At Sea
In thinking back on this expedition, it is hard to describe just what the highlight was: Was it the scenery of glacially carved plateaus? Was it the three bears on one ice floe? Was it walrus numbered in the hundreds surrounding the Zodiacs? Or was it the excitement of visiting a place none of us had ever been before?
One of the most astounding parts of Franz Josef Land was its undersea community. The general perception about the cold waters of the high latitudes is that it must be barren wasteland – I mean what in the world would live in 28º F water? In actuality, the arctic water’s are some of the richest in the world. The water is high in oxygen and nutrients, a perfect environment for these cold-water organisms to thrive in. The species that live in them have evolved through time to handle the frigid temperatures, and have specific adaptations to do so. The animals found in these freezing waters, are some of the least studied in the world, and it is not uncommon for previously undocumented creatures to be found on a dive or scientific dredge. It is a place for the weird and wonderful to thrive, as strange bristly worms, and small space creature shaped amphipods are numerable. As one descends through the water column, you are surrounded by small jellyfish-like creatures, creating their own luminescence as the tiny hairs on their body move upwards. The rocky walls are a plethora of organisms, a faded orange or gray color on first glance, but the second the camera lights are shown on them it is a brilliant illumination of color, the reds, oranges, blues and purples, combining into a mismatched rainbow on the rock walls and in crevasses.
This photo was taken at Rabini Rocks. These rocky cliffs above the surface house a huge bird population, encompassing almost all of the species of birds nesting in Franz Josef Land. Below the water’s surface, is a sheer wall that drops to over 300 feet. Along this rocky underwater cliff, there is strong current that runs against it, moving the little phytoplankton that float in the water, quickly along the face. This is a perfect spot for a filter feeder to live, only having to extend its tentacles, and catch the next meal. There are hydroids, anemones, sea cucumbers, sponges and small pelagics that all benefit from this environment.
Franz Josef Land was once an unknown entity to us all. In the past 11 days we have dug deep within the archipelago, both above and below the surface, probing for everything it could offer. Everyday was a new surprise, and had we stayed even longer, no doubt there would have been many more experiences that would have rendered us speechless. But we all are leaving with a profound sense of satisfaction, and feel a bit like pioneers of a new territory.
In thinking back on this expedition, it is hard to describe just what the highlight was: Was it the scenery of glacially carved plateaus? Was it the three bears on one ice floe? Was it walrus numbered in the hundreds surrounding the Zodiacs? Or was it the excitement of visiting a place none of us had ever been before?
One of the most astounding parts of Franz Josef Land was its undersea community. The general perception about the cold waters of the high latitudes is that it must be barren wasteland – I mean what in the world would live in 28º F water? In actuality, the arctic water’s are some of the richest in the world. The water is high in oxygen and nutrients, a perfect environment for these cold-water organisms to thrive in. The species that live in them have evolved through time to handle the frigid temperatures, and have specific adaptations to do so. The animals found in these freezing waters, are some of the least studied in the world, and it is not uncommon for previously undocumented creatures to be found on a dive or scientific dredge. It is a place for the weird and wonderful to thrive, as strange bristly worms, and small space creature shaped amphipods are numerable. As one descends through the water column, you are surrounded by small jellyfish-like creatures, creating their own luminescence as the tiny hairs on their body move upwards. The rocky walls are a plethora of organisms, a faded orange or gray color on first glance, but the second the camera lights are shown on them it is a brilliant illumination of color, the reds, oranges, blues and purples, combining into a mismatched rainbow on the rock walls and in crevasses.
This photo was taken at Rabini Rocks. These rocky cliffs above the surface house a huge bird population, encompassing almost all of the species of birds nesting in Franz Josef Land. Below the water’s surface, is a sheer wall that drops to over 300 feet. Along this rocky underwater cliff, there is strong current that runs against it, moving the little phytoplankton that float in the water, quickly along the face. This is a perfect spot for a filter feeder to live, only having to extend its tentacles, and catch the next meal. There are hydroids, anemones, sea cucumbers, sponges and small pelagics that all benefit from this environment.
Franz Josef Land was once an unknown entity to us all. In the past 11 days we have dug deep within the archipelago, both above and below the surface, probing for everything it could offer. Everyday was a new surprise, and had we stayed even longer, no doubt there would have been many more experiences that would have rendered us speechless. But we all are leaving with a profound sense of satisfaction, and feel a bit like pioneers of a new territory.
