One of the cool things about being on an expedition ship is the science that is happening on the ship and the lectures provided by these various scientists. This evening, “as part of Viking’s partnership with NOAA, the US National Weather Service has sanctioned an official launch station” on Octantis making it, and the sister ship, the world’s first civilian ships to be equipped to do this operation.

All who want to see, go up to Deck 6, where we are served a wee glass of sherry (because it is in the 50’s) and the scientists launch the balloon.

They also do these launches in the Antarctic as part of 102 stations worldwide simultaneously for global weather prediction and climate modeling. The weather data is arriving in real time, as the balloon ascends to an altitude of 18 miles. You can go to the Expedition Central and see the chart later or tomorrow.

After this, we attended a lecture on how the geologists believe the Great Lakes were formed and filled with water. Super interesting!

Tomorrow the ship arrives in Algoma, Wisconsin a town on the Door County Peninsula. Many people are heading to excursions to Green Bay & Lambeau Field, or Beer, Cheese and Wine tastings, or visiting a vineyard. This is an area of the country we’ve been before so we’ll just enjoy the town and the sunny cool weather.