*GloriousNature*bySusanGaryPhotogra phy's photostream  

Selectively focused on the railing of a cruiseship, with defocused spas and sunbathers in the background...Australia 2008... We are planning to go on our next cruise this October..we just booked it the other night...to the Carribean on RCCL latest largest ship...can't wait..(org. we were going to go last December..but canceled..so glad we re-booked it!)

Getty Images Wants-Australia

Taken from our cruise ship, a red-footed booby as he flies over the churning waters of the Coral Sea

Getty Images Wants-Twitter-Australia

for Getty Images Wants-Twitter-Australia

Shot from cruise ship near Willis Island, Australia .. these red-footed boobies, followed along side our ship diving for fish.

Getty Images Wants-Twitter-Australia

Shot taken from our cruise ship as we viewed the Weather Station on Willis Island. Also, they had just released one of their "weather balloons" seen in sky on the upper right hand side of the image. a search on Getty yield zero matches .. same as my spumoni shot (on my other stream)!

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Weather Station on Willis Island from Wikipedia:

History

The Willis Island weather monitoring station was established in 1921, mainly as an early warning station for cyclones, for which it was equipped with a radio transmitter. The first officer in charge was John King Davis.
[edit] Infrastructure
[edit] Past Infrastructure

Up to 2005 most of the infrastructure constructed in either 1950 or 1968 still existed. Refurbishment had been an on-going costly process. The small parcel of land (total island is 7.7 hectares) accommodated 8 buildings of varying structure as follows:

Main Building housing recreation, kitchen/dining, sleeping, office and equipment room constructed in 1950;
Main Store constructed in 1950;
Laundry Building constructed in 1950;
Bunker/Cyclone Shelter constructed in 1950;
Generator Building constructed in 1968;
Fire Pump Building constructed in 1968;
Flammable Liquids Bunker constructed in 1968; and
Balloon filling and Hydrogen Storage Building constructed 1950 (condemned).

Personal living accommodation was provided in a barracks-like wing between the meteorological office and the kitchen-living room area. Meteorological equipment included a defined equipment enclosure and a 7 metre high radar tower plus dome. Other equipment included a desalination plant and enviro-cycle sewage treatment plant.[2]
[edit] Current Infrastructure

From 2005, the following new facilities and services:

Meteorological office, messing area, accommodation, recreational area, powerhouse;
Hydrogen generator building and gas storage, including associated site works;
Relocated fuel storage tanks to a new concrete bunded diesel fuel area;
Underground services related to communications, power distribution, water, sewage and fire hose reel services;
Relocated satellite dishes and radar tower; and
Refurbished salt water pump building.

Accommodation facilities caters for 4 permanent staff and up to 10 visiting personnel temporarily.

Meteorological equipment includes a defined equipment enclosure and a 7 metre high radar tower plus dome. Other equipment includes a desalination plant and enviro-cycle sewage treatment plant. Power generation comprises a hybrid system of a diesel generator combined with a wind generator and solar power. Rainwater harvesting has not been implemented due to the high level of marine bird life and guano deposits.