31 July 2002 Drake XBT Science

Once we reached the Drake Passage we begin an XBT transect of the Drake Passage. ABT stands for expendable bathythermograph. Essentially this is a temperature sensor attached to a lead weight that drops off the side of the vessel and send a temperature profile of the water as it drops to the ocean flow. The XBTs are dropped automatically from inside the ship; however, we have to go out on deck to periodically reload the launcher.