Deploying an XBT (Expendable bathythermograph)

Washing mud off the chain dredge.

Preparing a fine mesh plankton sampling net for deployment.

NOAA/Joint Ice Center ice buoy being readied for deployment.

NOAA/Joint Ice Center ice buoy being readied for deployment.

NOAA ice buoy being readied for deployment.

Deploying an instrument package from the stern of the USCGC HEALY

Captain Andy Armstrong, NOAA Corps (ret.), displaying a newly discovered Arctic seamount.

Chain dredge being deployed.

Rocks and mud brought from the bottom by the chain dredge.

Scientists inspecting dredge haul of rocks and mud looking for benthic life forms.

Scientist with rock hammer and specimen of rock from bottom of Beaufort Sea.

Every dredge haul has its treasures. Scientists looking for life forms and geological samples from dredge haul.

Geologist's rock hammer with rocks from bottom of Beaufort Sea.

Instrument package being deployed from stern of CGC HEALY.

Sunset or sunrise over ridge in ice.

Sunset or sunrise over ridge in ice.

Sunset or sunrise over University of Washington ice camp.

A low-angle sun illuminates hummocks on the Arctic ice.

Seemingly orthogonal cloud layers indicate winds moving in different directions at different levels. Melt pools in late summer ice.

Different layers of clouds give a striking view of melting ice floes.

Melt pools and late summer ice absorb the soft hues of a low Arctic sun.

A low Arctic sun gives a copper hue to the CGC HEALY and the Arctic landscape.

A low Arctic sun gives a copper hue to the Arctic landscape.

A low Arctic sun gives a copper hue to the Arctic landscape.

Clouds and a low sun over a late summer Arctic landscape of ice floes, leads, and melt pools.

An overcast gray day gives gray appearance to ice, melt pools, and new ice forming over melt pools.

An overcast gray day gives gray appearance to ice, melt pools, and new ice forming over melt pools.

Portion of halo formed by sun refracting through ice crystals in atmosphere.

A small polynya (area of open water surrounded by sea ice)

On a clear summer day, a series of interlocking melt pools show as beautiful aquamarine reminiscent of shallow tropical lagoons.

Sun reflecting on an endless succession of floes and melt pools.

Sunset or sunrise? Reflections off ice floes and melt pools.

An amber sun reflecting off ice floes, melt pools and a polynya in the distance.

An amber sun reflecting off ice floes and melt pools.

Blocks of ice randomly come together to look somewhat like an igloo.

First year ice melting and breaking apart in late summer.

A dark blanket of cloud framing a yellow-gold sun illuminated horizon with ice floes and a polynya below.

Sun peaking through the clouds while the HEALY plows through ice floes and melt ponds. Contrast the colors here to image arct0264.

Sun glint on melt pools. Note the sparkles of light seen on the ice floes as well.

Ice floes, melt ponds and a lead between polynyas.

Refreezing of floes and melt ponds is well under way.

A mackerel sky reflecting off grease ice in a polynya.

First year ice floes being relatively thin with a level surface.

CGC HEALY passing through an extensive field of first year ice.

The golden Arctic with sun reflecting off what appears to be a field of first year ice floes.

Sun finding its way through almost full cloud cover to illuminate a patch of open water. Note hummocky appearance of ice floes indicating multi-year ice.

Sun seen through the clouds seen over ice floes and melt ponds.

Refreezing melt pools and ice floes with a small polynya in the distance.

An impressive Arctic land-and sunscape.