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Dauphin Island
Sea Lab Scientist Travels to Antarctica for Research: Blog Takes
You There!
January 17, 2006
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Media Contact: Lisa Young
251/861-7509
Dr. Ron Kiene, Senior Marine Scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab
and Professor of Marine Sciences at the University of South Alabama, is
enjoying summer right now – on the other side of the world. He left
winter behind him on January 4 as he traveled to Antarctica, where he
will be conducting research until his return on February 12.
Dr. Kiene is sharing his experiences with beautiful photos on his web
log (“blog”) http://biogeochemistrylab.disl.org/artic/artic.htm |
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As a biogeochemist, Dr. Kiene is
studying how a particular gas called dimethylsufide (DMS) that
is yielded by the plentiful algae of the Southern Ocean is
cycled into the atmosphere. Once that gas is in the atmosphere,
it attracts other particles, creating clouds that may shield the
earth from solar radiation or global warming. DMS may hold a key
to combating the effects of greenhouse warming.
But as a visitor to that rarely seen vista of the planet, Dr,
Kiene is simply enthralled by the splendors of |
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Antarctica and the traditions of scientists who
conduct their field studies there:
“January 7. Today the (research vessel) L.M. Gould left Palmer
Station dock for its one-month research cruise. Everyone was out
at the dock watching the departure. It was snowing lightly and
the air temperature was a little below freezing. Icebergs were
all about. Apparently it is a tradition for some of those left
behind to jump into the water after the ship moves away from the
dock. I didn't really think people would do this, but they did.
They jumped right off the big rubber bumpers into the deep
water. There is a ladder right there and they got out quickly,
but that had to be one cold experience. Maybe by the end of the
month here I will be ready for such a thing.” |
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Will Dr. Kiene take the plunge? Readers of his blog at http://biogeochemistrylab.disl.org/artic/artic.htm
will have to stay tuned!
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