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Heavy Seas

WHOI research associate John Lund and senior scientist Bob Weller prepare to deploy an APEX float off the fantial of R/V Oceanus during rough weather in November 2005. The float experiment was part of CLIMODE, a five-year program to study the transfer of energy from deep waters to surface waters and its effect on climate. The CLIMODE research team departed Woods Hole today on R/V Knorr for the fourth of six cruises to the Gulf Stream between November 2005 and November 2007. Desired conditions are those in which outbreaks of cold Arctic air rapidly cool the waters of the Gulf Stream, resulting in huge amounts of evaporation and heat loss to the atmosphere. (Photo by Sean Whelan, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)