It's been two months since I arrived back home. Things have been extremely hectic. When I got home my mom had left a message to call. She informed me that my dad had been diagnosed with prostate cancer while I was in Antarctica. They had decided not to tell me because they didn't want to put a damper on my time in Antarctica. After several weeks and numerous tests, my dad was told that he would need radiation treatment but that the prognosis was very good. He started treatment this week and we are very optimistic.
It seems that while I was in Antarctica the world had still gone on. I spent six weeks in an amazing place that is a world of its own. Sometimes it feels like that whole experience was a dream. However, I know that it was very real and that the experience has changed...
I was really lucky because I got a ticket home the next day. I had about thirty minutes to pack and the taxi arrived in less than five minutes.
I flew to Auckland, New Zealand and then caught a flight to Los Angeles. This trip takes almost thirteen hours and during the first three hours of the flight my DVD player kept stopping. The flight attendant tried several things to fix the DVD player but nothing seemed to work. Finally, she escorted me to a seat that had a working DVD player. The seat was in the first class section and it was very nice. The seat was much bigger, much softer, and it reclined out to make a sort of bed. Needless to say, the next ten hours were much more enjoyable.
I landed in Los Angeles and collected my luggage. I went through Customs and then headed for the...
This morning I woke up at 3:10am and I quickly realized that I had five minutes to get dressed, grab my bag, and hike up a hill. I rushed around and I was only a few minutes late. It turned out that a lot of people must have woken up late because less than half of the people were there when I arrived. They gave us earplugs and a box breakfast and had us board "Ivan the Terra" bus. One poor lady really overslept and they had to call and wake her.
The bus drove out to the airfield and we waited for the South African plane to finish getting ready. We boarded the plane a little after 5:00am. The plane was full and everyone buckled up for a long flight.
I was very lucky because I had one of the very few seats that had a small window. As the plane took off I took some last...
Today I got to sleep in and boy was it nice. Of course, I was up by 8:00am and working on the computer. Today I was planning to work on the computer, do a little last minute shopping at the store, and then meet Scott at 1:00pm to take a hike. However, Scott came over to tell me that his roommate had offered to give us a tour of the LDB or the Long Duration Balloon facility at 2:00pm and we jumped at the chance.
Scott, Seth (he is the guy from the USGS that we met on our way to Antarctica), and I caught the 2:00pm shuttle to the LDB facility. Scott's roommate, Chris, met us and proceeded to give us a tour of the entire facility. The first thing that you notice is that the facility has an awesome view of Mount Erebus.
The LDB facility is attempting to launch numerous...
It's my last Sunday in McMurdo Station and I have the day off. Of course I woke up at 6:00am and couldn't go back to sleep. My roommate also woke up early and we both got dressed and spent the morning doing errands. My errands included washing all of my clothes, including the ECW gear, and starting the packing process.
My new roommate's name is Michelle and she is really nice. She is from the Midwest and works for GIS. Her job is to make maps for scientists and others that need them. The rest of her team will arrive the first week of January.
Stacy told me and Scott that we could have the day off. However, by 12:00pm we were both in the lab working. I did take a break to go to Scott Base to get some more postcards. They have a much better selection than the store at...
This morning we all came to work at the usual time. All except for Scott, who was several minutes late. The rule is if you are late then you have to wear one of the silly hats. Scott thought he was safe because the hats were already packed. However, Stacy quickly pulled out a hat and placed it on Scott's head. As usual, he was a really good sport about it and even posed for a picture.
We all were wondering why our flight wasn't listed on the "Departures" board. A little after 10:00am we were informed that our flight had been delayed by a day. A plane from Christchurch, New Zealand had been cancelled and this was the reason our flight was postponed. Stacy wanted us to finish packing just in case things changed again. In Antarctica it is possible for things...
Stacy told us we could come in at 9:30am. Of course, Francois arrived at 7:30am, I arrived at 8:00am and Scott (the newest sick child) arrived about 9:15am.
It's time to start returning everything and pack up. The first thing we did was make piles of things to be returned. These included drill flights, generators, field gear, and pee bottles. Scott and I loaded up the Pisten Bully four times and made deliveries. We took the generators back and they used a forklift to get them out of the Pisten Bully. Wish we had one of those.
Then we returned the rest of the gear. The heavy things were the four survival bags that were on top of the Pisten Bully. You can't just throw them down. After all this loading and unloading, Scott and I had very sore backs.
This had...
Once again SCINI is the star of the show. Today Stacy, Bob, and SCINI were on a webcast for the Exploratorium. The Exploratorium is a museum in San Francisco that believes that a museum should be a learning experience. They set up filming in a small building that is usually used to observe seals.
The hut may be small but it has a lovely view.
If you would like to view the webcast go to the Explo.tv section of http://www.Exploratorium.com and watch "Ocean Ecology". You can also check out the other webcasts that are being done with scientists working in Antarctica.
After the webcast Bob and I began some much needed work on SARA. For those of you that don't know, SARA is the ROV that my students built. She was slightly damaged during the journey to...
The first thing we did this morning was to check the floats. It appears that most of the foam sealant has cured. Bob then drilled a hole in each float. He then injected each float with ""Plastic Welder II" and then screwed the floats back onto the frame like it was before we started to fix SARA. Now we just have to wait for the "Plastic Welder II" to cure (that means dry and get real hard) and then we can put her in the water.
SARA looks a lot like she did when I left Virginia. She has had a few modifications but the general design and work is the same. She just looks a little more streamlined.
To be able to put SARA in the water it is first necessary to clean out the three test tanks. First we drain out the saltwater in the...
I got to go out into the field today. I was so excited, especially because it was our last day. We packed up the Pisten Bully and Stacy, Scott, and Francois headed out to Cape Evans. I had to go see the doctor this morning for a follow-up so Bob and I got snowmobiles and joined them.
As I pulled up on the snowmobile I was struck that this was indeed our last field day. It was the last day that I would be working on the ice. I wanted to impress the image on my brain and I thought a picture would be helpful.
Our last field camp was in front of the last and biggest glacier at Cape Evans.
We helped finish getting SCINI ready and then it was time to launch. Once SCINI was in the water, Bob and Francois loaded up the Jiffy drill and four drill flights and jumped on...
Stacy and the team were going to Cape Evans today but she felt that I should stay in the lab and get another day of rest. I was understandably disappointed but I was also exhausted because I had spent most of last night coughing.
I told Stacy that I had plenty to keep me busy because I have several journals to make up. Between being really busy and then getting sick, the journals just kept piling up.
I really enjoy writing the journals because it gives me a chance to remember all of the amazing things that I am doing. It also lets me stop and reflect on this experience. I realize that for the past five weeks I have focused on just one thing - my job in Antarctica. All of the little things that usually consume a big part of my day don't seem to really matter. It's amazing how something...
I was at the Medical Center first thing this morning. In fact, they open at 7:30am and I was there before they unlocked the door.
I have been getting progressively sicker the last several days and Stacy thought it was time that I saw the doctor. He examined me and then handed me three types of pills. My only question was "Can I go to the field camp today?" I know that it will surprise you to hear that he said "No". I was not very happy. Today was our last day at Heald Island. Not only did I not want to miss anything, but I also was disappointed about not helping the team. Stacy told me that I should take my antibiotic and go to bed. I did what my boss told me to do. However, the next morning I got pictures and commentary from the rest of the...
Today we decided to take a break from going to Heald Island. It is incredible at Heald Island but the days are very long and the work is especially hard. I keep reminding myself that in a few weeks I won't be able to work in such an awesome place. It is hard to believe that I have been here for over a month. I could easily stay for several more months.
Now don't think that this means that we had a day off. We have only a set number of days left in Antarctica and we have a lot of work that we need to complete. We decided to go to Cape Evans and check out a new iceberg. It took most of the morning to get things ready and by 10:30am we were ready to go. We packed up the Pisten Bully and made sure to get lunches from the galley.
The first stop was the jetty to pick up the trailer....
Every morning as I walk to Crary Lab I stop and enjoy the view. I have a lovely view at home of the Chesapeake Bay but nowhere else in the world would I get to enjoy such a view. Don't you agree?
It was another glorious day on Heald Island. The team was working like clockwork and I took the opportunity to take some pictures of everyone in action. The first is of Bob. We forgot the connector piece that allows us to use some teth
er as an extension cord. Luckily, Bob is able to rig something up that works just fine.
Francois is setting up the navigation system. He takes measurements to make sure that his calculations are accurate.
Our fearless leader, Dr. Stacy Kim, has her hands in just about everything. She is constantly on the...
Stacy offered to let me stay in the lab today and rest my back. To be honest I was happy but I was also sad. I wanted to take a break and let my back rest but I was sad that I would not be going to Heald Island with everyone.
They had an awesome time and the weather was perfect. I am happy for them but I am also a little sad that I missed it. I also am disappointed that I wasn't there to help the team. In Antarctica it is all about the team. No one talks about what "I" did but rather what "my team" did. It is amazing how so many people from so many different backgrounds are able to work together. It gives you hope for the rest of the world.
I did work on my journals today. I was feeling pretty lousy. On top of everything I think I am getting a cold. Isn't...
Today is Sunday. I know that is Sunday because I got to sleep a little later.
We all met at the lab at 11:00am and got right to work getting ready for SCINI's Open House. My first job was to put a sign up for people so that they knew which way to walk. I took two flags, the sign, and some tape and headed to a place that everyone calls the "Transition Area". This is because it is where you transition from walking on land to walking on the sea ice. I put up my sign and even Bob thought it looked good.
We are really lucky that they approved the Open House because they don't usually encourage activities that involve people walking on the sea ice. You usually require special training to go on the sea ice. So a big THANKS to the powers that approved our Open House.
The...
Today I am staying in the lab while the rest of the team goes to Heald Island. This is to give me a chance to get caught up on my paperwork. It is amazing how easy it is to get behind. I love writing my journal entries but they take a lot of time. I am also going to do a few errands. It is not a day off but it definitely feels like a little break.
One of my errands was to go to the post office. I was thrilled to receive a package from Jillian Worssam. She is a PolarTREC teacher that went to the Arctic this summer and her trip was entitled Bering Ecosystem Study '08. You should read all about her adventures on a Coast Guard ship in the Bering Strait. Jillian sent chocolate which was much appreciated by my whole team. There is a limited selection of candy here. We have one store...
I went to Heald Island today. I was excited to go back to this amazing place and I didn't even mind that it would be a lot of hard work. It's interesting how your priorities change. I haven't had a chance to do laundry or take a shower in over a week. At home I would never be alright with wearing dirty socks or having dirty hair. Here, I don't even notice. The main thing is that I have enough warm clothes on, whether they are clean or dirty.
As we were walking to the helicopter, I noticed that another helicopter was taking off and it had some cargo attached. They use helicopters to deliver supplies to the field camps.
On the ride out to Heald Island I sat by the window with my camera. The landscape is amazing. There are volcanoes, both active and extinct.
...
This morning we went to Heald Island again. As we land it is necessary to wait until the helo tech tells us that it is alright to exit the helicopter. The helo tech also unloads the cargo and the survival bags. Those survival bags are really heavy and the helo tech today was a fairly small young woman.
Today we are moving the camp. We also brought another tent to put up that is bigger and hopefully more comfortable than the Kiva tent. We had to drag everything down about a quarter of a mile using the banana sled and straps.
The new tent is known as an Endurance tent and it looks like half a circle. Putting up the tent proved to be quite a challenge. The poles didn't quite work the way the directions showed and this frustrated Scott a lot. It was the...
It is Sunday and we are all working to try and make up for the time we lost due to the bad weather. I actually enjoyed the snow and wind but that might be because I grew up in Tennessee and snow falling was a special occasion. However, it can look pretty scary at times. The weather today is really nice. The sun is up in the sky, the wind is mild, and not a snowflake in sight.
We all met at 7:30am for our regular team meeting. The primary objective today was to try and get SCINI 2 in working condition. Bob, Francois, and Scott each worked on trying to get SCINI 2 able to conduct research. Stacy and I had lots of work to be done on the computer. The morning was fairly quiet in the lab with everyone focused on completing their tasks.
I took a small break to...
The rest of the United States celebrated Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 27th but at McMurdo Station we are celebrating on Saturday, November 29th. The reason for this is that Sunday is a day off for most of the people on the station. If we celebrate on Saturday, then most people will get a two day weekend. What a treat!
I walked out of my dorm for brunch and I was struck by the weather. It looked just like a winter wonderland with the snow blowing everywhere. Of course, in Antarctica this can quickly turn into a winter watch. I was not surprised to look up and see the lights lit that signify a Condition Two.
I have to admit that I still thought it was beautiful. I love to walk in the snow and feel the snowflakes land on my hair and on my face. It reminds me of...
When I walked out of my dorm this morning I was greeted with a blanket of snow. It was a continuous snow flurry that looked like a giant was dropping salt all over McMurdo Station. I was thrilled because I don't get many chances to see snow. It was not going to be a lot of accumulation but I didn't care. It just looked so lovely coming down.
I was scheduled to remain on station today to get a chance to catch up on some things. Stacy is going to give each of us a chance to have a day away from the field camp. This is not a day off but rather a catch-up day. I still have plenty to do and I will even do an errand for Stacy. However, the helicopter flight was cancelled due to the weather. Stacy decided that since SCINI was on Heald Island that we would get a day off...
This morning I looked out of the window in my dorm and it looked clear. However, when I walked out I could barely see the building that houses the galley. It wasn't snowing that much but the wind was blowing hard and the snow was everywhere. I looked over and saw this little vehicle. It looked so out of place among the other mammoth ones. I have had a little trouble getting in and out of the various vehicles because they are all so high. The tires are super duper big and they lift the vehicles high above the road. This little vehicle almost looked like a toy and the snow seemed to have started to swallow it. I wanted to pick it up and take it with me so that I would have a vehicle that was my size.
As I entered the dining hall I looked up and noticed that the...
After a day off I am still tired. It will take a bit more to get me back to 100% but I am willing to wait until I leave Antarctica. I don't want to miss anything.
Today we are going back to Cape Evans to continue our study of the effects of icebergs on the seafloor. Most of the team left early but DJ needed to take care of a few things so I waited to go out with him. The rule is that you cannot travel by yourself on the ice. This is for obvious safety reasons.
Once DJ had finished his errands we suited up and went down to the transition area and selected two snowmobiles. We gassed up and headed for Cape Evans. It was a beautiful day with no wind at all. The other day I thought the ends of my fingers would break off because they were so cold but today my hands are actually hot from...
This morning we had an IPY Live Event. It was my first and I was a little nervous. I also was saddened that none of the classes from my school were able to participate. They had computer problems. I certainly understood but I would be lying if I didn't admit that I was disappointed. I do a lot of travelling and I don't' remember being homesick. However, I must admit to a bit of just that. I really love what I am doing and I would jump at the chance to come back to Antarctica again, but I do miss my life back home. I was cheered up by an e-mail from my cats.
I didn't get to be sad for long because Stacy and I literally ran from the presentation to catch a helicopter. We are heading out to Heald Island. This is one of the sites that we want to take SCINI to and see what we find....
We get to go to Heald Island again. Yippee! That means another ride in the helicopter. Yesterday I was running around trying not to miss my flight. I was so excited about everything that I didn't really get a chance to properly tell you about the helicopter. This is a picture of the helicopter that I am riding in today.
It can carry 8 passengers, 2 pilots, and a bunch of luggage. There are several things that you have to do to insure that you have a fun and safe trip. The first things you have to do are to weigh and tag all of the equipment. Then you grab a helmet with a bag, your ECW bag, and get weighed. You only approach the helicopter when you are told to. You climb into the helicopter and fasten your seatbelt. It is a bit more complicated than the seatbelt in a...
Today is my first real day off! I did have a day off when I first arrived but Stacy was kind enough to take us on an all day field trip (it was really fun). This is the first day that I have absolutely nothing to do. Of course, I slept a little later (9:00am) and then after a yummy brunch I did lots of little errands. I decided that the thing I needed the most was to rest. I still have fever blisters and I don't think that they are healing because I am not getting enough rest (oh the price we pay to have fun). So I spent the day reading and taking cat naps. I did try to do some work on the computer but I couldn't figure out to get internet in my dorm room. I think I made a good decision to rest, even though I would have liked to take a hike around McMurdo. Well, maybe on my next...
First thing this morning, the whole team and one volunteer packed up to go to Cape Evans. That meant that we needed to transport all of the equipment and eight people. The Pisten Bully was just not large enough, even with a trailer attached. That meant that three of us needed to use snowmobiles. Marco, DJ, and I volunteered to take the snowmobiles and since it was very windy, that meant that we would get very cold. If you ride a snowmobile it is your responsibility to fill up the gas tank. One big plus is that we don't have to pay for the gas (at least not right now).
After filling the tanks, we took off. It was cold but the scenery was incredible. Our snowmobiles were quite a bit faster than the Pisten Bully so we stopped several times and waited. It was a pleasure to...
I overslept - almost. My alarm went off at 5:30am but I didn't realize that was what the noise was (it must have been a really good dream). Luckily, my roommate got up and woke me. I had a 7:00am meeting and I wanted to eat breakfast first. It is not a good idea to skip a meal because you may not be able to go to the next one. In Antarctica you have to take advantage of everything. You never know what could or may happen.
I made it to breakfast (french toast - yummy) and to my 7:00am meeting and to my 7:30am meeting. Stacy, DJ, Scott, and Jason (a volunteer) packed up and went back to Cape Evans. The Pisten Bully has a hydraulic leak and is being fixed, so they used the vehicle from last year. It is called a "Tucker" and it is big and slow, but it has a table and...
I woke up and realized that today is my Dad's birthday (Happy Birthday Dad!!!). However, I need to wait until tomorrow to call him because it is November 19th where he lives in Virginia.
I spent the morning working on the computer. I finally worked out the mechanics of uploading videos to this website. I am so relieved that this has been worked out because I have several people lined up to interview for my "Polar Profile of the Day" segment.
I also spent some time working on the PowerPoint presentation that will be used for the IPY event that is scheduled for Monday, November 24th (your time in the United States). We are doing a joint event with Robin Ellwood and her research team.
The guys all went out this morning to test SCINI at Cape Armitage. At about 12:00pm they called on the radio...
Today started really early for me. I got up to watch Stacy on live, national television. She was on the Today show this morning. Now, when I say morning I am talking about 2:11am our time this Wednesday morning. For the rest of the United States it was Tuesday morning. I know it is a little confusing but eventually you get used to it.
Stacy did an incredible job. She looked like he had been doing it all of her life. Look how prepared she is for her segment.
It transferred to the television very well. Stacy has a natural presence about herself. Don't you think?
However, the big star of the show was SCINI. She was spot-lighted for several minutes. My photo may not be balanced but I think you get the idea.
If you would like to view the entire segment, then go...
Some days are filled with doing the little things. However, it is often the little things that can make the difference. Everyone on the team has things that they need to accomplish if the overall project is going to be a success.
I have a lot of work to do on the computer. I need to work on the video picture frame. It is a device that looks just like a picture frame and flashes pictures and videos that you download into it. We want to remove some pictures and download some new ones. It doesn't sound like a hard job but it definitely takes some time. There are a lot of pictures and video clips to sort through.
Other members of the team have jobs that are important to the project. Some are working on the navigation, some on the operating software, and some are trying...
I am getting sick. I have fever blisters on my lower lip and I am congested. I am whining a little here because as far as the team is concerned it is business as usual because being sick is no excuse in Antarctica. That doesn't mean that people don't care because they do. Whenever I think things are hard here I just stop and remember what the first men who came to Antarctica must have faced. I get a bed to sleep in and my "Big Red" (the arctic coat I was given at CDC) to keep me warm. Some of the first explorers were forced to survive with little or no gear. It makes me shut my mouth, be grateful for what I have, and keep working.
Today we have a lot of little jobs that need to be completed. I was given the task to acquire some electrical grounding wire. This required...
Today is Sunday and as you may remember this is the only day off that we get. Well, today we all decided to work. There is so much to do and just not enough time. I went to the lab at 8:00am to work on my journals. When I walked out of the dorm I saw that the ground was covered with a light dusting of snow.
I was a bit disappointed that I had missed the snow. Then I suddenly realized that it was still snowing! I was as giddy as a child.
After working for two hours I took a break to have brunch. I had been told that it was the best meal of the week and they were certainly right. There was fresh melon and a waffle bar.
I went back to the lab and kept working on my journals. At a little after 2:00pm I was finally caught up on both the journals. I was very happy...
This morning I had back-to-back meetings. I had my 7:30am team meeting and then I attended the MAUC (McMurdo Area Users Committee) meeting that Stacy chairs. The committee discusses various operating issues pertaining to McMurdo Station. It was interesting to hear about the things that affect the running of the station and it definitely was enlightening. As with many programs, staffing shortages are an issue. However, McMurdo Station is limited by the number of beds. It is interesting that a place with so much space available should have an issue with space. The thing that one must remember is that a major concern is to minimize the human impact on Antarctica. This is the reason for many of the management choices that have been made. As always, Stacy did an excellent job leading...
Today was an extremely busy one but it also was an absolutely wonderful one. It started first thing when Stacy announced during the 7:30am team meeting that Scott and I would get our first opportunity to dive tend on the ice. I was excited and a little apprehensive. I know that this is serious business. There are goals for each dive, not to mention the safety of the scuba divers. Scott and I scrambled to get dressed in our ECW gear and try not to act too excited. We went down to the dive locker and helped the scuba divers get their gear. We then piled into the Pisten Bully and headed out onto the ice. It really amazes me that we are driving on water. I know that it is frozen, but it is still just water. Not to mention that the view is utterly mesmerizing.
Once we...
I can now say that I slept outside in the snow and I mean that literally. That's right - I slept in a snow trench. Now you may think I am crazy and you might be right. What type of person willingly sleeps outside in freezing weather? Actually it was -16 ⁰C which is 3⁰ F. What makes it even stranger is that I actually didn't mind it.
I was a little cold but I survived. I shared a trench with Kristof. He is a very nice young man who lives in Ohio and works on the ENDURANCE (Environmentally Non-Disturbing Under-ice Robotic ANtarctic Explorer) project. His group is building and testing an AUV or autonomous underwater vehicle. The main difference between an AUV and ROV is that the AUV steers itself and the ROV is controlled by a controller known as a pilot. For more...
I woke up today and I felt like I hadn't slept in a week. "Happy Camper training was definitely a workout.
Today I get to learn how to drive some of the vehicles in McMurdo Station. There are a lot of different ways that you can travel. There are trucks and vans. These require you to put a chock under the tire whenever you get out if the vehicle.
The trucks look just like a regular truck but they don't drive like a regular truck. They have a different operating system inside the vehicle, including a MICObrake. They didn't let me drive one but they said I could if I had to. They are very trusting.
I did learn all about how to drive a Mattrack. It looks like a truck but it has tires that are triangular in shape. They told me all about how to drive the...
Today I began "Happy Camper" training. Now, you may be wondering just what this is and to be honest, so was I. This is a two day training that will prepare you to survive in case you get stuck outside in Antarctica. The chances of this are much greater than you might think. If we go on a day trip and the weather changes and the winds really pick up, then the helicopter won't be able to return and pick us up. It might be necessary for us to spend a night out in the field.
Since this is a real possibility there are procedures to help you deal with this situation. Every time you travel somewhere, even for a few hours, you take a Survival Kit. This is a large red bag that contains a tent for two, two sleeping bags, a portable stove, some food, and a tarp. It may not sound...
My first Monday in McMurdo started early. I was up at 5:30am and off to breakfast by 6:00am. We had our team meeting at 7:30am. My main responsibilities today were to complete some additional training and try to catch-up on my journals.
The training this morning was about the environment in Antarctica and in particular about an area known as the McMurdo Dry Valleys. This area contains a row of valleys that contain many interesting geological features including Onyx River, the longest river in Antarctica. The McMurdo Dry Valleys also contain the largest region of ice-free ground in Antarctica. Approximately 30% of the ground in this region is free of snow and ice. The area includes glaciers, mountain ranges, ice-covered lakes, meltwater streams, permafrost, sand dunes, and...
Sunday is the only day that the team doesn't work. Dr. Stacy Kim has a reputation for working her people hard (12-16 hours a day for 6 days a week). However, she also has a reputation for taking excellent care of her people.
Today Stacy took the entire team on a field trip. We all met at the lab at 9:00am with all of our ECW gear. Six of us climbed into the Piston Bully, while two of the guys got snowmobiles. It was another beautiful day. We headed out and Stacy stopped several times so that we could get out and take pictures. I can't believe how beautiful this place is. We stopped to see Mount Erebus from the other side. We also stopped to look at Barne Glacier. This glacier sweeps down the slopes of Mount Erebus and ends at McMurdo Sound. It is white but it has this blue-...
When I woke up this morning it took a moment to realize that I was actually in Antarctica. I must admit that it is a little disconcerting to always have sunlight. As you may know, there are times in Antarctica when you have 24 hours of daylight and there are times when you have 24 hours of darkness. You really need to pay attention to what time it is. I wish that my watch was on military time because that would let me know if it is 7:00am (0700 hours) or 7:00pm (1900 hours).
I went to the dining hall or galley as everyone calls it and had an omelet (made to order). I could get used to having someone cook and clean for me.
After breakfast I rushed to the lab. I didn't want to be late for my first team meeting. Every morning, except Sunday, the entire team meets in the lab at 7:30am...
Today is finally the day that I leave for Antarctica. It doesn't quite feel real. I went to school this morning and did some work on report cards. I also picked up S.A.R.A. Speaking of S.A.R.A...
We ran into some difficulties. As you may remember, the students had decided to connect S.A.R.A. to a joystick because this would give the ROV more maneuverability. However, we had some problems. We discovered that the only way to connect the thrusters to a joystick was to use a relay. Actually, it turned out that we needed several relays. Unfortunately, time was not on our side. In order for S.A.R.A. to be able to go to Antarctica we needed to make some accommodations.
Now, I don't want you to be discouraged because this is typical of real scientific research. Science...
The last 24 hours have seemed like 42 hours. I actually feel like I have lived the 18 hours that I lost.
Now, there have been several journals written about what happens when you cross the International Date Line. I particularly like the one that Mindy Bell did on October 1, 2007. Of course, I might be a little biased since she was the Antarctic Undersea ROV 2007 teacher. However, she describes how you can use an orange to explain what happens. I really like the fact that it is visual and kinesthetic (you get to use your hands) and that you can eat the orange when you are done. The bottom line is that I am now 18 hours ahead of my school in Virginia (that's EST). That means I am 17 hours ahead of CST, 16 hour ahead of MST, 15 hours ahead of PST, and 14 hours ahead of AKST. When I...
We landed in Auckland, New Zealand at 9:00am. The view from the window was absolutely amazing. Everywhere you look it is green, but not just a plain green. It is a dark, luscious green that makes you want to lie down and roll in it. New Zealand is comprised of a group of islands that have beautiful snow-covered mountains and are surrounded by clear blue-green water.
When you land in New Zealand you have to collect your luggage, go through customs, and then find the gate for your next flight. However, I had several problems.The first problem was that one of my duffle bags was missing (yes, I have two duffle bags to carry my clothes along with S.A.R.A. and all of her parts). The bag that was missing has most of S.A.R.A. and a lot of my clothes. The people at the...
I woke up at 3:15am. I guess I was a little excited. After all, it's not every day that you get to go to Antarctica.
The shuttle picked us up at 5:05am and took us back to the CDC. Maureen let us in and we all went right to our luggage.
Luggage has been my only area of concern. I wasn't sure what to bring. Stacy gave me a list, PolarTREC gave me a list, and USAP provides a list. They are all similar but there are differences. In addition, I live in a warm climate and most of my clothes are cotton. The saying in Antarctica is "Cotton Kills!" The reason is that cotton holds moisture and keeps you cold. You need clothes that are made of material that "wics" (repels) the moisture, such as silk, nylon, or other man-made fabrics. I hope I packed the right things....
I thought that is was time to give you all an update.
The new school year brought new students and a new teaching partner for me named Frederick Wagner. Mr. Wagner just retired from the United States Navy after 20 years and was most recently stationed in Guam where he supervised almost 200 sailors that handled a variety of industrial jobs.
As you may remember from reading my June 2nd and June 9th journal entries, we are creating an underwater remotely operated vehicle that we affectionately call S.A.R.A. When I last gave you all an update, my students had built a frame, two floats, a base, and started attaching the thrusters.
I should explain that we are using a book, Build Your Own Underwater Robot by Harry Bohm and Vickie Jensen, as a guide for building our ROV. I thought it would...
When we last spoke, S.A.R.A. had just received a much needed facelift. We redid the frame, adjusted the floats, painted the parts, and attached 4 of the 6 thrusters.
The next step was to attach the wires of the thruster to a power source. The book recommends that we use a 12 volt DC battery. However, we came up with the idea of using a portable battery charger to give the ROV more power. Dajon attached the 4 thrusters that are on the base to the battery charger. He made sure to attach positive and negative connections correctly.
Then we needed to attach the thrusters to a control device. The book recommended using a panel of 6 switches. One switch would make the ROV go to the left, one would make it go to the right, one to go forwards, one to go backwards, one to go...
There are many different things that you have to consider when you are getting ready for a trip to Antarctica. One of the most critical concerns involves your eyes. It is really important that you have good sunglasses (actually you should have at least two pairs).
Now, you may be saying to yourself, "I thought it was like winter in Antarctica?" Of course you are right because Antarctica is covered with ice and snow. However, the surface of the snow reflects almost all of the ultraviolet light from the sun. This means that it is very easy for you to get sunburn. It also means that you need to protect your eyes.
The sun is an amazing thing. It can help you and it can hurt you.
A recent article by Deborah Katz entitled Host of Health Benefits Attributed to Sunlight...But...
It may only be August but I have to start packing for my November trip to Antarctica now. The main reason is that there are limits on how much you can take on the airplane. I also have to consider the fact that I will be gone for over six weeks and that means that I will need a lot of different things to make my life bearable.
Stacy (that's my researcher or PI as she is called) was kind enough to send me a list of possible things that I might want to take to Antarctica. I also read the USAP (United States Antarctica Program) Participant Guide. It is a publication that is sent to anyone who is going to Antarctica. It includes general information about Antarctica, some of the history surrounding Antarctica, a list of everything you need to be able to go to Antarctica (passport, medical...
Today I received the e-mail that I have been waiting for. It read as follows:
"Dear Participant: This e-mail is to inform you that you are physically qualified (PQ) for your summer deployment. Your PQ status is good through 03/01/09. In order to winter or extend your PQ, you will need to contact the Medical Department. Congratulations and have a good trip!"
I received this e-mail from a Jeremiah, a medical records technician at Raytheon Polar Services Company. This is the organization that provides support to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Polar Programs. Raytheon Polar Services Company's main function is to support the United States Antarctic Office of Polar Programs. It handles all of the necessary paperwork, provides supplies, and coordinates...
I got up bright and early this morning. I was very excited about going out on the boat and spending more time with the members of the research team. I had thought that the other people on the team would be much younger. I was pleasantly surprised to see that most of the members are around my own age. It just proves that life is definitely still exciting when you reach your forties.
Jim picked me up in his cute little convertible. I was really impressed when he got out of the car and opened the door for me. You boys reading this journal should take note because girls like that sort of thing.
We went to the marina and boarded a boat. I was amazed at how many animals were in the marina. There were literally hundreds of birds but my favorites were the California brown pelicans....
While I was in Africa I saw beautiful landscapes and amazing animals. Everything was incredible and I have many memories that I will cherish for years. However, my favorite memories are the ones that involve the people.
We were very fortunate to spend time with a group of Maasai people. This is a group of Africans who live in Kenya and Tanzania and whose lifestyle revolves around cattle. Their culture is poised between the traditional and the new. Many of the young Maasai have gone to live in the urban areas but they still retain many aspects of the traditional lifestyle.
The Maasai warriors are considered to be among the fiercest in all of Africa. They can be identified by the red cloth or shuka that they wear. Both the men and the women are known for stretching their earlobes...
This is my first visit to California and I am very excited. I am going to attend an orientation meeting where I will meet the other members of the research team. I am a little nervous because I don't know what the others will be like. After all, I'll be living with them for over six weeks and I really hope they're nice. The meeting is being held in Moss Landing, California. This is a quaint city located on the coast near Monterey, California. ARCUS, which stands for Arctic Research Consortium of the United States, is the organization that administers PolarTREC and they have graciously agreed to fund this trip. They have arranged for me to stay in a lovely bed and breakfast that is located right next to Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.
Stacy Kim (the lead researcher...
As you may remember, I have been fortunate enough to receive a grant to go to Africa. The organization that awarded me the grant is Earth Expeditions. It is a project developed and administered by the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and Miami University's Project Dragonfly. They have programs in seven different countries, including Thailand, Belize, Costa Rica, Trinidad, Mongolia, Namibia, and Kenya. The purpose of Earth Expeditions is to educate people about the ecology and culture of other countries using an inquiry-based approach and then take that knowledge and apply it to our own communities. Each program includes a visit to another country where you can meet the people, examine the environment, and help with a local conservation project.
I was lucky enough to be selected...
Africa is associated with animals and I now know why. I have never seen so many animals living in the wild and I am sure that I never will again. I tried to make a list of all of the different animals that I personally saw and could identify. I ended up with a list of over sixty (60) different animals, including a large variety of mammals and birds. The first animal that I saw was a zebra.
They were just standing there looking at us. I suddenly realized that we were the intruders in their home. That was when I knew how fortunate I was to be able to get a glimpse into their world.
Of course, everyone was anxious to see the elephants. Our program included the opportunity to meet Soila Sayialel, one of the lead assistants to Cynthia Moss at the Amboseli Elephant...
The students are starting to build their own underwater ROV. We are using the book Build Your Own Underwater Robot by Harry Bohm and Vickie Jensen.
The book is written for students in upper elementary and middle school. However, I have to admit that I was a little intimidated when I first read the instructions and I consider myself to be pretty good with my hands. The book Build Your Own Underwater Robot includes a history of underwater exploration and directions for building your own diving bell, underwater habitat, underwater glider, and two different types of ROVs. The students decided to use the directions for building the "Seafox ROV". They liked the compact nature of this design.
The first step is to build a frame. This involves taking a twelve (12) foot length of...
Our underwater ROV is continuing to blossom and grow. The process is a bit complicated but we are seeing the results of our hard work. The students are working on several parts of the process at one time. An important element of the finished product will be the floatation devices. We measured the inside length of the frame and then took a piece of three (3) inch PVC pipe and cut two pieces that are ½ inch shorter than the length of the inside of the frame. The students then sanded the ends of the PVC pipe pieces.
The next step was to attach PVC end caps to each end of the cut PVC pipe pieces.
We then checked to see if the finished floatation devices would fit inside the frame. They did!
Another important element of the underwater ROV is...
We finally went on our field trip to Nauticus, a local museum. The Nauticus currently has a changing exhibit entitled Seabots : Pilots of the Deep. This was the first step in our plan to build our own underwater remotely operated vehicle or ROV.
You may be wondering just what a ROV is. It is a robot that is operated by either a person or a computer. The ROV consists primarily of a frame, a control system, a propulsion system, and a tether management system. Some underwater ROV's also contain a video camera and lights. The underwater ROV is placed in the water and is submerged to collect data. The ROV allows the operator to collect information from areas that are not always accessible to a diver. ROV's have been used for over thirty years and are currently used for a...
One of the main aspects of this program is the educational component. How I share this experience with my students is very important. I decided that the best way to start was to have my students go through some of the same training that I experienced in Alaska. I wanted to have my students feel like they were going to Antarctica themselves.
I described many of the things that we learned about surviving in the wilderness. We discussed what the trainer called the "Rule of Threes". You can go 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food, and 3 months without companionship. The students were then asked a series of questions about hypothetical situations to see how they would handle different crises. It was interesting to see what...
Yes, I am without a doubt an incredibly lucky person. First, I get selected to go to Antarctica to participate in an awesome research project. Then I get to go to Alaska to do training for my trip to Antarctica. Then when I get home from Alaska I get a letter notifying me that I have been selected to go to Africa for another incredible project. Could I be any luckier?
Now, I am sure you are just dying to know all of the details and I promise that I am going to tell you everything. In fact, the lovely people at ARCUS have offered to let me use their equipment and this website to keep you posted on the details about both of these amazing trips.
The first thing I can tell you is that you don’t just get on a plane and go. There is a lot of work that has to be done ahead of time and I...
When we last spoke, I had just been to see reindeers and 32,000 year old water (which contained organisms that are still viable when the ice is thawed out). Needless to say, I was having a blast.
The next day we continued to work on learning the different types of technologies that we will need when we are in the field. We concentrated on learning to edit audio recordings and create podcasts. I completed my very first audio podcast which you can listen to by going to iTunes and searching for "PolarTREC" (it is free!). Let me know what you think. Do I have a future career as a radio announcer?
On Friday, March 7th we went see the races at the Alaska Dog Mushers Association. We were able to watch the skijoring competition. Skijoring is when a cross-country skier is...
Let me start by apologizing. I really meant to write this journal entry sooner but I have been swamped since I got back to school. I think the best thing for me to do is to pick up where I left off on my last journal entry. In case you have forgotten...I was having a blast in Alaska!We continued to have a series of trainings about the technical requirements for our upcoming trips. I consider myself to be pretty computer savvy, but I have to admit that it was a bit overwhelming. I am definitely going to practice so that by the time I go to Antarctica I know what I'm doing. The wonderful people at ARCUS realized that we were getting a bit inundated, so they planned a couple of field trips. We went to the Reindeer Research Station that is managed by the University of Alaska -...
We have been super busy. Yesterday we started learning how to create an audio podcast. This is a process that I can use to conduct interviews or record interesting sounds. It takes lots of technical support to make this trip a success. I need to be able to share what is happening with everyone - that means you! We also began learning how to use our digital cameras and I have been a picture-taking fool. Here is one of my favorite pictures from the World Championship Ice Carving Contest and Ice Park.
Batter up!
There were so many interesting things to see that I had to show you another one of my favorite ice sculptures.
Now that's an igloo
Another cool tool that I will be using in Antarctica is a satellite phone. I felt like a secret agent making a phone call...
Yippee! I'm in Alaska! That's right, I'm really in Fairbanks, Alaska and I am on my way to becoming a PolarTREC teacher who will go to Antarctica this fall. It took only thirteen hours of traveling to get here from Norfolk, Virginia. When I arrived at 2:00am on Sunday morning the first thing I noticed was the snow. It was everywhere and I loved it. We began training bright and early the same morning at 8:00am. I was tired but I was also so excited that I couldn't wait to get started. The people at ARCUS are super organized and they are giving us oodles of helpful information. The other PolarTREC teachers are really incredible. Jillian teaches at a school in Arizona that is very similar to mine and she will be spending four weeks on a ship this summer in the Bering Strait. Robin...