Russian research ship stuck in ice Antarctica

[bob10]

It's not being stuck that worries me, it's what they've discovered, Bob


Features





https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/01/1106.jpgTrapped in sea ice (http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-25519059)

BBC producer on Russian ship stuck in pack ice off Antarctica







Findings by the AAE's oceanographer Erik van Sebille, of the University of New South Wales, are also significant. He discovered that the water beneath the extensive sea ice covering Commonwealth Bay at this time of year is much fresher, less salty than in Mawson's times.


This finding is of global interest. Commonwealth Bay is one of the metaphorical cylinders of the great heat engine of the global ocean system.


The winds and cold temperatures here normally generate great volumes of very cold and very salty water. This dense water plunges to abyssal ocean depths and helps to drive the circulation of water from pole to equator, redistributing heat around the planet.


Van Sebille's discovery of such freshwater at depths of 50m suggests the oceanic engine here has stalled. The planetary consequences of that are as yet unclear.

[goingbush]

Sounds familiar, isn't that what starts off the next ice age in "The Day after Tomorrow"

[87County]

It is a theory and will have immense/interesting consequences if it comes to pass

For those interested it is covered in more depth (no pun intended) in the most recent podcasts by the journos on the voyage.

BBC - Podcasts and Downloads - Discovery (http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/discovery) .... (can be downloaded/played off itunes as well)

interesting listening :-)

BTW - the cruise ship, while built for the ice, is stuck and 3 other ships incl Aurora Australis will be there to assist in a few days

[Ausfree]

A Chinese icebreaker named "Snow Dragon" has almost reached them!!!!:D

http://www.startribune.com/world/237450891.html

[87County]

more news


Ice-breaker called in for Antarctic rescue mission (http://www.smh.com.au/world/icebreaker-called-in-for-antarctic-rescue-mission-20131227-2zzm1.html)

[stallie]

Now the Chinese Xue Long can't get to them - it's only 6 miles away. It's a BIG no expense spared ex Russian icebreaker.

The bathtub L'Astrolabe (French ship) is nearby but it's pretty average in the ice.

And the Aurora Australis is on its way. If the Xue Long can't do it, then I doubt the AA will. The AA is not actually a true ice breaker - it has a smooth bow that rides up on the ice and the weight of the ship crushes it.

What a lot of people don't realise is the effect that these rescues have on the short October - March Antarctic Seasons of most nations. The AA had to stop the annual resupply at Casey for this rescue, and by the time it gets back (if it hasn't used too much fuel needing a return to Hobart) a significant percentage of the season will be lost. That equals cancelled science programs at Casey, coming on top of cancelled science programs at Davis after the chopper crash a month ago. And the AA was already two weeks behind schedule after it got stuck in pack ice off Davis in November....

[87County]

So was this stranded ship just on a tourist cruise ?

They're calling themselves the "Australian Antarctic Expedition" - sounds real but the official organisation of the Australian Antarctic Diviision is the Australian Antarctic Programme (AAp formerly the ANARE).

Hard not to be a little cynical but looks just a little that they're "trading on a name".

hmmm... too early to say I know, but I hope they haven't "done a Shakleton"? (got their boat stuck in the ice).

[wrinklearthur]

I'm wondering about the value of their research, it seems too quick to be of any value. A bit of hit and go, to generate headlines perhaps.

In the same vane as all of the walking expeditions to the pole, the staff at Amundsen-Scott Base will need to install traffic signs to stop the groups bumping into each other, another Mount Everest situation.
.

[goingbush]

not to mention tourists driving to the south pole

not much publicity about this tho
Expeditions 7 Completes Bid on South Pole - News - ExPo: Adventure and Overland Travel Enthusiasts (http://www.expeditionportal.com/news/2705-expeditions-7-completes-bid-on-south-pole.html)

[stallie]

I'm pretty sure this was an expedition to Mawson's Hut in collaboration with the Mawson's Hut foundation (those behind the recreation of Mawson's Hut next to Larks on the Hobart Waterfront, which (both!) are well worth a visit). They have been restoring the hut in Antarctica for several years and this year conducting some science there which I think was to remeasure some of Mawson's data from some 100 years ago.

The Australian Antarctic Division (i.e. your taxes) don't have a base or conduct research at Commonwealth Bay, their very limited funds are focussed on the three main bases much further west, in the other slice of our "territorial cheese".

So to maintain the hut, and an Australian presence in our of the continent during a time when China, India, Korea and others are in a race to build as many bases as they can for what I believe will be more power (over the vast resources) when the Antarctic Treaty comes up for review, the funding is left to non government agencies. The only way that these NGO's can fund the expedition is to have tourists on board as well.

[wrinklearthur]

I had a read about the research and found that the scientists were using data recorded by Douglas Mawson himself, so I was a bit off the mark suggesting that the research didn't have an wide enough time span, one hundred years does give a fair result.

BBC News - Science continues for trapped Australasian Antarctic expedition (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25519059)
.

[bob10]

latest news, Bob


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25540040 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25540040)