{"id":1257,"date":"2026-02-02T17:49:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T17:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/?p=1257"},"modified":"2026-02-02T17:49:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T17:49:02","slug":"antarctic-dispatch-1-punta-arenas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/?p=1257","title":{"rendered":"Antarctic Dispatch 1: Punta Arenas"},"content":{"rendered":"<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#foogallery-gallery-1251 .fg-image { width: 3050px; }<\/style>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"foogallery foogallery-container foogallery-carousel foogallery-lightbox-foogallery fg-carousel fg-ready fg-light fg-border-thin fg-shadow-outline fg-loading-default fg-loaded-fade-in fg-caption-hover fg-hover-fade fg-hover-zoom\" id=\"foogallery-gallery-1251\" data-foogallery=\"{&quot;item&quot;:{&quot;showCaptionTitle&quot;:true,&quot;showCaptionDescription&quot;:true},&quot;lazy&quot;:true,&quot;template&quot;:{&quot;maxItems&quot;:5,&quot;scale&quot;:0.12,&quot;gutter&quot;:{&quot;min&quot;:-40,&quot;max&quot;:-20,&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;%&quot;},&quot;autoplay&quot;:{&quot;time&quot;:0,&quot;interaction&quot;:&quot;pause&quot;},&quot;centerOnClick&quot;:true}}\" data-foogallery-lightbox=\"{&quot;thumbs&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;thumbsCaptions&quot;:false,&quot;thumbsBestFit&quot;:false,&quot;thumbsSmall&quot;:false,&quot;thumbsCaptionsAlign&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;info&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;infoVisible&quot;:true,&quot;infoOverlay&quot;:true,&quot;infoAlign&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;transition&quot;:&quot;fade&quot;,&quot;hoverButtons&quot;:false,&quot;fitMedia&quot;:false,&quot;noScrollbars&quot;:true,&quot;preserveButtonSpace&quot;:true,&quot;buttons&quot;:{&quot;fullscreen&quot;:true,&quot;info&quot;:true,&quot;thumbs&quot;:false},&quot;video&quot;:{&quot;autoPlay&quot;:true}}\" style=\"--fg-title-line-clamp: 0; --fg-description-line-clamp: 0;\" >\n\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"fg-carousel-prev\" title=\"Previous\"><\/button>\n\t<div class=\"fg-carousel-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"fg-carousel-center\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-01-27-Antarctic-Dispatches-01-scaled.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1252\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3050\" height=\"2000\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-01-27-Antarctic-Dispatches-01-scaled.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%223050%22%20height%3D%222000%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%203050%202000%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-01-27-Antarctic-Dispatches-02A-scaled.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1261\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"3050\" height=\"2000\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-01-27-Antarctic-Dispatches-02A-scaled.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%223050%22%20height%3D%222000%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%203050%202000%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-01-27-Antarctic-Dispatches-03A-scaled.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1262\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"3050\" height=\"2000\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-01-27-Antarctic-Dispatches-03A-scaled.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%223050%22%20height%3D%222000%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%203050%202000%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-01-27-Antarctic-Dispatches-04-scaled.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1255\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"3050\" height=\"2000\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-01-27-Antarctic-Dispatches-04-scaled.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%223050%22%20height%3D%222000%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%203050%202000%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-01-27-Antarctic-Dispatches-05-scaled.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1256\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"3050\" height=\"2000\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-01-27-Antarctic-Dispatches-05-scaled.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%223050%22%20height%3D%222000%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%203050%202000%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"fg-carousel-bottom\"><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"fg-carousel-progress\"><\/div>\n\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"fg-carousel-next\" title=\"Next\"><\/button>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Ocean science flourishes in the furthest corners of the globe. This winter \u2014 or summer, for our Southern Ocean enthusiasts! \u2014 Senior Research Scientist\u00a0 <strong>Ben Twining<\/strong> is taking part in the <strong>IRON-MAN expedition<\/strong> in and around the southernmost continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll share updates from Ben throughout the expedition, including behind-the-scenes photos and videos from Antarctica. Check <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\">Currents<\/a><\/strong> regularly during the month of February to follow along with this incredible work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ANTARCTIC DISPATCH 1: PUNTA ARENAS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I flew to <strong>Punta Arenas<\/strong>, Chile, on January 6 to join the <a href=\"https:\/\/usgeotraces.ldeo.columbia.edu\/content\/gp17-oce\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/usgeotraces.ldeo.columbia.edu\/content\/gp17-oce\">IRON-MAN project<\/a>. IRON-MAN is short for <strong>Iron<\/strong> and <strong>Manganese<\/strong>, and we\u2019ll be focusing on how trace metals like these regulate phytoplankton growth and impact the carbon cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s where I boarded the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bas.ac.uk\/polar-operations\/sites-and-facilities\/facility\/rrs-sir-david-attenborough\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.bas.ac.uk\/polar-operations\/sites-and-facilities\/facility\/rrs-sir-david-attenborough\/\"><strong>RRS <em>Sir David Attenborough<\/em><\/strong>,<\/a> a beauty of an icebreaker. One of the most advanced polar research vessels in the world, it was launched in 2018 and is operated by the <strong>British Antarctic Survey<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Punta Arenas, it was also great to see the <a href=\"https:\/\/scripps.ucsd.edu\/ships\/revelle\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/scripps.ucsd.edu\/ships\/revelle\">R\/V<em> Roger Revelle<\/em><\/a> in port! I sailed on the vessel during my previous Southern Ocean expedition. Other colleagues at Bigelow Laboratory have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bigelow.org\/news\/articles\/2021-04-13.html\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.bigelow.org\/news\/articles\/2021-04-13.html\">performed research on the ship<\/a>, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first task during mobilization was to unpack shipping containers filled with scientific gear. We also did a little last-minute shopping for missing screws and \u2018bits and bobs\u2019, as everyone says here. We also topped up the vessel&#8217;s fuel tanks; I think we took about 20 tankers of fuel! When filled, the RRS <em>Sir David Attenborough<\/em> can go 19,000 nautical miles at 13 knots!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After five days of work, we said goodbye to Punta Arenas. Many folks waved from the helicopter, or helo, deck. Then, we headed west out of the <strong>Straight of Magellan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, Ben will share a look at ocean sampling en route to Antarctica. He\u2019ll also introduce you to several new, very large friends he met in the water along the way. Stay tuned!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many thanks to Ben for sharing these great captures from the expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ocean science flourishes in the furthest corners of the globe. This winter \u2014 or summer, for our Southern Ocean enthusiasts! \u2014 Senior Research Scientist\u00a0 Ben Twining is taking part in the IRON-MAN expedition in and around the southernmost continent. We\u2019ll share updates from Ben throughout the expedition, including behind-the-scenes photos and videos from Antarctica. Check [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1259,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","css_class_manager_body_classes":"","css_class_manager_use_in_post_loop":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[101,50,68,75],"class_list":["post-1257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science-ocean-function","tag-antarctic-dispatches","tag-ben-twining","tag-research-cruise","tag-trace-metals-gases"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1257"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1257\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1260,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1257\/revisions\/1260"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}