18 July, 2003

Water Sampling At

Diomede

While on Little Diomede Island this past March/April we periodically sampled seawater at a number of locations where we had augured holes through the ice earlier. At each location we took a GPS reading and lowered instruments into the water to measure salinity, temperature and dissolved oxygen. Readings were taken near the bottom of the sea and about one meter below the bottom of the ice. We also collected water samples at each site.

On this trip we returned to the GPS locations to repeat the process, although this time by boat. At about 7:30 in the morning Lee, Ari, Rebecca and I (each wearing the fashionable bright orange Mustang survival suit) scrambled down the rope ladder onto a small boat.

We immediately headed to our northern most sites skipping through the choppy water and the cold, cold, cold, cold wind. However, in my survival suit I was sweltering. We stayed near the Diomede shoreline observing the bird life masses. After being buzzed by murres, puffins and other species we reached the site and collected our samples and data.

The next sites were located just offshore from the science shack and the proposed permanent water intake line. After three more sites I boarded a zodiac and headed back to the Laurier. What I thought was just a mild case of seasickness have progressively gotten worse. I fumbled through three stations over night after we left Diomede and headed north and at about 10:00 on the morning of the 18th my body had enough. I spent the next twenty-six hours in bed with stomach flu.

Having the a stomach flu on a rocking ship was bad enough but even worse was the fact that I did not get to go ashore again on Diomede and I slept through the Arctic Crossing Ceremony aboard ship. But even far worse than those two things was that I missed 6 meals, something you do not want to do aboard this ship. (Yes they are that good)

Rebecca (L) and Ari (R)bundled up against the cold while collecting data off Little Diomede.

Back aboard the Laurier the Captians checks out the mud screening finds.

Lots of sand dollars begin to appear at these stations.