Date: January 14 (?)

We are at 63 south and seasoaring with a passion. The subsurface manifestation of the front was clear and near the same location as the last two cruises yet the surface manifestation has yet to outcrop. We are steaming south in 2.5 degree surface water which overlays -1.5 degree water only 30 to 35 meters below us. Silicates are still low as if Process I calm weather stabilized the water column and allowed nutrients to be depleted in this thin mixed layer. This is also born out in the underway PCO2 data (270 ppm) and there is a strong fluorescence signal associated with the shallow thermocline. We are hoping that the transect south will spatially reveal the temporal evolution of the bloom we now see remnants of at 50 m. So, all is well and surface water underway measurements are continuing smoothly. Although all groups are getting plenty of underway water, the natives are restless for some vertical profile stations. We may like to see the seasoar transect further south, but the question could become a tradeoff between planned activities. We understand that the ice edge data from the Navy via SIO is pack ice that would impede the progress of an icebreaker and not necessarily representative of the sea ice coverage that would put an end to our southerly sojourn. Any indication of the northerly extent of sea ice and it's relative coverage would be very helpful at this time. So far, we are on schedule but as we push south past 66 we will begin to shave time off some of our other activities. Seas are still calm, winds only 18 knots and air temperatures about 1 degree. I hope all is well Kenneth Coale