Monday 31st December
The Mertz has vanished in cloud and snow storm and we can feel the motion of the sea again.
The decision to sample the additional site close to the glacier has been rewarded, as Martin reports:
‘The scientific highlight of this site was the discovery on the high definition photographs of highly pigmented patches on the sediment surface. The colour is very like the patches of photosynthetic microorganisms found on sediments in shallower places but at this depth (1300 m) no light penetrates and so photosynthesis is not possible. The most likely explanation is that they are caused by organic material from the upper waters that has sunk to the bottom fast enough to retain photosynthetic pigments. This explanation is consistent with the CTD cast at this site, which indicated patches of photosynthetic microorganisms at various depths through the water-column.’
Harvey spends some hours at his microscope trying to identify the source of the pigments.
In the starboard mess a row of tables is spread with craft materials. There is coloured paint, glitter, sequins, gold and silver paper, glue, brushes, scissors, feathers, fabric, trim of all sorts, felt pens, and elastic. Plaster strips lie in a neat pile and for days people have been rotating through Melissa’s practiced hands making masks to cover their eyes. The white casts stand in rows at various stages of decoration and with the new year Masked Ball beginning at ten, there’s some urgency to make he final touches.
We’ve overcome the 12 hour shift issue by having two parties. One will celebrate the new year tonight at Tasmanian summer time. The other takes place tomorrow coinciding with the GMT new year.
The E Deck Bar gradually fills with things nautical. There are all manner of gorgeous creatures, not yet described, but I am a fish and have golden scales with some bright orange highlights to lend a touch of the kipper. Hanne has four sets of stuffed panty hose dangling from her waist. She is an octopus. Esmee’s scales continue down her body and she wears a fin. We have pirates, a myopic professor, there’s even a flashing mooring! There are lavish costumes fashioned from garbags and chux and pillow slips. Voyage Leader, Martin Riddle has decorated his thermals to become a daring Riddler. Thomas has raided Jean Francois’ spare fishing net and Belinda has arrived in her own wine box. This fabulous construction includes contents and those needing a top up simply decant at her hip!
Drinks are charged, the minute to midnight counted down in a universal shout, ‘happy new year’ greetings go round the room, music is wound up and the dancing continues till the early hours.
Margot Foster is a journalist currently on board the Australian Aurora Australis, an Australian research vessel currently participating in the Census of Antarctic Marine Life (CAML, IPY project 53). She works with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
