We are swimming and making progress! It is nice to be back in the water. As much as Fryxell ice can be a nemesis, this dive tube is spectacular! There are parts in the tube where it seems you can see all the way across the lake; it's as if you could swim right through - except it is SOLID ice! Everyone dove today. Peter and I have begrudgingly become part of the "wet dry suit club". Both of our suits leaked water today. I poured about a cup of ice cold water out of my arm and had to wring out the sleeves of my poly pro when I got out. But - I believe I have found, and fixed the problem in my suit (ha - haven't I said this before?). My dump valve - which lets air out of my suit - was loose and had some grit in it. I have cleaned it all out and refitted it. Hopefully (fingers crossed!) no more leaks. We are still chasing Peter's suit issues. We know the zipper leaks and his dump valve is also leaking. We hope to have him dry again soon!
We collected six core samples, launched Hal, and set out a light sensor today. It feels great to be productive. Hopefully our luck will continue tomorrow. The dive hole is in an area where we seem to be able to access all the targeted mats. We can also reach the anoxic sulphidic zone - where the water is lacking oxygen and hydrogen sulphide is present. We hope to collect samples from there. We have confirmed that the sulphide layer occurs at approximately 9.3 meters depth. At this depth, a distinctive odor of sulfur permeates into the mask; this is the familiar "rotten egg smell". In this layer, there are organisms living that require both oxygen and sulfide, so it is perfect conditions for them! The bottom mat here is quite different than Lake Hoare. There is an almost crusty layer on the top of the mat, it also appears to be more "honeycombed" in places.
I didn't take my camera in with me today. I wanted to be able to focus on the core collecting without a camera dangling off my wrist. I hope to get at least a couple photos tomorrow of the bottom mat as well as the tube ice. It is quite interesting.
|
I have to chuckle at this sign hanging on the jamesway door. It made me think of staying in hotels when there is a sign to show the nearest exit route. In Antarctica - the signs show where the survival stash is kept!
|
We inflated Peter's suit in order to pour soapy water on it to pinpoint where the leaks are located. When the suit is inflated, and there is soapy water on it, the leaking air makes the soapy water bubble; thus we can find the leaks!
|
 |
Zipper bubbles are trouble! |
 |
|
Peter prepares the caps for the core tubes. We will push these tubes into the mat, plug the top to create suction, then pull the tube out of the mat and cap the bottom. The tubes will then be frozen and transported back to Chicago for analysis.
|
Peter gets ready to deploy R2D2 again. |
 |
|
Kay, about to go in and collect a couple of samples. We have a nice platform to the dive hole don't we?
|
Peter is very pleased with the collected samples and the location of this hole.
|
 |
 |
Chillin' while the compressor refills the dive tanks.
|
Meda and Maciek warm up by the "fire" with a cup of tea.
|
 |
Antarctica 2006 
Antarctica 2006 homepage.