Posts Tagged ‘ice’

Cold water, big tides

January 12, 2017

After a very cold night, there was a layer of ice on Pedder Bay again this morning which allowed for some interesting observations and data collection by marine scientists.

ice-fragments

Data below were collected by second year Marine Science students at two different times of the morning.

8:05 am 11:00 am
Depth (m) Temp (oC) Salinity (ppt) Temp (oC) Salinity (ppt)
0 3.7 28.4 4.6 25.9
0.5 5.8 29.3 5.8 30.1
1.0 6.4 30.3 6.7 30.6
2.0 6.7 30.6 6.7 30.7
3.0 6.7 30.7 6.8 30.8
4.0 6.8 30.7 6.9 30.8
5.0 6.8 30.7 6.9 30.8

One major conclusion can be drawn:

The water is COLD (right down to 5 m where we usually measure temperatures around 10oC). It is so cold that students’ tongues are turning blue:

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Wait a minute… the cold is not the reason for the blue tongues in these Biology students!

We are also experiencing big tides these days (2.8 m tidal range). High tides in the early afternoon:

Then low tides at night:

low-tide

Emilio, Heather & Millie at low tide (20:15 11 Jan 2017)

Interesting times!

And now it’s snowy AND icy in Pedder Bay

December 5, 2013

White O'

Less than one hour after the spectacular sunrise this morning it began to snow…

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At first the snow wasn’t sticking to the land, but to the ice on the surface of Pedder Bay.

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Despite the freezing temperatures there were many animals frolicking in the water including a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina):

Harbour seal

Common and hooded mergansers and buffleheads:

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What a day on Pedder Bay!

Pedder Bay sunrise – 5 December 2013

December 5, 2013

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Another stunning sunrise this morning. Here is the progression…

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And again there is ice on the surface of Pedder Bay…

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Icy Pedder Bay

December 4, 2013

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There is a thin layer of ice on the surface of Pedder Bay this morning (and a layer of frost on the dock).

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