Communications and Data Management
Ice Center. While the Polar Sea's installed TeraScan system provided real-time
ice imagery, the capability of accessing National Ice Center information pro-
vided an option had there been a problem with TeraScan.
Polar Sea and the Louis S. St-Laurent was installed by Coast Guard technicians
while the expedition was transiting from Victoria, British Columbia, to Nome,
Alaska. This link was tied into each ship's telephone system, allowing one to pick
up the phone on the Polar Sea and call someone on the Louis S. St-Laurent. This
communications link proved invaluable in allowing the senior leaders of the
expedition on both ships to consult and plan for each day's operation.
In addition, the link allowed scientists on the Louis S. St-Laurent to send
and receive their e-mail electronically, which was much more reliable than
waiting for the next helicopter flight between the two ships.
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