going for a swim

"Swimming" in Antarctica - it does happen, in a variety of ways. Although for me, the word swim would be quite an exaggeration. I was able to visit Deception Island, which is actually a volcano. It is one of a chain of islands formed by volcanic activity related to tectonic movements along a subduction zone, where the Pacific continental plate is overrun by the Antarctic Plate. The rim of the volcano forms the island, partially covered in glaciers, with a gap in one section. This gap is "Neptune's Bellows" - our entryway to the island, which has allowed seawater to flood the collapsed caldera of the volcano. The volcano was most recently active in the late 1960s and in 1970. Before then, it was once a large whaling station, a central part of Antarctic whaling. Two scientific stations are active on Deception in the summers. Also present are the remains of other stations, destroyed to various degrees by the eruptions.

Along the outside of the Deception Island rim, chinstrap penguins nest in huge numbers. However, no penguins breed on the interior shores of Deception Island. The water at the shoreline can be extremely hot, heated by the volcano. You can sometimes see the steam rising up from the shoreline, along the thin section where water is shallow and the heat isn't diluted by the cold ocean tides. The steam is most prevalent at low tide. At Pendulum Cove, we tried the water out and went for a dip. The shallow water was quite comfotable, though the water temperature dropped quickly around a depth of 16-18 inches, quite near the shore. In essence, I waded in the waters, and sat down in shallow water to let the waves wash up over me. And now, I have truly immersed myself in the Antarctic Waters. Considering it is Superbowl Sunday, I decided to show my allegiance from this distant part of the world.

The work has gone smoothly, and the wonders of Antarctica are all around. I'm having a wonderful trip, and hope everyone at home is doing well.