Everyone onboard is hoping we see more soon!
So many people on the ship sat outside for a while to watch two huge icebergs! These calved (broke off) the Greenland Ice Sheet probably near Ilulissat and Disko Bay which I visited back in June (be sure to watch the video we posted about this trip!). After the icebergs calve into Disko Bay, they drift out towards the ocean where they start moving north by catching a ride on the West Greenland Current. As they moved north, these two passed the JOIDES Resolution. We have two expert ice navigators on board who are always monitoring these icebergs. The icebergs are interesting to watch but would be dangerous if they got too close. If they get within 5 nautical miles the ship goes on alert, and if they come within 1 nautical mile then we move out of the way.
All the paleontologists were excited to find foraminifera (fossils) and dinocysts in the sediment core samples this week. Scientists call them “forams” for short, and these microscopic fossils tell us what the environment was like here in the past. By studying them, we can learn whether the environment was similar or different last time it was warm here.
