Glaciers are cool (and blue!)

Guest writer: Clare de Mowbray

Returning from 3 weeks in Patagonia, the above words seem to be continually flowing from my mouth. Will I have any friends left if I carry on blethering about these monster ice cubes?

Trekking on a hot, sunny day looking up at craggy, black mountains we got to a high point and were met with an enormous glacier sliding down towards us. The width and height of it was awe inspiring and a completely new visual experience for me. So what were we looking at? The glacier in question was Glacier Grey situated in one of Patagonia's most well know National Parks, Torres del Paine.

The glaciers found in Patagonia are valley glaciers which are located in temperate glacial settings. There is little sea ice, no ice shelves, and no ice sheets. The minimum average temperatures are above 0°C and summer temperatures are higher than 10°C. Anyway enough of the science and onto the colour. Seems that it's all about light - The blue colour is caused by the absorption of red and yellow light, leaving the blue to shine through. The longer the path light travels in ice, the more blue it appears.

The colour of ice can be used to estimate its strength and even how long it has been frozen. Ice is white during its first year because it is full of bubbles. Light will travel only a short distance before it is scattered by the bubbles and reflected back out. As a result, little absorption occurs, and the light leaves with the same colour it had when it went in.

During the summer, the ice surface melts and new overlying ice layers compress the remaining air bubbles. Now, any light that enters travels a longer distance within the ice before it emerges. This gives the red end of the spectrum space enough to be absorbed, and the light returned at the surface is blue.

Arctic explorers and mountain climbers know that old, blue ice with fewer bubbles is safer and stronger than white ice. An added bonus for explorers is knowing that floating camps built on blue ice will last longer. And most importantly glacier ice does last longer in drinks because the ice crystals are larger, which means they melt more slowly.
Salud amigo,
Clare

25th Anniversary of the attack on MV Atlantic Conveyor

An extract from the RN history on the Falklands War
The Cunard Roll-on/Roll-off container ship Atlantic Conveyor was taken up from trade and converted to serve as an aircraft transport. To do so containers were used to provide the necessary services for embarked aircraft and their attached personnel. A particular feature was the use of containers to create a sheltered area to protect the aircraft from the worst of the weather. The ship embarked 8 Sea Harriers, 6 Harriers GR3s, 8 Wessex 5 helicopters and 5 Chinook helicopters.

On 25 May Atlantic Conveyor was with the task group east of the Falklands. A pair of Argentine Super Etendard aircraft carrying Exocet missiles attacked the British ships. One missile was directed at one of the frigates which deployed distracting metal strips (Chaff). The Chaff did its job and the missile flew on having lost its original target. It then acquired Atlantic Conveyor which was hit on the port quarter, starting huge fires. This led to the eventual abandonment of the ship and 12 men were lost. The loss of 3 Wessex and 3 Chinooks was very significant as they reduced greatly the intended mobility of British land forces in the planned campaign to move from San Carlos to Stanley.

By Colin de Mowbray

HMS ALACRITY was just a few miles away when Atlantic Conveyor was hit. We made straight for her to give assistance. Mercifully the sea was calm but the large swell remained. The fire quickly became well established and it soon became evident that it could not be contained. My memory was of the paint blistering and the dull thump of the internal explosions; we were all aware that she was full of explosives.

When the order was given to abandon ship one of the main problems was the height of the ships side. With two, and then one, jumping ladder (a kind of rope ladder) getting into the water was a real problem for the survivors. The life rafts were all bunched up by the ladder and so some were overfull while others were empty. In all over 70 people climbed on board HMS ALACRITY, some unscathed and others not so lucky. It was evident how the aircrew, in their proper survival equipment, had fared so much better. The lessons on survival were all too evident but have we learnt from this?

The 25th May is the biggest date in the Argentinean’s calendar and they were always going to launch a major push on that day. The sinking of both HMS COVENTRY and the ATLANTIC CONVEYOR made this a dark day for the British forces.

LEXIE ON LINE!

SPECIAL REPORT By Thumper de Mowbray

Well this IS Thumping good news! Here we see Lexie Elliott at the age of 93.25 surfing the web on her wireless broadband lap top. Lexie is busy keeping up with her large family and huge fan club around the world from her home in the beautiful town of Kynsna, South Africa. Now none of the oldies – or the not so oldies - have any excuses not to get connected.

For the techies of this world Lexie, chose an Acer 2483 with a Celeron M, 1.73GHz CPU: 1024MB RAM (1GB) memory: 80GB Hard Disk Drive: 14.1 inch TFT display: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950: DVD Supermulti optical drive; Wireless LAN 802.11bg up to 54Mbps.

When she was asked how it worked she replied ‘I was worried the processor would not be fast enough for my needs but it seems to be coping. I definitely glad I went for the upgraded Graphics Media Accelerator. Overall I would recommend this as a good entry level.’

And an Editorial word, if I may…..

I know the site has not been updated as often as it should be but we do need more people to write in. I can’t tell you how difficult all this keyboard work is for a rabbit. Let’s be having you then!
Thumper

Falklands' War - 25 Years On

On Sunday 5 May the Ship’s Company from HMS ALACRITY’s celebrated their 25th Anniversary of the Falklands' War. As before this was combined with the crew from the container ship ATLANTIC CONVEYOR that was sunk by an Exocet missile with the loss of 12 of their ship’s company. Over 70 survivors were picked up by HMS ALACRITY while the ship burnt.

It appears to be a popular time for reunions and I confess to having mixed feelings about them. HMS ALACRITY’s reunion however stands separate from all others as it is a ships’ company that saw war together and, thankfully all returned safely.

As can be seen in the pictures 25 years has seen changes in some of us. For every member of HMS ALACRITY any such gathering is made by the presence of the charismatic and much loved Captain, Commodore Chris Craig CB DSC who continues to recover steadily from his long draw out illness. On balance the Ship’s Company have now all forgiven him for his over eagerness to volunteer the ship for every piece of action around.

An extract from a period during the Falklands War is copied below which illustrates the extent of the action:

In the build-up to the landings at San Carlos, Admiral Woodward's destroyers and frigates continue to wear down the invaders and D Sqdn SAS makes an important contribution with its Pebble Island raid.
On Monday 10th, as submarine "San Luis" makes her last reported and equally unsuccessful attack on ships of the Task Force and "Sheffield" finally sinks. "
Glasgow" (Sea Dart) and "Brilliant" (Sea Wolf) have taken over as type 42/22 combination from "Coventry" and "Broadsword" and continue their radar picket and bombardment duties off Stanley. That night as "Arrow" moves to the north end of Falkland Sound, sister ship "Alacrity" prepares to sail right through from the south for the first time to flush out any supply ships. As she passes up the Sound, "Alacrity" detects a ship apparently heading for Port Howard, and using her single 4.5 inch, illuminates with star shell. Refusing to stop, the target is engaged in the only surface action of the war and after a number of hits, explodes and sinks with heavy casualties. Reportedly there are only two survivors from what turns out to be the naval transport "ISLA DE LOS ESTADOS" carrying fuel and military supplies. "Alacrity" carries on through to meet "Arrow", and now in to Tuesday morning, both ships head back to the carriers.