Aquarium senior educator Jo Blasi is on expedition to Antarctica to study the impact of climate change in these areas and changes in the marine ecosystem. She will be live blogging frequently about the expedition, research technologies and marine life encountered during the trip.

Departing on December 27 included an entire day of flying then four days on the LMG crossing the Drake Passage, a sail through the Bransfield Strait just inside the South Shetland Islands. But I have landed!

A tall mountain peak seen on our way to Palmer Station, photo Jo Blasi

It seems like it has taken a while to get here, but it is a great feeling and worth the wait.  As we were sailing towards the station, we saw some spectacular sights. Our path took us past some of the South Shetland Islands located at the northwestern tip of the Peninsula, some rising straight out of the ocean to form tall peaks.

Bransfield Strait, credit: O. Lopez et. al., (1999)

Lots of icebergs along the way, credit: Jo Blasi

Glaciers were everywhere with lots of icebergs floating past us. We saw whales, seals and more seabirds, including some chinstrap penguins that were hanging out on an iceberg!

Chinstrap penguins on an iceberg, credit: Jo Blasi

In order to arrive at Palmer on time, we sailed through the night and finally arrived at the Station around 7:30 in the morning. Not wanting to miss seeing Palmer for the first time, I got up at 4:30am to watch it come closer and closer. I could see the glacier behind the station before I spotted a building or two. And then….there it was! Palmer! It was time to pull up to the dock. It was official. We were here!

Palmer Station with glacier behind it, credit: Jo Blasi

The area around Palmer was surrounded by brash ice, smaller pieces of ice that float around. They can be dangerous to smaller boats if they collect in one area. For the LMG, which has a strengthened hull, it wasn’t a problem. We cruised right through it. (If you would like to learn more about the types of ice around Antarctica, check out the "Know your Ice" fact sheet on Palmer's Educational Resources page.)

Lots of brash ice around the station, credit: Jo Blasi

The LMG turned around and slowly backed up to the dock at Palmer Station. It took a lot of people to help tie up a 70m (230 foot) ship! The LMG and station crew worked together to secure the LMG to its home for two days. (See a short video of our arrival.) The gangplank went down and then things got busy!

Getting ready to dock the LMG, credit: Jo Blasi

The LMG not only does scientific research at sea but it is also responsible for bringing personnel and cargo to and from Palmer Station. Once we arrived, it took the entire morning and even part of the afternoon to shuttle gear from the LMG to the station and then gear from the station back onto the boat. I felt a little like an ant in a colony; lots of us moving back and forth.

But, once that was done, it was time to explore Palmer Station and go on a field trip. I won’t tell you about it now but here’s a hint-it has something to do with one of my favorite animals…

Finally here! The LMG docked at Palmer Station, credit: Jo Blasi

All of Jo's entries will be cross posted on the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research Station site here. Track her progress on the R/V Gould, and learn more about the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research Station.