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Antarctica rescue mission: dispatches from the MV Akademik Shokalskiy Antarctica rescue mission: dispatches from the MV Akademik Shokalskiy
(3 days later)
All of a sudden, sea sickness was the least of their worries.All of a sudden, sea sickness was the least of their worries.
At the beginning of December, Guardian journalists Alok Jha and Lawrence Topham set out on board the MV Akademik Shokalskiy, joining the Australiasian Antarctic Expedition 2013-2014, which commemorates the 100-year anniversary of Sir Douglas Mawson’s voyage to the region. At the beginning of December, Guardian journalists Alok Jha and Laurence Topham set out on board the MV Akademik Shokalskiy, joining the Australiasian Antarctic Expedition 2013-2014, which commemorates the 100-year anniversary of Sir Douglas Mawson’s voyage to the region.
But their journey took a turn for the unexpected when their research vessel became trapped in Antarctic ice over Christmas. Despite the conditions, the pair have continued to file stories – but it’s as difficult as you’d expect. In addition to their regular dispatches for the Guardian, they’ve been sending out updates via Twitter and Vine as they await rescue, first from a Chinese icebreaker and, when that was forced to turn back, an Australian ship.But their journey took a turn for the unexpected when their research vessel became trapped in Antarctic ice over Christmas. Despite the conditions, the pair have continued to file stories – but it’s as difficult as you’d expect. In addition to their regular dispatches for the Guardian, they’ve been sending out updates via Twitter and Vine as they await rescue, first from a Chinese icebreaker and, when that was forced to turn back, an Australian ship.
Here are the best of Jha and Topham's articles and social media dispatches, which provide a unique glimpse into their experience.Here are the best of Jha and Topham's articles and social media dispatches, which provide a unique glimpse into their experience.
Want the latest updates on their rescue? Keep an eye on the Guardian’s Antarctica Live blog, or follow @alokjha, @loztopham, and @GdnAntarctica.Want the latest updates on their rescue? Keep an eye on the Guardian’s Antarctica Live blog, or follow @alokjha, @loztopham, and @GdnAntarctica.
In his latest post, Alok Jha explains how they became trapped in the ice:In his latest post, Alok Jha explains how they became trapped in the ice:
On Christmas Eve, a blizzard hit our ship with 50-knot winds – mild for these parts – that made it difficult to stand up straight on the deck ... By Christmas morning, we were beset with ice. Our expedition was forced into a temporary pause, while we waited for the polar winds to be kind to us and blow the pack ice out of our way.On Christmas Eve, a blizzard hit our ship with 50-knot winds – mild for these parts – that made it difficult to stand up straight on the deck ... By Christmas morning, we were beset with ice. Our expedition was forced into a temporary pause, while we waited for the polar winds to be kind to us and blow the pack ice out of our way.
Even though they got trapped on Christmas Day, Jha, Topham et al remained in good spirits.Even though they got trapped on Christmas Day, Jha, Topham et al remained in good spirits.
Like true polar explorers, @loztopham and I stuck in ice near Antarctica. Awaiting rescue by an icebreaker pic.twitter.com/02nUYEdEkwLike true polar explorers, @loztopham and I stuck in ice near Antarctica. Awaiting rescue by an icebreaker pic.twitter.com/02nUYEdEkw
That dome of ice in the background is the Antarctic polar ice cap. It's big. V big. pic.twitter.com/xPZaQpSVJ8That dome of ice in the background is the Antarctic polar ice cap. It's big. V big. pic.twitter.com/xPZaQpSVJ8
While the ship is stranded, the researchers continue to work. Jha writes:While the ship is stranded, the researchers continue to work. Jha writes:
While we wait, the science goes on. Oceanographers have used the hiatus to drop temperature and salinity probes into the ocean from the back of the ship, marine ecologists are recording seal sounds to work out what is living here and ornithologists are using the vantage point of the bridge to systematically count bird populations ...While we wait, the science goes on. Oceanographers have used the hiatus to drop temperature and salinity probes into the ocean from the back of the ship, marine ecologists are recording seal sounds to work out what is living here and ornithologists are using the vantage point of the bridge to systematically count bird populations ...
Algae stick to the underside of sea ice, lichen grows improbably across the surface of high-altitude rocks, penguins, birds and seals roam the shorelines, living and dying along the slimmest edges of temperature, water and nutrients.Algae stick to the underside of sea ice, lichen grows improbably across the surface of high-altitude rocks, penguins, birds and seals roam the shorelines, living and dying along the slimmest edges of temperature, water and nutrients.
Professor Chris Turney of the University of New South Wales is also onboard, and he has been filming regular short video clips.Professor Chris Turney of the University of New South Wales is also onboard, and he has been filming regular short video clips.
Seriously, give them a round of applause:Seriously, give them a round of applause:
Video: How @loztopham & @alokjha are getting stories to you while being trapped in Antarctica http://t.co/okWP48qL23 pic.twitter.com/pRE1dBB5rBVideo: How @loztopham & @alokjha are getting stories to you while being trapped in Antarctica http://t.co/okWP48qL23 pic.twitter.com/pRE1dBB5rB
They look like they’re having fun, but as Jha writes in his dispatch, the weather could be deadly:They look like they’re having fun, but as Jha writes in his dispatch, the weather could be deadly:
Antarctica is not just cold, windy and wet. It is the extreme of all those things. Leave a hole in your armour – a glove not tucked into a sleeve, a gap around your neck where you forgot your scarf – and the weather will find and punish you fast. The cold starts off as stabbing, then it sears the skin and eventually sends the nerve-endings into a symphony of confusion. I took a glove off to type an email outside at one point and, after my fingers turned white and I lost the ability to move them, I swear they felt hot. Painful, boiling hot, as though I had just plunged them into a cup of coffee.Antarctica is not just cold, windy and wet. It is the extreme of all those things. Leave a hole in your armour – a glove not tucked into a sleeve, a gap around your neck where you forgot your scarf – and the weather will find and punish you fast. The cold starts off as stabbing, then it sears the skin and eventually sends the nerve-endings into a symphony of confusion. I took a glove off to type an email outside at one point and, after my fingers turned white and I lost the ability to move them, I swear they felt hot. Painful, boiling hot, as though I had just plunged them into a cup of coffee.
So when the first signs of help finally appeared on the horizon, they were understandably excited.So when the first signs of help finally appeared on the horizon, they were understandably excited.
First sight of our rescuers Chinese icebreaker Xue Long (Snow Dragon) on the horizon. Wahoo! pic.twitter.com/Xh7cPlxBRdFirst sight of our rescuers Chinese icebreaker Xue Long (Snow Dragon) on the horizon. Wahoo! pic.twitter.com/Xh7cPlxBRd
Unfortunately, Friday afternoon, the Chinese rescue ship, the Xue Long, was forced to turn back when the ice surrounding the Shokalskiy turned out to be thicker than expected. Jha provided this update:Unfortunately, Friday afternoon, the Chinese rescue ship, the Xue Long, was forced to turn back when the ice surrounding the Shokalskiy turned out to be thicker than expected. Jha provided this update:
Our rescue boat, the Xue Long, has had to turn back because the ice was too thick for it to get through. We're now awaiting Aurora AustralisOur rescue boat, the Xue Long, has had to turn back because the ice was too thick for it to get through. We're now awaiting Aurora Australis
This is why the Xue Long had to turn back:This is why the Xue Long had to turn back:
The ice was just too thick, and the Xue Long was making very heavy going. The captain decided the best course of action was to wait for a second icebreaker or a change in weather," said Chris Fogwill, a glaciologist at the University of New South Wales and a co-leader of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE). "We need a westerly wind to release the pressure on the pack ice in the area, or we need two icebreakers."The ice was just too thick, and the Xue Long was making very heavy going. The captain decided the best course of action was to wait for a second icebreaker or a change in weather," said Chris Fogwill, a glaciologist at the University of New South Wales and a co-leader of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE). "We need a westerly wind to release the pressure on the pack ice in the area, or we need two icebreakers."
Fogwill said the Shokalskiy would definitely get out of the ice, but it would now be a waiting game to decide the best strategy.Fogwill said the Shokalskiy would definitely get out of the ice, but it would now be a waiting game to decide the best strategy.
Jha also reports that “given the circumstances, the Shokalskiy is now unlikely to reach open water until tomorrow at the earliest.” But, as we’ve just seen, the crew has met the crisis with a powerful combination of resilience and humor. All they have to do now is wait.Jha also reports that “given the circumstances, the Shokalskiy is now unlikely to reach open water until tomorrow at the earliest.” But, as we’ve just seen, the crew has met the crisis with a powerful combination of resilience and humor. All they have to do now is wait.
Come back to the Antarctica Live blog to check in on the Shokalskiy’s status, or follow @alokjha, @loztopham, and @GdnAntarctica for immediate updates.Come back to the Antarctica Live blog to check in on the Shokalskiy’s status, or follow @alokjha, @loztopham, and @GdnAntarctica for immediate updates.
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