During the night, we enter the ice. We’re in new ice, ice that is forming currently. It has wonderful names: first year ice; Frazil ice - crystals of ice in the first couple of cm of the surface that makes the water look oily'; Grease ice - coagulated crystals that form a soup layer and give the surface a matte look; Nilas ice - a thin crust of ice that is elastic and bends in the waves; Pancake ice - small circular pieces of ice with raised rims.
The forms created by the ice are infinite and I find them to be extraordinary and magnificent. I’m very excited to be in the ice for the next few weeks. 8:00 pm - I’m adding to today’s blog. The light remains low for hours at a time when it’s out. We’ve been in heavy fog, overcast, and now, it’s clear with the sun very low in the sky that gives relief to the textures in the ice. It’s clear to the horizon in all directions. We’ll enter the pack ice in a day or so. Even now, the ship at times, lurches as it rides over and breaks thicker ice.
Small pool, approximately 20 feet across, in the new ice
Long crack in the ice with small floes in foreground
Abstract ice forms
Grease Ice
Grease Ice with small Floes
One piece of Pancake ice in foreground of image