Cruising back to Punta Arenas, Chile, from Palmer Station.

Geodesic dome erected to shelter AHVRR satellite data receiver at Palmer Station

Bow shot of National Science Foundation, Research Ice Breaker NATHANIEL B. PALMER during a stop in the sea ice for sea ice sampling.

Bow shot of National Science Foundation, Research Ice Breaker NATHANIEL B. PALMER during a stop in the sea ice for sea ice sampling.

Bow shot of National Science Foundation, Research Ice Breaker NATHANIEL B. PALMER during a stop in the sea ice for sea ice sampling.

The National Science Foundation, Research Ice Breaker NATHANIEL B. PALMER during a stop in the sea ice for sea ice sampling.

Drifting bits of sea ice. Ross Ice Shelf in the background.

Drifting bits of sea ice. Ross Ice Shelf in the background

Drifting bits of sea ice. Ross Ice Shelf in the background

Drifting bits of sea ice. Ross Ice Shelf in the background

Broken sea ice

Sorting through the spoils of a bottom trawl on the continental shelf of the Ross Sea.

CTD rosette visible in crystal clear waters.

CTD rosette visible in crystal clear waters.

CTD rosette visible in crystal clear waters.

Looking over broken sea ice to open water.

Looking north from Coulman Island in the northwest Ross Sea. 73 28 S Latitude 169 45 E Longitude.

Looking south from Coulman Island in the northwest Ross Sea. 73 28 S Latitude 169 45 E Longitude. Mount Melbourne is seen over 100 miles away to the southwest. It is just to the left of the end of the island.

CTD rosette visible in crystal clear waters.

Looking over broken sea ice to the Ross Ice Shelf.

Looking over broken sea ice to the Ross Ice Shelf.

Sorting a dredge haul of holothurians on the deck of the NATHANIEL PALMER.

The National Science Foundation, Research Ice Breaker, NATHANIEL B. PALMER, in "heavy" sea ice offshore of Coleman Island

Scientists photographing Adelie penguins

Ice-covered Coulman island. 73 28 S Latitude 169 45 E Longitude.

The National Science Foundation, Research Ice Breaker, NATHANIEL B. PALMER, in "heavy" sea ice

Sculpted sea ice

Glove for scale on sea ice. Coulman Island is the backdrop. 73 28 S Latitude 169 45 E Longitude.

What caused these tracks? Tobogganing penguins. Note the flipper marks in snow. Penguin tracks produced by sliding across the ice on their bellies.

Coulman Island with clouds forming at the top edge as cold air spills down off the island top.

Iceberg drifting

Mooring deployment from the fantail of the National Science Foundation , Research Ice Breaker, NATHANIEL B. PALMER

The marginal ice zone (MIZ)

The seaward edge of the floating Ross Ice Shelf

The seaward edge of the floating Ross Ice Shelf

The seaward edge of the floating Ross Ice Shelf

The seaward edge of the floating Ross Ice Shelf

The seaward edge of the floating Ross Ice Shelf

The seaward edge of the floating Ross Ice Shelf

The seaward edge of the floating Ross Ice Shelf

Mooring deployment from the fantail of the National Science Foundation , Research Ice Breaker, NATHANIEL B. PALMER

Entering New Zealand's Salmon fishing region

Bow of the National Science Foundation, Research Ice Breaker, NATHANIEL B. PALMER pushed into sea ice

The National Science Foundation, Research Ice Breaker, NATHANIEL B. PALMER pushed into sea ice

Land fast sea ice in the foreground. Ross Island in the background. 77 30 S Latitude 168 00 E Longitude.

CTD Rosette being deployed from the baltic room of the the National Science Foundation, Research Ice Breaker, NATHANIEL B. PALMER

CTD Rosette being deployed from the baltic room of the the National Science Foundation, Research Ice Breaker, NATHANIEL B. PALMER

Water samples being drawn from the CTD Rosette on the National Science Foundation, Research Ice Breaker, NATHANIEL B. PALMER

Laboratory analysis on the National Science Foundation, Research Ice Breaker, NATHANIEL B. PALMER

Laboratory analysis on the National Science Foundation, Research Ice Breaker, NATHANIEL B. PALMER