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Research in Antarctica takes place on board several research vessels, including the R/V Polar Duke. The Polar Duke is operated by the National Science Foundation and is used by researchers as their mode of transfer to and from Antarctica and around the continent when there. Researchers can leave from several southern hemisphere points and here the Polar Duke is shown in Punta Arenas, Chile.

Questions:What does "R/V" in the Polar Duke's name signify? What other designations do you know of and what are some of the differences between different types of ships?

The water in Antarctica is quite cold and if the scientists on board the Polar Duke were forced to leave the ship and enter the water, they would succumb to hypothermia rapidly if not for suits such as the one Dr. William Detrich of Northeastern University is shown trying out here.

Dr. Detrich is wearing a "survival suit" that works in two ways. A person's body is insulated from the cold Antarctic water by the suit. The survival suit also enables the person to float so they do not have to expend energy swimming to stay above the surface.

Activity:Check out the Gulf of Maine Aquarium's Rescue at Sea activity for more information on hypothermia.

Antarctica continues to be difficult to reach despite technological advances. Just as the first explorers found the Southern Oceans to be tempestuous and dangerous, so do today's mariners.

Here the Polar Duke is seen plowing through seas in force a 12 gale just south of Cape Horn in the Drake Passage.

Preparing food for large numbers of people is a challenge under any circumstance, imagine what it is like at sea! Note the special bars around the edge of the stove. They help keep the pots from sliding off the stove in most weather conditions.

Samples are collected from the water in several ways, including a "trawl." When trawling for samples, a net with weights attached is dropped over the side of the boat and allowed to travel along the bottom. Whatever is in the path of the net gets brought up to the surface. This bottom trawl was primarily fish (Gobionotothen gibberifrons) and echinoderms (mostly basket stars).

Dr. Bruce Sidell passes the camera off to one of his ship mates and is shown here holding an Antarctic icefish (Chaenocephalus aceratus). Note white color of the gills in this species which does not possess hemoglobin or red blood cells. The blood is opalescent whitish gray in color.