After some mostly sunny days of adventure in the Weddell Sea, National Geographic Explorer experienced more typical Antarctic Peninsula weather with fog, precipitation, and patches of sun. After breakfast, we began the day with a great talk from National Geographic photo expert Jennifer Lopez about how NASA’s research in space and Antarctica are very connected and beneficial to each other.
A Zodiac full of Global Explorers and Grosvenor Teacher Fellows Joe Muise and Matthew Holden embarked on a Science Expedition while other guests took a scenic tour of Cierva Cove. A fine mesh net with a collection cup was dragged through the water column to allow us to catch and observe the smaller creatures of the Antarctic food web. We caught an Antarctic krill, quickly dubbed ‘Krill Nye the Science Guy’ by the Global Explorers, as well as a variety of other planktonic creatures. Grosvenor teacher Joe Muise brought a thermal camera on the expedition and took images of the icebergs, penguins, and other objects to show to the Global Explorers and his students in British Columbia.
While the Zodiacs cruised about looking at icebergs, whales, penguins, and the Argentine Base Primavera, National Geographic Explorer traveled deeper toward the glacier and observed a leopard seal and some calving. Low clouds and fog hovered over the landscape, offering an interesting contrast to the blues and whites of the glacier and the ice it had discharged into Cierva Cove.
