January 3, 2000

Steve Dunbar on Torgersen Island.

It was a relaxed day, as we are still unwinding from all the fanfare of the past few weeks. Steve and I went out to scout recording locations and to monitor marine mammal traffic in the area--particularly offshore. There are several locations in the area where scientists take samples of sea water for various research projects. Station E is at the edge of the two-mile boating limit from Palmer Station and lies roughly between Hermit and Outcast Islands. The depth at this point is about 100 fathoms. Our interest is that there has been an increase in the number of humpback whale sightings. We listened to the deep--no whales, but some interesting leopard seal trilling and a lot of iceberg sounds. The water is changing color, and brownish shoals of foam float on the swell, revealing algae and phytoplankton: summer is coming into full bloom. With the surge in these tiny organisms the krill will follow and, with krill, whales are soon to appear in greater numbers. So we wait, and appreciate the rhythm and pace at which the season turns.

We had planned a trip to Old Palmer Station to make some recordings in an ice cave. However, the brash ice had blown in on a Westerly wind and made access difficult. We decided to wait for better weather and try again, rather than risk a sudden reversal of conditions. The afternoon brought a variety of snow squalls: from bead-like crystals to big fluffy flakes.

A group of us wiled away the evening reading Dr. Seuss stories to one another in the galley...