Questions and Answers

Here are answers to the questions recenly asked. I had to ask around
some but I think we got them all. Thanks for asking!

Garrett,
Question : How large is the glider? weight? Are there any dormant
volcanoes on the Antarctic Continent?
Answer: The glider was about 75lbs and five feet long. I am told most
of the weight comes from large batteries in the glider. It also houses
instruments that measure salinity, bathymetry, and currents, among other
parameters. And yes, there is an active volcano at Deception Island.

Claudia,
Question: Did the temperature of the water have anything to do with
glider malfunction?
We don't believe water temperature played a role in the malfunction of
the glider. A wing that is used to stabilize the glider broke off at
some point, and it is thought that currents or tides caused it to wash
up onto a rocky beach. It was still broadcasting a signal, it just was
no longer moving through the water as planned.

John,
Question: How close can the ship get to shore?
Answer: The ship can navigate in waters no less than 6 meters due to
its draft (how much ship is below the water line). However the captain
doesn't take it closer than 100 meters due to uncharted pinnacles and
the unknown about much of the bathymetry of this area (what the bottom
looks like).

Shelby,
Question: Can temperature of water in this part of the ocean have any
weight on productivity of concentration of nutrients? What is average
temperature this time of year?
Answer: A process like upwelling would affect the water temperature
and also affects the amount of nutrients found in that water. Colder,
nutrient rich waters can be pushed up by currents and the shape of
icebergs. We have found that surface waters have averaged 1C, waters
from the middle of the water column have averaged -.5C and the bottom
waters, which should not change much has been 2C. The Southern Ocean is
very productive for primary producers.

David Sybert aboard R/V Laurence M Gould