- Details
- Written by: Michelle Curtis
Antarctica seems like such an exotic place. But just how different is daily life at a remote field station from life back at home?
- Details
- Written by: Jim McClintock
Without revealing my age, I confess that my first expedition to a polar region of the planet (the sub-Antarctic island of Kerguelen in the Southern Indian Ocean) provided a glimpse of truly historic ‘comms’ (communications). Here in 1982, at the Port-aux-Français research station, communicating with family and friends was accomplished by sending a telegram.
- Details
- Written by: CJ Brothers
Taking organic chemistry as an undergraduate almost finished my career in biology before it ever started. So, it’s ironic that I am now part of a project that involves both biology and chemistry. Fortunately, I have discovered that the “hands-on” chemistry in this project is remarkably like doing your laundry!
- Details
- Written by: Maggie Amsler
It has been said of Palmer weather “if you don’t like it, wait a few minutes”. This was obvious the other day as not only Station’s weather changed, but so too its climate! David Bowie sang: “Ch-Ch-ch-changes …. time can change me, but I can’t trace time”. Nonetheless, I will try to trace some rather dramatic recent changes in the following paragraphs.
- Details
- Written by: Sabrina Heiser
A picture is worth a thousand words – whenever I try to paint an image with words describing the beauty of the underwater world in Antarctica, I like to pull out my pictures and videos because
- Details
- Written by: Michelle Curtis
What do tropical storm-force winds, ten aquaria, and lots of snails have in common? They are all key components to the excitement that has comprised our past week!
- Details
- Written by: Jim McClintock
Lots of people like to fish; the communion with nature, the smells of salt water, and the tap-pity-tap tug on the line. And then there’s Palmer Station’s hazardous waste expert, Rob Bergeron.
- Details
- Written by: Chuck Amsler
Tuesday was a very special day here at Palmer Station and we threw a party – a birthday party. Tuesday, 20 March 2018, was the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the current station.
- Details
- Written by: CJ Brothers
The rumors about the food at Palmer Station reach across oceans and continents.
- Details
- Written by: Maggie Amsler
Life at a snail’s pace is anything but slow or boring. My focus since arriving at Palmer Station has been chasing after small to wee tiny snails that live on a very large brown alga easily collected in the subtidal.
- Details
- Written by: Chuck Amsler
We’ve written a bit in past posts and will a lot more in future ones about the cool things we see when we dive into the very cold water here. Doing those dives includes a well-practiced, tried-and-true set of procedures for getting in and out of the water from/into our inflatable Zodiac boat.
- Details
- Written by: Sabrina Heiser
What use do PVC pipe, window screening and cable ties have in Antarctica: We are soon to open our suite of amphipod hotels to their first inhabitants. I am not talking about an adventure for human tourists in Antarctica but rather an experimental set up which includes fun and colorful units which we like to call amphipod hotels.
- Details
- Written by: Michelle Curtis
Do you love touch tanks? Have you ever wondered what kinds of fascinating creatures are found on the seafloor in Antarctica? Well, let me give you a sneak peek by sharing one of my favorite parts of Antarctica with you… our sorting table.
- Details
- Written by: Jim McClintock
You could hear the joy in the voice of doctoral student Michelle Curtis upon learning that the tan hand-sized sea star (Neosmilaster georgianus) in the sorting table, was in fact roosting on about 100 large, orange yolky eggs.
- Details
- Written by: CJ Brothers
What do bubble-watching, lots of fleece layers, and ski masks have in common?
- Details
- Written by: Maggie Amsler
With the project’s initial diving priority of locating and assessing the 14 algal-bearing substrate experiments left over winter in the water well underway, yesterday Bill and I concentrated on collecting familiar organisms we have been studying for many years because of their intriguing chemistry. So, despite gusting winds and intermittent snow squalls, with tenders Sabrina doubling as zodiac captain and Chuck (taking picture) as first mate, we set out for a dive on nearby Gamage Point. - Details
- Written by: Chuck Amsler
After four days when we first got here with the weather keeping us from getting out in the boats to dive, we’ve had five straight days of relative calm that has allowed us to get out each day.
- Details
- Written by: Sabrina Heiser
Being one of the lucky people who was already at Palmer Station last season, it probably only took about 5 minutes for me to feel at home again. And of course, like everyone else, I was eager to get back in the water. This time around, I had a different reason though for my unrest: an anxious anticipation for the reunion with our long-term experiments.
- Details
- Written by: Michelle Curtis
I am writing from the couch in the galley with a wood burning fireplace to my left and an incredible view of icebergs and snow-covered islands in front of me. This morning has been spent talking with new friends while watching crabeater and leopard seals peacefully floating by on ice floes.
- Details
- Written by: Jim McClintock
You have to be a jack of all trades to carry out science at an Antarctic research station. Moving stuff is one of them. Our UAB team’s arrival at Palmer Station yesterday was celebratory; four of us were reunited with old friends, two rejoiced in a newfound home. Today, the celebration is over. Time to move in.