Mike Kong, Dan Torres and Marshall Swartz stand by as the conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) recorder, mounted to the circular rosette along with many Niskin water bottles, returns after a cast at one of the iciest stations. The CTD and associated recorders help define properties of the water samples, which helps scientists understand where the sampled water came from, and where it is headed. Image courtesy of 2009 RUSALCA Expedition, RAS-NOAA.
