[From the logs of Tara, a research vessel sailing into Arctic pack ice during 2006-2008.]

As we continue to organise our life on board for the long polar night ahead, a constant preoccupation is the production, use and discharge of water. Ensuring that we have a sufficient amount of good quality water for our basic needs is a big task for at least two people each day. Like most large boats, we have a watermaker onboard that makes freshwater from seawater through the process of osmosis.

In temperate climates we can produce up to 200 liters per hour. However, in our current position close to 83 degrees north the water temperature is -1.5 degrees celsius and the temperature in the forward hold (the location of the watermaker) has descended to -7 degrees, below the minimum operating temperature of 0 degrees. Therefore, we now produce our water by melting ice and snow. We have a small water tank of 200 liters that supplies both the galley and shower. Inside this tank is a heating element from the boats central heating system. We also have another container in the Galley in which we melt ice passively and very efficiently just using the ambient temperature.

Continue reading Tara: Water management up North.

Congratulations to Halley Research Station (76 degrees South) - 50 years old this year! Last week we had a celebration bringing together everyone from members of the Royal Society IGY advanced party, to current winterers via a live internet linkup to Antarctica. I went along officially as an ex-winterer but un-officially on the look-out for stuff for the Natural History Museum's Ice Station Antarctica. Part of the celebration featured a do-it-yourself exhibition (above); an eclectic collection of maps, t-shirts, flags and wonderful but poignant photos of an age of exploration gone by.

While many nations have awarded medals for Arctic and Antarctic exploration and scientific research over the last 200 years, Russia has also awarded special breast badges for these services. The tradition of breast badges dates back to the middle of the 19th century, when they were presented by military academies. Toward the end of the 1800s, all manner of badges were being produced, including those with maritime connections. Some honored the launching of ships, goodwill naval visits to foreign seaports, awards for winners of boat races — and to commemorate ocean voyages. After the Soviet Union came into existence in 1922, the tradition of awarding special badges was continued by Soviet civil and military institutions.

Continue reading Badges for Imperial Russian & Soviet Polar Exploration and Research.

[From the logs of Tara, a research vessel sailing into Arctic pack ice during 2006-2008.]

The days are rapidly becoming shorter and shorter as the polar night approaches. Our preparation continues for winter and today we began installing our hydroponics garden in one corner of the saloon. Kindly supplied to us by General Hydroponics Europe, this system promises to provide us with fresh veggies throughout the winter months. Not only giving us a good source of vitamins, it will also create a welcome winter activity. Gamet has already shown his green fingers by nurturing a variety of plants on board, including one rose that is about to flower, giving us a welcome burst of colour and life.

Continue reading Tara: Arctic vegetable garden.

These creepy critters gave me the shivers whilst measuring them up for display. Our new exhibition, Ice Station Antarctica, will have a section about how animals have adapted to the cold Antarctic seas. Both these guys demonstrate gigantism; the sea spider (right) is 1000 times bigger than it's European counterpart. The sea louse (left) is 50 times bigger than a normal louse. Thank you Lloyd Peck from British Antarctic Survey for supplying them. They'll be alarming our more squeamish visitors to the National History Museum next May.