Part I: Seals teeth and whales ears - Scott Polar Research Institute ...

A very fine morning now came, with sun streaming into the hut, though it was
remarkable how quickly the altitude of the sun had decreased during the past few
weeks. The temperatures were around -6.5°C and very soon pack fog and mist closed
in cutting out both sun and views. Other very fine days followed, with temperatures
around -2°C. Then, on 21 May, came another really filthy day with wind reaching
gale force at times, and rain snow or sleet at intervals; the temperature that night
reached +5°C but was 2 degrees lower in the morning. The foul weather continued,
wind and rain at first and the temperature dropping to around -8°C. The wind was
fairly constant throughout the day but the ice seemed not to be breaking up any
further.
The daytime temperatures remained similar over the next few days and then one
evening another cold front came through and the temperature dropped to -13°C in a
few hours. It hung around -10.5°C next morning and fell a few degrees at night; it
was at -11°C the following morning and fell to below -19°C that evening dropping
like a stone. There was a steady 20 mph wind that night and all day it had been
blizzarding. The solar max. temperatures also showed a sudden falling off at the end
of April. We had several days of -20°C, some clear, others with cloud and wind. The
ice was pretty solid all around with the exception of a small lead to Outer Islet, open
water at Cape Vik, and open water or a newly frozen area around Return Point.
31 May was a very fine day with temperatures between -16.5ºC and -11.5°C. But
1 June was another unpleasant day - cloud, blown snow, wind to gale strength and
temperature between -14.5° and -9.5°C. It was followed by a fine day with
temperatures around -15°C. There was a marked mirage over the ice and the pack to
the East was bright salmon-pink, under purple stratus cloud - a vivid contrast. Laurie
Island looked very fine as seen through the Divide. There were fluctuating conditions
until 5 June when a huge rise in temperature occurred overnight and it was up to
+0.5°C during the day. The weather was foul again - gale and occasional snow. One
or two small new leads had opened in the newest ice but otherwise no change. The
bad weather continued but the temperature was down to -18.8°C on the morning of 8
June and fell to -22°C by evening, remaining cold but overcast. Next day was cold
again and there was a very fine halo and some beautiful lighting effects from the low
sun and pack fog covering the sea ice. A foul day followed with temperatures from
around -20°C and frequent snow squalls and the next day the temperature was down
to -31ºC, the effect emphasized by a slight wind. It remained foggy all day with
occasional snow showers.
It continued cold, -28°C during the morning and a little cooler before evening.
Later I walked up to ‘the Bridge’ in brilliant moonlight. All was very clear and calm,
the silence accentuated by the creaks and groans of the ice moving with the tide. I sat
for a time until it began to feel chilly and, remembering it was -29°C, returned to the
hut. Fine cold weather continued until mid-June which was a foul day with
temperatures changing from -4°C in the morning to above freezing at night. Another
poor day followed with temperatures above freezing and wind at gale force plus
sleet and snow. The temperature then dropped rapidly during the night and next
morning stood at -12°C; during the day it fell still further. It remained around -16.5°C
for several days and then shot up to -4.5°C, on a day that began rather murkily, the
sun obscured by low cloud, but clearing partially later in the day to give a
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