🇦🇶 Antarctic Oceanography + SciComm Born @337 ppm and very concerned about Climate Change; director of NZ's Antarctic Science Platform. Christian while also Earth Scientist; Wife to 1; Mother to 3. I play cello 🎻 whenever I find a spare moment.https://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3m4jbfj2hus2vNgā mihi to the Antarctic Science Platform and Antarctica New Zealand for supporting our kaupapa. These three experts will be viewing Antarctic science and operations through tikanga & Mātauranga lenses so we can understand how to do things better. Now it's time to fly!31 Oct 2025 20:02 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4jbfj2hus2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3lfftjaccsc22The sub-ice platelet layer is a unique marine habitat, harbouring the highest concentrations of primary productivity of any oceanic ice. This provides nutrition for the rest of the marine ecosystem. The chains in this video are 5m apart. 📽 Leigh Tait | NIWA & Boxfish 💲 Antarctic Science Platform10 Jan 2025 18:36 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfftjaccsc22https://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3lfdnmjxet22dHere's what the platelet layer looks like from underneath: untold billions of individual ice crystals float up from the water column to accumulate against the base of the sea ice above them. The crystals deposit like grains of sand, creating ripple & billow structures. 📽 Leigh Tait | NIWA & Boxfish09 Jan 2025 21:45 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfdnmjxet22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3ldlwttr4zk2tHere's what we were in Antarctica for... I study the 'sub-ice platelet layer' - a fragile accumulation of individual ice crystals that form in supercooled ocean water and float up to land against the base of the sea ice. The ocean is supercooled b/c of the addition of newly-melted ice shelf water.18 Dec 2024 18:01 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldlwttr4zk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3ldjnpkfwos2rThis year's sea ice growth season was marked frequent southerly storms which vastly reduced the area of ice we could safely work on (almost identical to 2022), and created lots of ridged/rafted sea ice features. Here's how it ended up directly over our mooring site - very challenging for acoustics.17 Dec 2024 20:12 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldjnpkfwos2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3ldefgomml22xThe sea ice in front of 🇳🇿Scott Base gets pushed up against the land to form 'pressure ridges'. Each year, a safe route is flagged, allowing people to walk through and around them. It's a chance to see lots of Weddell Seals and their newborn pups (as well as beautiful & fantastical ice structures).15 Dec 2024 18:01 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldefgomml22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3ldbrrdrqgs2fInside one of our Hydrolabs (converted shipping container with a lift out floor) at part of our Antarctic field camp. We can carry on observing the ocean for weeks at a time (i.e. without our sea ice hole freezing over), whatever the weather. Occasionally, we have to share...14 Dec 2024 17:03 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldbrrdrqgs2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3lcxot2747s2xHere's what the camp looks like once it's set up. Two of the containers have lift-up sections of floor. This means we can melt down through the sea ice and access the ocean for weeks at a time, all from inside a warm shelter. I'll show you that next time...10 Dec 2024 16:44 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcxot2747s2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3lcv77pcahc25Our Antarctic field camp is made up of a series of converted shipping containers which are pulled out to site by bulldozers. We have generator, kitchen, freezer (!), sleeping, dry lab and wet lab spaces. 12 containers in all. And the last on the line is the toilet cubicle.09 Dec 2024 16:59 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcv77pcahc25https://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3lcqbozkg4s25Antarctica is a great place for seeing unusual light phenomena. Here's a couple of sun halos / sun dogs from early (left) and late in the season. Occurs when sunlight passes through a layer of ice crystals in the atmosphere. I happened to be up at 4am to capture the second one 😊07 Dec 2024 18:00 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcqbozkg4s25https://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3lcl5eftg6s26We had a big team this year (11 in total), so we traveled to Antarctica in 2 cohorts. Cohort #1 (Brett, Greg, Svenja, Me, Ollie) were the only kiwis on our flight and had the uncommon privilege of being collected from the airfield by a Hägglunds from Scott Base. Then it was straight into camp prep.05 Dec 2024 17:00 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcl5eftg6s26https://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3lchdxh2bo22nFortunate to be given a tour of the Scott Base windfarm while waiting for a plane to take me home. These 3x 330 kW are reaching the end of their design life, and will soon be replaced by 3x 1 Mw turbines.04 Dec 2024 04:47 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3lchdxh2bo22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3lcdlm43knk2hI'm just back from the latest Antarctic field season and want to share some favourite moments. First up: the mighty Drygalski Ice Tongue south of Terra Nova Bay. 80 km long, 15 km wide, and with a fringe of streaky sea caused by the winds whipping straight down its axis.02 Dec 2024 16:53 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcdlm43knk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3kgfomszklj2eCome do polar oceanography with me in NZ! We are recruiting 2x PhDs at @UCNZ onto our @MarsdenFund project on Oceanography in an #Antarctic Grounding Zone. Modelling-based informed by new in-situ data. More info here: nz.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=305… Please share widely. TIA 🙏 https://nz.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=305…13 Dec 2023 05:07 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3kgfomszklj2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3kegibsfawk2fNZ SciComm: Julian Thomson (Out There Learning) is running a free online SciComm webinar on zoom tomorrow (19th) at 5pm. https://courses.outtherelearning.co.nz/kickstart-your-science-communication-free-webinar For researchers, students or enthusiasts who want to share their experiences and build a network of followers.18 Nov 2023 01:56 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3kegibsfawk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3ke6d6jkekc2rDrilling sea ice in New Harbour, Antarctica. Can't complain about the weather or location!14 Nov 2023 20:03 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3ke6d6jkekc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3kd4ntnzejr2xWe *did* get our ocean mooring back after 12 months collecting precious data beneath the sea ice of McMurdo Sound. Enormous thanks go to Leigh for his extraordinary ROV rescue! Cool, calm, and utterly focused in a challenging and stressful situation.01 Nov 2023 10:44 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3kd4ntnzejr2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3kcloqyjpk22eBig day in the field yesterday - got very close to recovering our mooring, but called it a day when we got snagged and the weather turned nasty. We regrouped and debriefed back at Scott Base over dinner and will try again today. 🤞 L-to-R: Chazz, Leigh, Ollie, Greg25 Oct 2023 16:45 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3kcloqyjpk22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3kci7se72xb2kA few pics from the past few days in #Antarctica 🇦🇶: Ollie with halo; #Erebus smoking; Greg & I at the end of the day; Flagging our path off the main route.24 Oct 2023 07:39 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3kci7se72xb2khttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3kc6alckd6x2vLanded safely and right on time yesterday. And today, made a start on getting ready for our field work. First, we dug out the containers so we can access our stuff. Then we 'refreshed' our Antarctic Field Training, so that we're permitted to leave the footprint of Scott Base.20 Oct 2023 08:26 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3kc6alckd6x2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3kc2ez7r7v32oAll set for take-off in 25 mins!18 Oct 2023 19:35 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3kc2ez7r7v32ohttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3kbyslowztf2tAt the #AntarcticaNewZealand warehouse collecting our clothing kit, ready to fly to Antarctica tomorrow morning 🤞18 Oct 2023 04:33 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3kbyslowztf2thttps://bsky.app/profile/polargirlnz.bsky.social/post/3kbqfop6iam2uGetting ready to head to #Antarctica this week. (@vanessawells.bsky.social - this one's for you! )14 Oct 2023 20:21 +0000at://did:plc:witavgjsedh5stmrapup2lmk/app.bsky.feed.post/3kbqfop6iam2u