The Fog
[This post written 6/11/08; position: lat -57’49”, long -44’28”; temp 1C; wind chill -13C]
I have had a very low-key day, still dealing with lack of equilibrium due to this head cold. Didn’t make it down to breakfast this morning. I dined on crackers in my cabin. Outside, the fog was so heavy that the iceberg was nearly invisible. Temperature read-outs on the monitor showed it was barely freezing outside — unseasonably warm to say the least. General mood was subdued, as the loss of the ROV is now confirmed. It is well and truly gone, which is a blow to everyone. Still, there was some exciting science going on down on the main deck today, I knew. Last night, they launched the MOCNESS, a water sampling device spoken of variously as “a monstrocity” and “a very clever invention, when it works right.”
MOCNESS stands for Multiple Opening-Closing Net Environmental Sensing System. I have not actually seen this thing, but from what I hear, it is several meters square and is towed from the ship’s conducting cable through the stern A-frame. It has six nets, each with a 10 square meter mouth opening, and each of these can be controlled separately to gather samples at different locations. It’s used mainly to collect krill, and I knew several scientists, including Ron Kaufmann, were very much looking forward to seeing what came out of it. The previous night, the planned deployment didn’t happen because getting the device ready is such a process.
So I was hoping to get down there and see what the MOCNESS yielded. But never could keep my balance well enough to do it. Late in the day, word came down that the iceberg had split apart. I made it up to the bridge to see what was up, though I didn’t manage to stay long. It was very eerie up there. The fog is so heavy, nothing is visible from the big windows. It’s easy to imagine anything coming out of that curtain, even Cthulhu himself. A good, big chunk of the iceberg has indeed broken off. Don’t know yet whether this will change our plans or not.
Wow! A Lovecraft reference. Nice.
Sorry to hear about the continued technical difficulties. Hope morale hasn’t taken too big a hit. The science crew needs a big success to turn this thing around.
Or a big night of sorting krill. That’s always fun…
I’m glad I’m not the only one thinking of Cthulhu when I saw the top shot! (Yup, I’m a gaming geek).
So, if the ice berg is now two, is it still the right one?
(Also, yay krill!)
Nancy: I am a voice from the past. William saw me at local art venue (yes, I am an artist) and he told me where you are. I am so excited about this and am reading everything I can get my eyes on to understand what is happening there. I’ve been to ChristChurch and have had thought of going to Antarctica. I met a young man yesterday who had signed on for a 6 month stint at Camp McAddo (sp?) He was buying flowers to say goodbye to his girlfriend as he is acting as a chef once at the destination. I am/was William’s 7th grade teacher. I can relate to the fog having been out in Alaskan waters in a small boat without a compass, also in my own boat out in the fog out from Bodega Bay. Fog is not a good feeling. The other thing that I can relate to is the iceberg being 120. Ten years ago my parachute ripped over Hogan Dam and I fell 120 feet into the the water. That resulted eventually in a spinal fusion. But that is neither here nor there. I just wanted to send my greetings and to let you know that I am thinking about you and reading everything. I just know a great book will come out of this. Helen Betz