and last but not least the typical pack-ice animals of Antarctica: Emperor and Adélie Penguins, Crabeater and Leopard Seals. Some on board desperately hope to get a glimpse of a whale.
Polarstern is breaking its way towards the shore of Neumayer Station in the Atka Bay. If the ice doesn’t change the planning, we should arrive there in two or three days. I am especially looking forward to visit this probably most remote German settlement. On the other hand, I cannot wait to continue sampling. The ice in this area would be perfect for our under-ice net SUIT (Surface and Under Ice Trawl). I am curious which animals dwell below this white cover sheet of the ocean.
Hauke Flores, IMARES
Fotos: B. Ebbe, Senckenberg