Mon, 30 Apr 2007, Icedyn

This is the name of the scientific program which second part just ended, after 2 days measurements on pack ice, at 7 km from Vagabond. The researcher Frédéric Vivier and I set up several instruments, including a prototype under test and calibration, to measure heat exchange between air and ocean, ice and snow thickness, salinity, temperature, current... Few visitors, including 2 polar bears, came for company or only to watch us from a distance, while the sun was going down, without disappearing. Despite midnight sun, temperature went down to -22°C early in the morning, but luckily, no wind, great sight, always so imposing. Next sun set, 20th August. Before enjoying summer sailing, the coming weeks should be more quiet for 3 of us, until the ice breaking-up, probably in July, like the two past years.

Posted Apr 2007 30 at 00:13 [en - fr]

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