With the arrival of the second group of scientists last weekend the weather and ice finally cooperated and we were able to get extremely close to the glacier. The scientists got all of the research they had planned for the week completed, and I took a bunch more pictures. It was interesting to hear them talk about the glaciers, and how they affect the ecosystem of Icy Bay. I was really surprised to hear that the main glacier in the back of the bay is advancing at a fairly fast rate, and due to tectonic plate activity under the bay, the mouth of the bay is actually closing at a rate of 3 inches per year. So, in one hundred thousand years or so, some pretty exciting things will be happening here.
Here are a few more pictures from the past week, along with a quick video clip of one of the glaciers calving.
The two devices in front of the scientist pictured below are now suspended off the bottom, in 350’ of water. They will spend the next year there. You might also notice the wood stove in the background… that’s what they used as an anchor.
Not much for excitement is planned for the next week, but the strawberries are ripe, and we had our first hard rain of the year today. It won’t be long and we’ll have our first returns of salmon, and I’ll be able to finally get some fishing in again. I’m looking forward to spending some time as far away as possible from all that ice!
Nick
if the stove works will it melt the glaciar?
Comment by Grandma Carolyn — July 27, 2010 @ 6:12 pm