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Tom Litwin: On Thin Ice
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Thursday, 26 March 2009 14:16
Two Worlds, One Walrus
Transmission Location: At sea, 21 miles south of Punuk Island (sample station NEC2), south of St. Lawrence Island. Lat/Long: 62deg 42 min N/168 deg 38 min W (grid 62.70). Time: 0834. Temperature: 1.0 dgF, Wind: 24 mph from NW. Wind Chill: ?22 dgF. Scattered clouds, 30% cover. Sunrise: 9:07 AM, Sunset: 9:22 PM. Ice: New ice, small floes, 1-2ft, high ridges. Note: large group of ~30 walrus on large floe ice edge, in and out of water. Ship’s log by Tom Litwin, scientist profiles by Tom Walker.
Flying into Gambell, the Bering sea and Russian Siberian coast beyond. Photo Credit: Tom Litwin
This ...
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Monday, 23 March 2009 22:38
Contrasts, helicopter operations, and eiders
Transmission Location: At sea, 30 miles SW of Southwest Cape, (sample station SEC1.5), St Lawrence Island. Lat/Long: 62deg 49 min N/170 deg 38 min W (grid 62.82). Time: 0915. Temperature: ?0.5 dgF, Wind: 17.8 mph from NW. Wind Chill: ?22 dgF. Scattered clouds @ 1000ft. Sunrise: 9:15 AM, Sunset: 9:41 PM. Ice: New ice- Nilas/Young-/2-6”. Ship’s log by Tom Litwin, scientist profiles by Tom Walker.
Laysan albatross forgage in Bering sea “hot spots”. Photo Credit: Tamara Zeller, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The desk I’m writing at is actually a chart table in the back corner of th...
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Monday, 23 March 2009 15:44
Ice Deployment, Best Laid Plans
Transmission Location: At sea, 30 miles SW of Southwest Cape, (sample station SEC1.5), St Lawrence Island. Lat/Long: 62deg 49 min N/170 deg 38 min W (grid 62.82). Time: 0915. Temperature: ?0.5 dgF, Wind: 17.8 mph from NW. Wind Chill: ?22 dgF. Scattered clouds @ 1000ft. Sunrise: 9:15 AM, Sunset: 9:41 PM. Ice: New ice- Nilas/Young-/2-6”. Ship’s log by Tom Litwin, scientist profiles by Tom Walker.
Think flexibility. This is an important ingredient for travel in the Northern Being Sea. A stickler for events unfolding the way planned could find this to be a very long, nerve-wracking experience. The combined influences of wind, ice, and currents humble even the best laid plans. Fluidity in mind and action serves well those working in the ice. Today is a case in point. ...
Sunday, 22 March 2009 17:49
More Than Frozen Water
Transmission Location: At sea, 46 miles SW of Sikniq Cape (sample station SEC2), St Lawrence Island.
Lat/Long: 62deg 12 min N/170 deg 16 min W (grid 62.2). Time: 0925. Temperature: ?1.5 dgF, Wind: 19.5 mph from NW. Wind Chill: ?19 dgF. Clear skies. Sunrise: 9:41 AM, Sunset: 9:39 PM. Ice: very close pack, new ice ~3ft. thick, big floes. Ship’s log by Tom Litwin, scientist profiles by Tom Walker.
USCGC HEALY’S ICEBREAKING BOW, BOSON MATE JIM MERTEN Photo Credit: Tom Litwin
I’m standing in the Forward Machine Room where I can put my palm on the inboard side of the Healy’s stem, the most forward part ...
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Friday, 20 March 2009 03:35
On Station
Transmission Location: At sea, 25 miles SW of Northwest Cape, Gambell Village, St Lawrence Island.
Lat/Long: 63deg 45.282 min N/171 deg 47.34 min W (grid 63.75). Time: 0915. Temperature: ?1.5 dgF, Wind: 19.5 mph from NW. Wind Chill: ?19 dgF. Clear skies. Sunrise: 9:41 AM, Sunset: 9:39 PM. Ice: very close pack, new ice ~3ft. thick, big floes. Note: Ravens on ice, St. Lawrence Island clearly visible from Bridge. Reports provided by Tom Litwin and Tom Walker.
MOUNTAINS OF ST. LAWRENCE ISLAND’S SOUTH COAST FROM DECK OF USCGS HEALY Photo Credit: Tom Litwin
The first sampling station quickly reveals t...
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Wednesday, 18 March 2009 17:50
Into the Bering Sea, Into the Ice
Transmission Location: At sea, 70 miles SW of Southwest Cape, St Lawrence Island
Lat/Long: 63.16.2N/173.43.7W. Time: 0900 Temperature: ?5.1 dgF, Wind: 7 mph from NW
Wind Chill: ?22 dgF. Clear skies. Sunrise: 9:47 AM, Sunset: 9:39 PM. Ice: compact sea ice/w leads and lakes. Note: Walrus en route to first station.
The Healy left the Gulf of Alaska on March 12, entering Unimak Pass at 2:00 AM. This major navigational route passes between the Aleutian Islands of Unimak and Akun, the gateway between the North Pacific and Bering Sea. Emerging from the pass before dawn, the ship’s navigator set a course that would bring the Healy just east of St. Paul Island in the Pribilofs by 7:30 PM.
...
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Tuesday, 17 March 2009 19:44
Rendezvous In Kodiak
USCGC HEALY ENTERING CHINIAK BAY, KODIAK, ALASKA
Credit: Tom Walker
Transmission Location: At sea, 70 miles SW of Southwest Cape, St Lawrence Island
Temperature: 8.5 dgF, Wind Chill: ?22 dgF. Wind: 13 mph from NW
Sunrise: 9:47 AM, Sunset: 9:39 PM. Ice: compact sea ice.
The rendezvous with our ship was easier for some than others. The Seattle-based U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy was making its way to Kodiak to meet the science research team, load equipment, board the science party, and then sail on to the Bering Sea. The route to Kodiak seemed simple enough. Then, two and a half days out the wind pic...