{"id":1332,"date":"2026-02-25T19:26:34","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T19:26:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/?p=1332"},"modified":"2026-02-25T19:26:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T19:26:35","slug":"antarctic-dispatch-4-cruising-the-southern-ocean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/?p=1332","title":{"rendered":"Antarctic Dispatch 4: Cruising the Southern Ocean"},"content":{"rendered":"<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#foogallery-gallery-1334 .fg-image { width: 800px; }<\/style>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"foogallery foogallery-container foogallery-carousel foogallery-lightbox-foogallery fg-carousel fg-ready fg-light fg-border-medium fg-round-small fg-shadow-medium fg-loading-default fg-loaded-fade-in fg-hover-semi-zoomed fg-hover-fade fg-hover-circle-plus2\" id=\"foogallery-gallery-1334\" 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href=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-cadman-glacier-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1335\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-cadman-glacier-01.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22800%22%20height%3D%221200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20800%201200%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\/bigelow-laboratory-cadman-glacier-02.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1336\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-cadman-glacier-02.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22800%22%20height%3D%221200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20800%201200%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\/bigelow-laboratory-cadman-glacier-03.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1337\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-cadman-glacier-03.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22800%22%20height%3D%221200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20800%201200%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\/bigelow-laboratory-gunnel-channel-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1338\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-gunnel-channel-01.jpg\" 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href=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-gunnel-channel-04.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1341\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-gunnel-channel-04.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22800%22%20height%3D%221200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20800%201200%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\/bigelow-laboratory-gunnel-channel-05.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1342\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-gunnel-channel-05.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22800%22%20height%3D%221200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20800%201200%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\/bigelow-laboratory-lemaire-channel-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1343\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-lemaire-channel-01.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22800%22%20height%3D%221200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20800%201200%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\/bigelow-laboratory-lemaire-channel-02.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1344\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-lemaire-channel-02.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22800%22%20height%3D%221200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20800%201200%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\/bigelow-laboratory-lemaire-channel-03.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1345\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-lemaire-channel-03.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22800%22%20height%3D%221200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20800%201200%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\/bigelow-laboratory-roger-revelle-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1346\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-roger-revelle-01.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22800%22%20height%3D%221200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20800%201200%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\/bigelow-laboratory-roger-revelle-02.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"1347\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bigelow-laboratory-roger-revelle-02.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%22800%22%20height%3D%221200%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20800%201200%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>For the past several weeks, Bigelow Laboratory Senior Research Scientist <strong>Ben Twining<\/strong> has participated in the <strong>IRON-MAN<\/strong> expedition in and around the southernmost continent. Today, Ben shares a few stunning highlights of the geography surrounding Antarctica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ANTARCTIC DISPATCH 4: CRUISING THE SOUTHERN OCEAN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>From Rothera Research Station, the R\/V <em>Sir David Attenborough<\/em> headed north toward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usap.gov\/\">Palmer Station<\/a>. Along the way, we squeezed through the Gunnel Channel on the east side of Adelaide Island. The channel is just one kilometer wide and about 13 kilometers long. It gets its name from the impression that the vessel will scrape its \u201cgunnels,\u201d or gunwales, along the sides of the channel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Cadman Glacier in Beascochea Bay was one of the most remarkable sampling stations I\u2019ve ever experienced.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We also passed through the Lemaire Channel, which is one of the most visited places in Antarctica. It\u2019s easy to see why! The calm water looked like a mirror speckled with icebergs. From here, we headed offshore to sample at the shelf edge, then steered back toward the shore to continue along the Gerlache Strait.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We also met up with the <a href=\"https:\/\/scripps.ucsd.edu\/ships\/revelle\">R\/V <em>Roger Revelle<\/em><\/a>. Each ship hoisted its flags, and the Yanks aboard our British vessel gave a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. The ocean is too important \u2014 and frankly, too big \u2014 for any one nation alone to study it successfully. Collaboration is key to understanding the ocean and unlocking its potential. I\u2019m grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from other nations toward this unifying goal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Glaciers are beautiful, but so are the tiny phytoplankton that Ben\u2019s studying on the IRON-MAN expedition. In the next dispatch, you\u2019ll get a closer look at several diatoms that are abundant in the Antarctic waters. Continue following along here at <a href=\"http:\/\/bigelow.org\/currents\">bigelow.org\/currents<\/a>!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many thanks to Ben for sharing these great captures from the expedition!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For the past several weeks, Bigelow Laboratory Senior Research Scientist Ben Twining has participated in the IRON-MAN expedition in and around the southernmost continent. Today, Ben shares a few stunning highlights of the geography surrounding Antarctica. ANTARCTIC DISPATCH 4: CRUISING THE SOUTHERN OCEAN Glaciers are beautiful, but so are the tiny phytoplankton that Ben\u2019s studying [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1348,"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-1332","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\/1332","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=1332"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1332\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1349,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1332\/revisions\/1349"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1348"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}