Weekly Repport ANT XVII/3-1 (18-24.3.2000)

Of course, we should have known: the calm weather couldn't last forever. Ever since yesterday "Polarstern" has pounded and rolled through a rough Southern Ocean, whose grey demeanour is broken only by white horses and stripes of foam. Last night and this morning we passed through the Polar Front which was not as well defined as in other years. The water temperatures were just over 2°C, the air temperature just on freezing, and the wind strength between 6 and 8 Beaufort. We have now run into the Antarctic proper, which will be our work area for the next four weeks, and the temperature has dropped to 1°C. The ship is extremely full, and not only with the 45 crew members and 62 scientists (including a meteorologist and the helicopter crew) who represent 11 different nations. It is also bursting with containers, sampling gear and lab equipment. This has consequences. A big party cannot take place in the near future because the pancake buoys of the British group are covering the E-deck and numerous boxes are blocking the wet labs. The table tennis table is not even unfolded because containers are blocking its traditional area. Fortunately, the longstanding champion, Detlef Knoop isn't aboard to see this! But seriously, we will have to show a great deal of tolerance to deal with these cramped conditions until mid May. We are all full of goodwill and we are supported by the ever helpful crew, the lovely atmosphere aboard, and an excellent cook who, with the help of his colleagues, is performing miracles.

Contrary to our fears (that arose because the friction winch had to be repaired in Capetown) we were able to leave Capetown by March 18. The extended stay was filled with a workshop on board about logistics and scientific co-operation with South Africa, followed by a press conference and a reception for about 100 people. All that remain to remind us of these pre-departure activities are two enormous flower bouquets on and behind the bridge. For the first few days Neptune was sympathetic and provided us with calm seas, and the African continent smiled its goodbyes with bright sunshine. Small dolphins and rockhopper penguins were porpoising on the bows escorting us southward and up until Monday the air and surface waters stayed at 17°C. On Tuesday, as we crossed the Subtropical Front, the temperature dropped by nearly 7 to 10°C. Albatrosses and storm petrels became our permanent companions but the weather stayed calm. This gave us a chance to solve the remaining problems we brought with us and to adapt to life on board. Only the stewardesses had to work at full power right from the start because, without exception, none of us suffered from seasickness.

In the Subtropical Front we took a multicore sample from 4,600 m depth for the geologists as well as plankton samples with the multinet, and we subsequently repeated the plankton activities in the Polar Front. After a bit of a struggle, we finally got the water bottles of the Bio-Rosi closed, and did the usual uncurling of the warps of the fish trawls and the first test of the newly repaired friction winch connected with a short test haul with the pelagic net. Now we shall steam to Atka Bay without major stoppages and we hope that the deep low, which is at 60° south and lying in wait for us on our present course, will drift a little to the east. We have plenty to do: we are presenting work programmes, making the first sampling plans, continuing to unpack, and preparing our labs and gear....

Until next week, goodbye from the autumnal Antarctic.

Yours,

Wolf Arntz (Cruise Leader)