After several days of missed connections and 10 hour layovers before "next available flights," I have landed back in NH! I must say that the dark nights are feeling a bit odd, but it is good to be home!
I wish to thank, one more time, Dr. Peter Doran for inviting me to join his team again this season, PolarTREC for selecting me as a representative teacher, ARCUS and NSF for funding and supporting the program, the Rye School District for its continued support, and all my family and friends for their support! It was an amazing season and I look forward to continued collaboration with Peter and continued sharing of the experience!
Don't forget, you can follow the remaining progress of ENDURANCE by tuning in to Shilpa's Blog at: http://sgulati.wordpress.com/
I will do my best to...
Storms in McMurdo, even mild ones can cause travel problems. I was re-scheduled to leave “The Ice” today. I have, indeed, made it to New Zealand! The plan (plans in Antarctica are always subject to change!) was for a C-17 to fly in from New Zealand, unload the new people arriving in Antarctica, then depart to do an air-drop of fuel to the AGAP project (Antarctica’s Gamburtsev Provence project which is quite close to South Pole), then return to McMurdo to pick-up those departing the continent and return to New Zealand. Weather could change that plan at any moment, and we had weather brewing! Those scheduled to depart had to watch the “transport monitor” all day. We were told to arrive at transport at 4:00 pm, but to watch the monitor closely because it could be changed to an earlier time...
Another phenomenal start to the day! A live chat held via the Internet with folks all over the country including a place special to my heart: Rye Junior High! It was wonderful to hear familiar voices and to "meet" some new folks! Thanks to PolarTREC for organizing the event, to Dr. Peter Doran and Dr. Stacy Kim for participating, to Cameo for being interested in doing a joint presentation, and to all those that "tuned in"! Everyone had great questions; we shared many smiles on this end! The research being done by Stacy and Peter is incredible!
ENDURANCE and I are about to part company, but hopefully our paths will cross again someday! I am scheduled to start heading north tomorrow just as the team heads to the field. I am honored to have gotten to know this team...
I am still in McMurdo - this is not a bad place to be! Apparently there is bad weather somewhere because the C-17 that was supposed to land today is not coming due to weather. That means I get an extra day in "town."
I walked down to the helo pad to say goodbye to the ENDURANCE team. Although it was sad to see them go, I am very excited to follow along with the project and know that they will have an amazing time out in the field! Everyone but Chris and Shilpa have headed to Lake Bonney. Chris and Shilpa have stayed in McMurdo in order to "escort" the robot out to Lake Bonney on Friday. It is nice to have them in town with me!
The helo that will take the team to Lake Bonney.
Cram in!
Kristoff, Peter, and Bart get settled for the ride!
...
The theme for the day: Packing! Everything must be packed up and ready to go to the field. The team leaves for the field Wednesday, but everything must basically be packed up today so we can organize helo loads. We also needed to break down the Bot House tent and flooring system so that it can be sent to the helo pad for shipping. The energy and excitement for getting to the field is increasing!
Bob and Shilpa check over their packing list!
Chris says he needs to start thinking outside the box!
The outer tent cover, or blanket, came down much easier than it went up!
Bob and Bill rolling up the tent cover.
Kristoff is trying to look like the Tin Man!
Peter tried to escape out the roof, but luckily Bob was there to hold him back!
...
In Antarctica, things don't always go as planned! We had originally planned to breakdown the Bot House today and start packaging it up for shipment (via helicopter) to the Dry Valleys. But, the electricians need to do a bit more work on it, so it is not quite ready to be disassembled. In the mean time, the team focused on getting all the rest of their gear, and their personal items, a bit more organized and packed. Flights have already begun taking loads of gear to Lake Bonney!
Since I was unable to assist the team with this part of the project - everything has specific places to be packed, I was given time to catch up on some of my UNH homework and edit some of the videos I have been making. The videos below are filmed by Steve Rupp, who is one of the "Dive Guys" here in...
Now that the tent is assembled, we can hoist up the gantry, attach the winch system that will be used to raise and lower ENDURANCE out of the "moon pool," secure the safety railings and let the electricians do their thing! The team is getting ready to deploy to Lake Bonney, and since the big push to test build the tent was completed, we decided to divide and conquer. A small group headed back to the tent to work on the tasks mentioned above, while the rest of the team finished smaller projects with the robot.
First, I helped attach the C-channel that will be used as a guidance track for the gantry. The gantry is basically a moveable frame that will assist in the hoisting and lowering of ENDURANCE.
Me helping to secure the C-channel that will be used to guide the gantry...
There were a few moments today when I suspected if we just held on tight to the tent lines that the wind would allow the entire team to parasail over to Lake Bonney! Even though it was a relatively mild wind - at least by Antarctic standards, it was quite a challenge to get the tent covers (yep - that's plural... there are three cover layers!) put on the tent!
We started the day by assembling the frame for the tent cover, or "blanket" as it's called. We called the frame the ribcage because it looked quite a bit like a rack of ribs! The first several "ribs" were quite difficult to connect, but once we had a system going, we got into a groove.
Shilpa gathers some "ribs" (tent frame sections!) to the work area for assembly!
The first "rib" goes up!
One...
What a team! Today, we did a test build of the entire flooring assembly for "The Bothouse" which is the building that will house the robot - ENDURANCE - out at Lake Bonney. The flooring had already been built in Texas, but because of the shrinking and warping effects of wood due to weather and extreme conditions, we needed to be sure the entire system would still fit together after being exposed to the extreme cold. If anything needed to be rebuilt, adjusted, or re-drilled in order for bolts to line up properly with neighboring boards, we needed to know - and respond accordingly - while we are still in "town." Lake Bonney is a protected area, no major construction is allowed in the area, plus... it's easier to deal with problems in town when we have access to lots of...
This morning's activities included a check out dive on surface supply for Peter and Bill. We met up with Rob and Steve - the "dive guys" (who run the diving program in Antarctica), got suited up and headed out to the pier in front of McMurdo. Rob reviewed how the surface supply connections were set up, how the communications system works, safety procedures and rules, as well as what to do in case of a diving emergency. We always have a supply of oxygen available in case a diver gets decompression sickness, but it should never really be needed. Everyone dives very carefully and stays within the "no decompression" limits.
Decompression sickness is a concern for divers. As divers go into deeper water, pressure builds up. As the pressure increases, more nitrogen can be...
First thing this morning, I introduced "Doo" (the Rye Junior High robot) to ENDURANCE. Doo is thinking it's ready for the "big leagues!" TAT also met the big "Bot" today.
SCUBADOOBA DOO meets ENDURANCE!
A little size comparison!
I tried to explain to Doo that if it keeps working as well as it has been, it may be able to play in the big leagues someday!
TAT also got a chance to meet ENDURANCE
The ENDURANCE team starts their day with a morning meeting. Everyone discusses issues that may have come up as well as plans for the day. Everyone has their area of expertise, yet everyone helps out with any task that needs doing! If an issue arises that requires the expertise of a particular member, everyone listens intently to what...
The ENDURANCE team started their day with morning meeting. The big topic of discussion this morning was how best to overlay the grid coordinates between the existing topographic map (which is basically a rough estimate), the hand-held GPS markings from driving around the perimeter of the lake, and the most recent satellite imagery. There were slight discrepancies between each data set, and the team needed to figure out how best to handle that; no one wants to crash the robot into the face of the Taylor Glacier because of an error in topo calculations!
Peter and the team discuss the variations in coordinates.
Peter leads a discussion on complications that may be faced in the sampling sites near the shore line. The lake has never been accurately mapped, so anticipated...
Today, Jean asked if I would launch ScubaDooba Doo in the Crary Lab aquarium tank so she could document the story for the "Exploratorium." I also wanted to perfect my driving skills a bit, so it seemed like a perfect idea! The large aquarium tanks are currently devoid of fish, so we asked if we would be allowed to launch the robot in one of the tanks. Permission was granted, so we took "Doo" (as I now call the robot for short!) to the tank!
We played around with Doo for a bit and were joined by Bob Zook who works with Dr. Stacy Kim on Project SCINI (Submersible Capable of under Ice Navigation and Imaging). He helped design and build the SCINI robot that the team is using in Antarctica. Their robot is really neat! I will be talking more about it in upcoming journals,...
This puppy's got some "guts"! The flotation pieces, which are the orange outer shells you saw in the earlier pictures have been removed in order to get to the robot's innards. The batteries that Maciej charged up a few weeks ago were added to the robot and all the electrical and control connections are being re-connected and tested! Everyone on the team has a role and they are all working hard to get this robot up and running and ready for the field!
The ENDURANCE without its floatation!
The green cable is the Ethernet communications between the sonde (the scientific equipment package) and the robot.
Each of these cables is a link to the sonar panels around the robot
Chris begins to test the communications between his computer and the robot
Bart uses...
Two big events today!
One: ScubaDooba Doo, which is the robot 8th graders at Rye Junior High built performed flawlessly on its first Antarctic adventure! I am so proud of all the students that worked so hard to make it work - CONGRATUATIONS! Your robot swims, maneuvers, sends video out, and has a working light system in the frigid Antarctica waters! It sent Fantastic video clips back to the surface! We even flew the flag designed by Jiselle off the back! Check out the underwater footage! Everyone in the group was impressed with your efforts - they all send a big "congrats" and were VERY impressed! I wish you could have heard the cheers from everyone - it was so fun to see how enthusiastic everyone here was about this robot. How exciting!
ScubaDooba Doo and the flag...
What a day! For years I have been waiting for this day. My friend Jean Pennycook, who works with the Adelie Penguin project (you met her in an earlier journal when I got to sort through penguin poop!) took me to the Cape Royds Adelie penguin colony. What a site! Those little creatures were busy! Building nests (which they make out of pebbles; pebbles that are often stolen from their neighbors nest!), flapping their wings to mark their territory, mating, sitting on eggs, and yacking up a storm! I could have just sat and watched for days - it was fascinating! What little characters they are! Check out the video below!
Before we went to the colony, we took a quick tour of the historic Cape Royds Hut. This is where Earnest Shackleton departed from in order to explore the inner reaches of...
The penguin colony trip has once again been postponed; although I am very disappointed, I am hopeful that the opportunity may come up again! Schedules are tricky here! We have to have two snowmobiles and two people trained in snowmobile and sea ice safety - neither of which I have and the classes are backed up with a waiting list. There were originally two drivers going, I was the third person in the party. But one driver got called out to Siple Dome, so we have to wait. The plan now is to go tomorrow; we'll see!
But, the good news is that the ENDURANCE has finally arrived in Antarctica. This is the robot that Dr. Peter Doran is launching this year in Lake Bonney. Lake Bonney is in Taylor Valley which is one of the Dry Valleys in Antarctica. It is the same valley that Lake Hoare is in,...
Today, we collected some more mat and water samples and deployed all three light arrays and two of the sensors for the light arrays. Now, this might sound like an "easy" task.... not so!
First, as we stand on the surface ice, we have to determine exactly where the experiment is set up underwater. We do not have an underwater GPS, and compasses do not work too well down here, so we have to use more "old fashion" methods. During one of the last dives, we had the diver swim towards the experiment so that the people on the surface could get the proper angle away from the dive hole; basically, we look to see which direction the umbilical cord is exiting the dive hole and we choose a landmark on shore to line up with! We also had the diver swim a rope to the top of the...
First, let me offer a penguin update. The penguin, now known as Addie, has wondered off and no one has seen him/her. The research team was unable to come and rescue him/her. In my mind, he took a left turn, headed back to the ocean and has been re-united with the colony.... ☺!
Today started with Aslan diving and "stealing" the light sensor that was attached to Hal. Hal no longer needed it for what he is doing at the bottom of the lake, and we needed it for the light sensors that are going under the light array. Aslan had to take a box cutter diving with him in order to slice off the duct tape that we used to hold the light sensor cables to Hal's other cables; box cutters and dry suits with clumsy dry suit gloves are never a good combination! He managed to free the light sensor...
What a busy day! First, Aslan dove to take some more light readings with a light sensor, to take some pictures of the experiment, and to retrieve Hal. We are packing up to head back to town. The experiment, so far, is a great success! Everything is working and buttoned up nicely. Ian attached the solar panel today, so the instruments will have power during spring, summer, and fall months!
The solar panel that will be left out on the lake as a power supply
Hal, with lift bag attached, ready to return to the surface
The Shade Screens
Two of the light arrays and one of the light sensors
The three light arrays!
Another view of the light arrays and sensors
Hilke spent some time in the lab finishing up experiments she has been doing with...
What a wonderful way to start my day - talking to folks back home and from around the country! Thanks to everyone for taking the time to say hello and participate in the LIVE From IPY event! You all had great questions! It was so nice to hear familiar voices; I must admit, it made me a bit homesick! But I'll be home soon enough!
We spent the day cleaning up and packing the rest of our gear. The first sling load picked up most of our gear at about 1:30 this afternoon. We are scheduled for the 9 pm flight back to Scott Base, and then I will catch a ride back over to McMurdo Station. We are all a bit anxious about the katabatic winds which are blowing. We waited until late in the day before we took down our tents - just in case flights are cancelled due to wind.... which could still happen...
The sun was shining brightly this morning, so I made the first dive in order to take some underwater pictures of Hal, the shade screens, and an experiment that had been set out several years ago. The algae is quite interesting to look at; it makes amazing patterns!
Me - ready to get in! (That's for you Jillian and Flagstaff!)
Going in!
Self-portrait underwater!
Algae growing on an experiment that was put in the lake several years ago - doesn't it have interesting patterns? Ian wonders if the white spots are a virus.
Hal - ready to collect some data! The probe is attached on the right hand side; it's coming down from the white holder.
Looking down on one of the shade screens.
Two of the shade screens in position! They look a...
What a spectacular day, the sun was shining all day today! It never ceases to amaze me how much of a difference a little sunshine can make! Things warmed up today. It was only 3 °F, but it felt like a balmy day! We got the compressor running again - after sticking it into the tent for a couple hours with a kerosene heater on it!
We got the compressor running again; more air is on the way!
Aslan dove to release the control on Hal that allows him to move laterally. We do not yet want that to happen automatically, so Aslan went down to do it by hand! Thanks to his terrific communication skills, we knew just what he was doing and were able to position Hal into the proper position for that next data run.
Communication is key! Listen to the audio file I have attached (see bottom...
Just before Ian was about to go into the water, he looked up across the lake and said "penguin!" Sure enough, there was an Adelie penguin trying to make his way across the lake! He climbed up onto the ice ledges and hobbled down onto the smooth ice areas. Then he made his way over to camp.
This little Adelie seemed to be thankful for a nice warm rock on which to rest!
He certainly seemed to be on a mission; albeit a bit confused!
Now, as exciting and adorable as this is, Lake Hoare is NOT the place you really want to see a penguin. They are quite a ways from the ocean here and typically are unable to find their way back out of the valley. There is nothing for them to eat here, the lakes are frozen, so there is no readily available water for them; it is a recipe...
It was cold this morning! We all headed to the dive hole at about 9:30 this morning. There was no sun and a slight snow was falling. Everything was freezing that we needed to use: regulators, batteries, Hal's motor parts, etc. We went through some hot thermos water today! We poured the hot water on the frozen parts to thaw things out. The most difficult part is being outside in our dry suits standing on the lake ice. The suits are warm enough, but standing on the ice in thin rubber boots is quite cold on the feet. Once our feet get cold, everything starts to cool down. I had a good case of the shivers - I think we all did! Of course, we ran into minor glitches along the way with the parts to things freezing. This just prolonged our time on the ice.
After a very cold start, Ian dove to re-...
Air; it's a wonderful thing! As if working conditions are not difficult enough, the air has been so cold recently that the air compressor won't even start. I must have pulled the starter cord 5000 times over several hours! It tried to start, but just wouldn't turn over. This makes filling the SCUBA tanks "impossible" (although we did come up with some creative ideas!), which holds diving experiments at a stand still. We had some other equipment problems as well. So while Ian, Aslan, and Hilke worked on problems with Hal, I worked on the generator. We fired up the generator that we use for the hotsy and attached an electric heater. I put the heater on the air compressor to try and warm up the oil. Ian had checked the oil, and it didn't even drip! I heated, and attempted to start...
Yesterday, we set Hal (a profiler, which has probes attached to it to monitor oxygen saturation levels within the algal mat) back into the lake to get to work. We left him at about 10:30 pm and all was well. He worked GREAT until about 6:00 this morning at which point, well.... he stopped! So, I dove again to retrieve him. It turns out that one of the problems is that he is moving laterally as well as vertically and as of this point, no one has told him to move laterally. Thus the name "Hal." Apparently, in the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey," there is a computer named Hal that takes on a life of its own. Our "Hal" took on a life of his own when he was first assembled a couple years ago - thus the name "Hal." He is living up to his name! The lateral...
Temperature control in Antarctica is quite difficult, especially on such cold days! Dressing in layers is key, but it is tiring constantly putting layers on and then taking layers off. Gloves on because it's COLD, then gloves off to gain dexterity for the work that needs doing. It would be interesting to have a temperature probe on my hands to monitor the wild temperature fluctuations. While working hard, we sweat. Then if we stop working for even a moment, we cool down quite quickly!
Today was a tough temperature control day. Ian and I got suited up to dive. The plan was to start by Ian launching Hal (the "profiler" - this is a piece of equipment that can measure oxygen, pH, sulfur, etc. levels in the water and algal mat) to his monitoring spot on the bottom of the lake. Then I...
The day started with some "helo support" to help move some heavy equipment from near camp to a spot on the lake. It's impressive to watch the helo crews operate; check out the video for a quick glimpse.
[video]
All the "pieces" have come together and the reason we are here is starting to play out! The compressor arrived today, so I can now fill the dive tanks! The compressor basically sucks air out of the sky and forces it into the dive tanks. The blue circle on the left side of the picture is the intake valve which filters the air so that the air going into the tanks is clean fresh air!
The Compressor
The tanks are filled to 2400 psi (pounds per square inch). We have two sets of double tanks which will be filled and hooked up to the "talk box" and...
The dive hole is almost ready! It is actually already large enough for divers to get through; in fact, the upper portion of the dive hole is huge! But, as the hole goes deeper, the hole gets narrower. We couldn't really see from the surface how narrow it was at the bottom, so I went for a quick swim to find out! The verdict: the hole is plenty large enough for divers to get through, but not wide enough for some of the equipment we will be deploying. At the bottom of the hole, when I put my fists together, my elbows rubbed on either side of the hole - for the entire 360°. Some of the equipment is wider than that, so .... more melting! We have to refuel the generator and hotsy every four hours. Last night, Hilke took the 3 am refueling shift; tonight, I will take the 2 am refueling shift....
We have arrived in the Dry Valleys! We just barely squeaked our way out of town; helicopters stopped flying shortly after we arrived - phew, we made it! It is wonderful to be back at Lake Hoare! Rae and Sandra, the camp managers, welcomed us with delicious cookies!
The helicopter ride over was delightful; wonderful views in all directions - although we could really only see well to the sides as we were seated facing backwards in the helicopter! As soon as we landed, we started sorting out all our gear and trying to get organized for an afternoon of work. We set up our tents and "moved in"! Well, actually, I couldn't set mine up because it was missing poles! I'll be staying in the Jamesway this evening and another tent will be dropped off tomorrow (assuming flights can be resumed...
The dive hole is on its way - it might be large enough to dive in by tomorrow! Melting the hole is quite a process! I explained the drilling yesterday, now let me explain the melting.We have several pieces of equipment to melt the hole: a generator, a hotsy, 2 hurdy gurdy's, a hot finger, cables filled with glycol, and fuel to run the generator and the hotsy- both Mogas and JP8. Here's how it works...The generator is basically our power supply for the process. We need the generator to run the "hotsy." The hotsy is basically a big drum that has a burner and glycol contained within a system of cables. We turn the generator on in order to power the hotsy. Then we turn the hotsy on; the hotsy will heat the glycol that is inside the cables. The glycol is then pumped through the cable...
We spent the day packing the sleep kits and other items that were in the storage "cage" for the ENDURANCE team today. Things are packed, weighed, and sorted! They should be in pretty good shape when they arrive!
As I walked around town on this gorgeous Antarctic day, I took a moment to watch the hustle and bustle going on all around town. People were being transported here and there, walking here and there, talking about all kinds of research, packing, unpacking, and a few just recreating! It is amazing what an assemblage of individuals has congregated in this one section of the world to support research that will help us understand our planet, and our impact upon our planet.
One thing that always strikes me is the recycling effort that takes place in McMurdo. Everything is...
What a spectacular day! Brilliant sunshine, mild temperatures, mellow winds; it could not have been more lovely! Annika and I went for a brief walk up the hill beside town to take some pictures of some of the welding sculptures that are displayed around town. Annika then took a hike up Observation Hill, or "Ob Hill" as it's called here; what a perfect day for a hike! I buckled down and did some more homework.
We tried to start packing some more gear for another team of Dr. Doran's that is coming down in a couple weeks; we thought it would be helpful to get them a head start! Since we can't do anything for our project from McMurdo, we had some time to help others out. Due to another team already being in the "cage" area, we were not able to get much done today, but have...
The weather is just not cooperating! We were on another "weather hold" all day today; conditions fluctuated back and forth. We almost made it out of town, but once again.... Denied! The difficulty, however, is that we are now stuck in McMurdo until Tuesday! There are no flights out on Sundays (tomorrow - don't forget we are a day ahead!), there are no available flights on Monday, so our first flight out possibility is Tuesday. Yikes! This will put us behind a bit and cause long "catch-up" days once we do get into the field. But, that's part of field experience; one must roll with the punches.
McMurdo Weather Information:
There are three general weather conditions in McMurdo; Condition 1, 2, and 3. Condition 3 is the "best" weather; Condition 1 is the "...
Today was the final push to get packed for the field. Everything is packed, weighed, labeled, and at the Helo pad (helicopter hanger) for our flight tomorrow! Phew! The flight manifest for tomorrow has just come out and our names are on it! Barring any weather delays, we should be in the Dry Valleys by mid-day tomorrow. We are all anxious to get to Lake Hoare and get started with our work. It will be wonderful to be back out in the Dry Valleys; they are such a special place!
As you know, the majority of Antarctica - about 98% - is covered by a massive ice sheet, or continental glacier. At its thickest point, the ice measures about 15,000 feet thick! The McMurdo Dry Valleys make up the largest area on the continent that is relatively ice-free. Although the valleys themselves are void of...
We had a weather delay today which turned into a flight cancellation; we are still in "Mactown." We were denied access to the Dry Valleys - hopefully just for today! It was disappointing not to get to the field, but safety comes first. It was snowing and windy today - I guess helicopters don't really like that too much! We'll have to make up for lost time in the field! Get ready to drill; we have a dive hole to make!
In some ways, it was nice to have a "mellow" day. Everything we have is packed and down at the helo pad, the weather was a bit unpleasant, so we hunkered down inside. I took the opportunity to do some work for the class I'm taking at UNH - a good day to read and ponder!
I also met Patrick Jeffery; some of you from Rye, NH may know him! He is a resident of...
What's big, grey, and graceful? Weddell Seals! We saw many today! This morning, Maciej and I (remember Annika was at Happy Camper School - more on that below!) went to the dive locker to partake in our open water "check out" dive. This is when Rob and/or Steve, who run the dive operations here, take us diving and make sure we are comfortable in the water, that we can control our buoyancy properly, and that we can swap to our back-up regulators (the devise that gives the diver air) in case the primary regulator fails. We always have two regulators; one is merely a backup to be used if needed..... having an air supply is a good thing! This "check-out" dive requirement is a bonus for us because we get to dive in McMurdo Sound. Fantastic diving! We loaded up the piston...
"Today" is the last day of the season that the sun will actually set!The next sunset won't happen until February 20, 2009! Get out the sunscreen! I am amazed at how quickly the sun is moving higher into the sky. In NH, as the seasons change, the sun seems to ever so gradually shift its angle in the sky. Here, it seems to jump to a higher level with each passing day; the rising is happening much more quickly!
Other events of the day:Food Pull! It's quite challenging to determine how much food to get for a field camp group! We need to pay attention to allergies, personal likes, and dislikes, etc. I went to the food "store" and pulled all the food I thought we would need for a month in the field. We are able to get re-supplied while we are in the field; all we have to do...
Packing, training, packing, training.... Being a researcher in Antarctica requires a fair amount of effort! It truly is amazing how much effort goes into getting the data for the research being done. There is an incredible support system in place in order to make it all happen. Not only are the researchers here, but all the personnel needed to support the research are also here: pilots, technicians, welders, doctors, cooks, mountaineering guides, divers, carpenters, housing people, custodial staff, even a hairdresser! That's only mentioning a few! McMurdo functions like a well oiled machine. Check out the video showing seens from around town in McMurdo and over at Scott Base.
[video]
We started the day with more training. First, we had our environmental preservation and waste...
The first thing we noticed when we walked out of the dorm today was how warm it was! It's a balmy 1°F! Compared to the -8°F (with wind chills up to -30°F) it feels downright warm! But, some sort of weather system is moving in. It doesn't look like it will amount to too much, but it "took" Mt. Discovery away! Actually everything in the surrounding area is under "Condition 2" - which is a weather advisory. I'll talk more about weather in a subsequent journal!
Hey, who took Mt. Discovery?.... Going....
Hey, who took McMurdo Sound? .... Going....
Hey, who took.... everything? ... Gone!
The remainder of the day we spent sorting through the gear making sure that all the items that were requested were received. So far, so good! We got most of the items weighed, which needs...
We are already in an extreme environment, and we are working our way towards being able to enter into an even more remote area. People here want to be as sure as possible that we are well trained to handle the situations that may arise. We also need to be a bit more self-sufficient than folks who stay "in town," so we need to be able to repair our own equipment in the field. In order to be as prepared as possible, we are required to go through many trainings. Some of these trainings include: An outdoor safety lecture, a field training session otherwise known as "Happy Camper School," jiffy drill training, generator/hotsy training, ATV training, a communications briefing, waste management, etc. I will explain a bit about each of these as we go through them.
Today,...
We have actually arrived in Antarctica a day ahead of schedule; I wonder how often that happens! Our flight to Antarctica was originally scheduled for Friday (that's Thursday east coast time!), but due to a needed medical evacuation from Antarctica, the plane went in early. Although we did not get to enjoy New Zealand for a day, it is nice to be here and nice to know that the person needing medical assistance is getting it and will be well!
The flight over was amazing. The C-17 aircraft is simply a beast! Basically, the center section is filled with cargo and the people sit along the edges of the plane. On this flight, there was a pallet of airline seats towards the front as well, but we chose to sit along the edge - it's "fun"!
I must take a moment and introduce two travelers...
Getting ready for fieldwork can be a bit daunting! The logistics of getting everything organized, packing equipment, weighing equipment for the helicopters, gathering food for a month or two in the field, and going through all the necessary training courses is a little bit of a whirlwind! Our day was spent scheduling appointments with all the different people we need to see for training in order to be approved to go to the Dry Valleys. We are booked solid for the next several days! In between appointments, we will be packing all the equipment.
Prior to our arrival, Antarctica had experienced some severe storms for several days which had prevented earlier flights from getting to Antarctica. Because of this, things in McMurdo are a little bit backed up; everyone is working really hard to...
What a journey!I left New Hampshire at 11:00 am on Monday the 13th of October, and arrived in New Zealand at 9:00 am on Wednesday the 15th of October! Crossing over the International Date Line causes one to "lose a day"! I never had a Tuesday this week; gosh that is weird!
Scene from the "Flightpath Screen" on the plane: Crossing the International Date Line!
North island approach
The view from the plane over South Island!
New Zealand fields!
Ella, Robin, Annika, and Maciej enjoying a spring day! Annika and Maciej are on Dr. Doran’s team. Ella joined us for a walk through the Botanical Gardens. She is a doctor heading to South Pole; she’ll be there for a year!
This sign was in the corner of an herb garden. Does anyone in the Northern Hemisphere find...
There are two basic types of diving suits used to help SCUBA divers stay warm: wet suits, and dry suits. They function quite differently, and each has benefits. When using a wet suit, as the diver enters the water, water enters the suit. Assuming the suit fits properly, the divers body heat then goes to work "warming" the water inside the suit and keeping the diver warm. This would be a bit too chilly in Antarctica, so divers there use dry suits. Dry suits are basically one-piece suits that have snug seals that fit around the wrists and neck to keep water from entering the suit, thus the name: "dry suit." There are many different types of dry suits, but typically, in order to stay warm, the diver wears an undergarment under the suit. I wear a fleece-lined suit, winter...
Now for the "logistics"! Divers need to maintain "neutral buoyancy" while in the water. This means that they can "hover" at any desired depth; neither rising nor sinking except for the slight rise and fall that occurs as one breathes. Thanks to our understanding of Boyle's Law, we can do this!
Boyle's Law states that as pressure increases, volume decreases. Obviously, as one goes deeper in the water, pressure increases. This causes any air spaces in the body and the suit to be compressed. It may be easier to understand this if you imagine a balloon that is inflated and tied closed. If you hold that balloon at the surface of the water, it will remain "full size." But, as you take that same balloon deeper into the water, the air inside will be...
As another field season gets underway, I wanted to take a moment and thank the folks that have made this all possible. First, I would like to thank Dr. Peter Doran; it is an honor to be part of your research team. Next, a huge thank you to PolarTREC; your dedication to bring cutting edge research to students throughout the world is an inspiring undertaking! I am grateful for the opportunity to be a representative teacher for your program. I would also like to thank the Rye school district for your continued support for my participation in this research opportunity! Sheila - well.... just thank you for everything! Thanks to Atlantic Aquasport for assisting me with my new dry suit. Another thank you goes out to my professor and classmates at UNH for your willingness to work with me through...
Today, the robot: SCUBADOOBA DOO got some new "clothes"! While fine-tuning the buoyancy of our robot, we learned what may seem like an obvious lesson: Styrofoam disintegrates when it gets wet! We, obviously, can't put any substance into the Antarctic environment that will crumble and pollute the area. Our solution: swimming pool noodles! Not only do these not disintegrate, but they also come with a naturally hollowed out center; the perfect thing for wrapping around the tether cables and the robot frame!
Swimming Noodles to the rescue!
The "perfect" solution; floatation and tether wrapping!
We were able to relatively quickly remove the old Styrofoam and replace it with the "cut to fit" noodles. We were quite pleased to have found noodles with the same...
Today, the robot got packaged up for its long journey south! It will be going to Antarctica via cargo ship, so it has to get a "head start" on my travel time. If all goes as planned, we will reconnect in McMurdo! I am looking forward to swimming together under the ice! It will be great fun to test the robot in the frigid waters; do you think it will work?
My fingers are crossed!
SCUBADOOBA DOO gets some padding for the long journey!
All packed up....
And ready to go!
Next Stop for SCUBADOOBA DOO: Antarctica!
SAFE JOURNEY!
I feel as though I am traveling around the back side of the moon and am waiting to be within signal range once again! I have had to send my computer into "the shop" for a minor repair and upgrade, thus have not been posting journal entries. Rest assured we have been VERY busy with the robot - it is working GREAT! We have been "mastering" the controls and having fun! The story is much more fun with pictures, so as soon as I get my computer back, I will be posting pictures, stories, and videos!
Stay tuned - it shouldn't be long!
While my computer was in for repair, the robot work continued! We took "SCUBA DOOBA DOO" (the name of our robot) up to the lake with us during the end of the year 8th grade class trip. While at the lake, we did manage to get all the floats attached, but there just wasn't time to actually launch the robot. We were too busy having fun doing other things - like hiking up a mountain, canoeing, taking challenges on a high ropes course, and having chariot races! Given that all these other activities were going on, I am not surprised we couldn't squeeze in a little robot time!
On June 19th, however, we met at the local SCUBA store (Atlantic Aquasport) to launch the robot into its first saltwater environment. We wish to extend our very special thanks to Don, Ericka, and Derek for...
SUCCESS!! Our robot can swim! Today we did our final tests on all the electrical connections. All was in working condition, so we started "waterproofing" the robot. With any luck, the term "waterproof" will hold true! So far, so good!
First, we applied epoxy to all the electrical connections and any area where we were concerned about "wear" on the tether. Once the epoxy had dried, we placed the robot in a large bucket of water. Much to our delight, the image on the DVD player was quite clear!
Paige and Cody apply some epoxy!
Jeremy and Nick apply some epoxy!
We "officially christened" the robot "SCUBA DOOBA DOO"; this seemed appropriate as this robot will be working with a diving team.
Maddie makes the name official!
Being a seaside...
Celebrations and high fives! The robot is finally WORKING! We have had a few minor problems to sort out, but after re-soldering the wires and replacing the DVD player (apparently there was a problem with the original - so while it is out for repair, we have borrowed another so our work can continue!) we have reached success! We are thrilled! Tomorrow we apply the "waterproofing" - I always hesitate to use that word - and perform the "bucket test"! This is when we will submerge the robot into a large bucket of water, test for any immediate problems, and begin adjusting the buoyancy of the robot.
The control box after we "cleaned it up" a bit!
Maddie stands with the robot - in WORKING condition!
We will have more to share after the first water test! In the...
What a roller coaster ride today! Thrills and disappointments - it's all part of the process. We are SO CLOSE to having a working robot! We were thrilled when the first electrical test prompted the running of the "lift" prop. But this was quickly followed by frustration when putting the lift prop into reverse blew the fuse in the system! Arghh!
But, we persevered! We replaced the fuse, checked and adjusted a few wires and tried again. Another fuse blew; clearly some wires were still touching! We investigated the control box and found a few soldering "blobs" that were definitely making contact with each other. We cut and rerouted one wire, re-soldered, and retried the power connection. This time success! All three props worked in both directions! But, when we closed the...
We had a small robotics group today, which was a good thing (the other group members had previous commitments)! We had to get the electrical control box together, so there weren't too many "jobs" to do. This was time intensive, and challenging work. We have decided that if we were to design a new robot, we would make the control box a bit bigger so our fingers, and soldering irons, could fit making the connections without getting in the way. One of our new goals - no more soldering blisters! OUCH!
We are trying to keep our soldering "blobs" to a minimum, but are also finding the angles we need to work with quite challenging. We had a discussion today about how "easy" this might be if we were all experienced with electrical soldering. But that's what this is...
The work continues! Today we worked on getting the control box in order. We had to start with stripping some more of the electrical wires so we could solder them to the control box. We also had to get all the switches in order. We have the connections largely sorted; we will connect them all tomorrow! We hope to have all the electrical work completed tomorrow and test the propellers... we'll see!
Cody strips some wires!
Paige tries to sort out which wire to solder!
Josh shows the control box lid with switches intact!
Nick works on re-soldering the propeller wires!
Paige solders a wire to the control box!
This robotics crew is DEDICATED! Six 8th graders gave up a significant portion of their Saturday to continue working on the underwater robot! With the end of the school year looming in the air, we felt we needed a large block of time to forge ahead with the project. Today was the day - and what a great day it was!
Josh and Nick brought their father in to show him the robot - he just happens to be an electrician! He took a quick look at our electrical connections because we hadn't yet been able to get a signal through the DVD player. The good news was that we had everything connected correctly - good job team! The only mistake we had made was not connecting one of the grounding wires; once that was done - we had imaging!
Nick anxiously awaits an image on the DVD player!
Success! Nick...
During my past experiences in Antarctica with Dr. Doran, our research team starting using the saying "SLAP 5" - this stood for "Sounds Like A Plan.... For the next five minutes!" This saying came about because several times, while in the field, we felt like we had a "plan" for the day, but then we would encounter some unexpected interruptions. The robotics team in Rye, NH is starting to understand that "SLAP 5" saying! Our plan for the day had been to test the TV monitor and get the three propellers mounted onto the robot frame.
Within just a few moments we had encountered problems. The color codes on the wiring for our equipment did not match the directions for connecting the camera to the monitor. Although this may sound like a simple issue to...
Today, students learned one of the most important polar lessons; be flexible! The robot building hit a couple snags today, but the group recovered nicely! We had recently purchased a portable DVD player to use as our video screen/TV monitor for viewing, and controlling, the robots progress underwater. The next steps in our robot assembly process involved hooking the robot camera up to the monitor and running some tests. But, the DVD player we just purchased didn't have the proper charger chord included, so we couldn't "fire up" the DVD player. Defeat for the day loomed in the air!
Rather than succumbing to this setback, the robot crew quickly skipped ahead to future assembly needs. The crew swiftly mastered the use of the dremel tool, and began cutting PVC pipe to fit the...
Perhaps our little success today wasn't quite as monumental as the recent "Phoenix" landing on Mars, but we're feeling good about what we accomplished! Today was the first "official" meeting to start assembling our robot for the Antarctic challenge. We now have a robot frame and three motorized propellers!
Some lessons from the day:- Who knew electrical tape came in so many different types? We chose one that allegedly is good to temperatures as low as -10° C (that's 14° F); that's the coldest we could find!- PVC cement is VERY messy, and the primer comes in cool colors!- There is a definite "art" to soldering.... It's questionable whether we have "mastered" it yet! - Robots make great places to stash messages!
Maddie and Paige paint the purple...
On March 20th, 2008, many of my students had the chance to listen to a "Live from IPY" event featuring Mr. Craig Kasemodel! Students listened intently as Craig and the researchers explained their work in the Arctic. The spotting of Walrus was a source of excitement and interest for the students. Several students from Rye Junior High asked questions live via the computer, and a few were able to verbally ask questions directly to the researchers.
Rye Connects to the Bering Sea!
Craig joined researcher Dr. Lee Cooper, from the University of Maryland, on the US Coast Guard Cutter Healy. The research team conducted intensive studies of biological communities in the Arctic, including walrus. You can read more about their research and access the archive of the live event by visiting: http...
April 22nd, 2008 - Earth Day! Rye Junior High participated in a collaborative effort with people around the world to broadcast a live event, celebrating Earth, for 24 hours: "Earthcast ‘08"! The Junior High's participation in the event was thanks to Ms. Sheila Adams. Ms. Adams works tirelessly to bring technological advances and opportunities to the students at Rye Junior High.
Rye Junior High was responsible for broadcasting live during the hour between 9 and 10 am. During this time, students shared their thoughts about global issues. It was also during this hour that I was able to share my experiences in Antarctica with those listening. You can hear some of the archived event by listening to the audio below.
It was wonderful to be able to participate in such a global event. My...
The parts have been delivered! The robot will begin construction on Tuesday, May 27th! I have an enthusiastic and motivated group of 8th graders who are determined to build a robot to send with me to Antarctica! This idea started as a friendly competition with Ms. Cameo Slaybough who teaches in Suffolk, Virginia. Ms. Slaybough will be joining Dr. Stacy Kim in Antarctica at about the same time I will be joining Dr. Peter Doran (their project can be reviewed at: http://www.polartrec.com/antarctic-undersea-rov-08).
This season in Antarctica, both Dr. Doran and Dr. Kim are utilizing robots to assist with their research. We thought it would be great to have students from both our schools experience the challenges of building a robot! This will also provide a direct connection between the...
Reflecting back on the last couple days of my PolarTREC orientation in Alaska brings many smiles. During those final days, we all worked through any remaining technology "glitches" and practiced posting journals, images, and audio clips to the PolarTREC webpage.
We also attended a workshop entitled "Learn to Return." Our instructor, Tuck Brouhard, enlightened us with possible polar scenarios that could bring trouble. We learned about hypothermia and frostbite as well as improving our chances of surviving plane/helicopter crashes! We also learned how to create makeshift emergency clothing for cold weather protection from "typical" scraps that may be found at accident scenes. We were reminded of the "HIS/HER Principle" for handling emergencies. This...
The training continues! Today, we reviewed the technology requirements for hosting an "IPY (International Polar Year) Event." During IPY Events, teachers and researchers broadcast up to date information, stories, and images about the research being conducted in the field. These broadcasts will be conducted from unique, and diverse, field locations in both the Arctic and Antarctica. It will be great fun to "tune in" to these events; the dates and times of IPY Events will be announced as they become available.
Once our training was completed, we were able to visit two interesting places. First, we traveled to the Reindeer Research Farm at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. Researchers here are trying to develop a naturally grown, and processed, feed for the reindeer...
We have had three intensive days of training here in Fairbanks, Alaska. The days have been filled with information on how to utilize the PolarTREC website in order to share our Polar experiences with a broad audience. We have practiced using a variety of equipment, such as cameras and audio recorders, to assist in telling our stories. It has been a bit daunting learning how to manage the massive amounts of data – in a multitude of forms – that we will be gathering, tracking, and sharing during our expeditions.
This training happens to coincide with the International Ice Carving Competition being held here in Fairbanks. Last night, we were quite fortunate to be able to take a break from our training and watch the sculptors hard at work.
The ice-carving park was a flurry of activity; ice...
I am quite honored to be a participant in the 2008-2009 PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) program and to be able to "rub elbows" with such an amazing group of people. The program has brought 12 teachers from around the country to Fairbanks, Alaska in order to receive necessary training for our upcoming Arctic or Antarctic expeditions. Each teacher has been matched with a scientist who is conducting research in one of the Polar Regions. The teachers for this PolarTREC season will be joining research teams in Alaska, Greenland, Norway, and Antarctica; two will be going to sea aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Healy, one will be aboard the Canadian Icebreaker Louis S. St-Laurent, and one will be on the Swedish icebreaker Oden. Each teacher has brought...