Antarctic diary - 10 May 2005

23 year old biologist Dan Smale is spending his second winter at British Antarctic Survey's Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula. Read the latest entries in Dan's online diary, exclusive to Flipside Extra!

Another day of warm and windy weather so again diving was not possible. Time was spent setting up some experiments to look at how seawater temperature may affect the biology of one of the common Antarctic molluscs. A lot of similar work has been done here over recent years as scientists try to predict how climate change may affect the strange and wonderful creatures found in the Southern Ocean.

I went for a quick walk around the coast after lunch and noticed that all the Fur seals have now left Rothera Point. We get Fur, Crabeater, Weddell, Elephant and Leopard seals through the summer months but only the Crabeaters and Weddells will hand around for the cold winter. So with the sea ice forming quickly, hundreds of fur seals have left the local shores and headed North in search of ice-free seas and food. It certainly feels wintry now the noisy seals have left us.

A very enjoyable evening was spent playing a few board games in the bar and discussing possible plans and events for the forthcoming midwinter celebrations.