South Pole Ozone Changes Journals
At the South Pole from December 6, 2007 - January 14th, 2008: Research Experience Reflections
This PolarTREC project as part of the International Polar Year (IPY) was for me an unusual opportunity to return to the South Pole with the same research team and compare atmospheric ozone data collected in 1999 with the ozone data collected during the PolarTREC project in December 2007/January 2008.
I traveled to Antarctica in 1999 as a TEA teacher to collect data on atmospheric ozone and had the opportunity to return with Dr. David Hoffman’s NOAA team from Boulder, Colorado to continue our study. In 1999, Dave’s team was called the Climate Monitoring and Diagnostic Laboratory (CMDL). Its present name is the Global Monitoring Division GMD) of the Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) of...
Leaving the ice! Thank you and good by.
South Pole:
Temperature: minus 28 C, Minus 18 F
Windchill: minus 38 C, minus 36 F
Wind: 6 knts.
Weather: Windy, clearing sky
It was time to go. Many hugs and good by’s. Amy met me at the ski-way. It was windy but overcast. However, as we were waiting for the plane to get ready, the sun appeared. When I walked towards the plane, a halo was greeting me right as I passed it: it was going to be a good flight back to McMurdo and Christchurch.
Last photo at the ceremonial pole:
Jauary 14, 2008. Elke just before the flight at the Ceremonial Pole at its new position in front of the New Elevated Station
Leaving the South Pole:
Monday, January 14, 2007. The “Herc” is almost ready to bring me...
Life at the South Pole Station: a retrospective photo journal.
Temperature: -26 C, -18 F
Windchill: - 36. 5C, -34 F
Wind: 7 knts.
Weather: clear and sunny.
It is Sunday, and brunch is served at 10 am. Many people enjoy this day as their day off from work and many activities are planned in the gym (soccer, volleyball) and in the dining hall (spelling bee contest). I was busy packing my bags, mailing the last packages and postcards (the post office is open this afternoon) because tomorrow, Monday, January 14th, I will be leaving the South Pole before noon.
I was also looking forward to see the “John and Jerry” show-presentation, an account about the history of the 3 stations at the Pole by John the station design engineer and Jerry the NSF construction manger....
Dedicating the New Elevated South Pole Station to the new century.
Temperature: - 29 Celsius, -18 F
Windchill: - 43 Celsius, - 44 F
Wind: in the morning 12 knots
Weather: Sunny, with some high clouds
When we got up this morning we found out that the weather allowed for a C17 to leave Christchurch with the NSF delegation on board; they were going to switch to a LC 130 in McMurdo and arrive at the South Pole, early afternoon. The Dedication celebration could proceed as planned!
At 7: 30 am we all gathered to have our group picture taken for Congress as the last historical photo in front of the Dom before the flag was going to be removed during the morning and then hoisted above the New Station in the afternoon.
The last group Photo in front of the Dom:
The...
33 years of the Old Dom.
Temperature: - 26 C, 14 F
Windchill: - 41 C, - 41 F
Wind: 14 – 20 knts.
Weather: windy and sunny, no flights do to a snow storm in McMurdo
We had another day of no flights. Work at the station went on, even with 15-25 knots of wind.
Yesterday was the anniversary of the Old Dom. Since we will be celebrating the dedication of the New Station soon, I thought it important to dedicate this journal to the Old Dom.
But before here the answer to yesterday’s question: when were the first and second South Pole stations built.
First station = Original station (1957–1975)
Second station: Jan 9 1975Dome (1975–2003)
(For more information go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amundsen-Scott_South_Pole_Station )
Jerry Mary, the NSF New Station project manager and whom...
Passing of time, the Dome and Sir Ed Hillary.
Temperature: - 32 Celsius, - 22.4 F
Windchill: - 46 Celsius, - 47 F
Wind: in the morning 17 knots
Weather: Sunny, with some high clouds, no flights due to a storm in McMurdo.
We are still hoping that the visitors from NSF will be able to take the plane early tomorrow morning from Christchurch and come to our Dedication celebration. It will be a long day for them coming to the South Pole for 5 hours and being here under such extreme conditions. However, it will be all worth it.
In the mean time, the station has geared up for the big day.
A special clean up group has come to the station for a week to help with special cleaning assignments:
Helpers from McMurdo:
This group of janitors came to help at the station....
Fire fighters at the South Pole.
Temperature: -23.7C, -10.7FWindchill: -31.1C, -24.0FWind: 4.9 knts. Grid 127Weather: Clear and Sunny with high clouds, however, all planes canceled because of a storm in McMourdo.
In the past, fire fighter volunteers had been trained to protect the station. For the past two years we have had a fire department at the South Pole who also train the fire fighter volunteer brigade for the summer and winter season. The department consists of four professional fire fighters: Lieutenant William Molidor, David Palmer, Christopher Cavanaugh, and David Breitenfeld.
The fire fighters at South Pole Station
The fire fighters at South Pole Station inside their office: (fr. l. to r.) Chris, David Palmer, William Molidor, and David Breitenfeld.
Lieutenant William (...
At the beginning of my stay, I had the privilege to see the largest telescope of that kind on earth. It is called the South Pole Telescope and it has a reflector of 10 meters in diameter. Helmuth Spieler, one of the principal investigators, presented to me his research and showed me the telescope earlier, when one of its main part: the cryostat was still to be put together.
To get to the telescope, one has to go to the “Dark Sector” of the station, about ½ mile away from the main station. It is called “Dark Sector” because no external light initiated by humans is allowed in the section during the winter and summer time. In order to get there, one has to cross the ski-way (run –way). When the “Beacon” is on, one is NOT allowed to cross the ski-way, because a plane might be leaving or...
Satellites at the South Pole. Welcoming a new member of the research team!
Temperature: - 25.7 C, - 14.3 FWindchill: - 30.9 C, - 23.6 FWind: 2.9, Grid 158Weather: sunny with scattered high clouds, over casting during the evening.
Before I am reporting again about yet another amazing day at South Pole learning about our satellite communication, let me welcome Teresa, a new member of the NOAA team. She arrived from Barrow, Alaska, leaving on the 30th of December and arriving here on the 5th of January. She literally went from almost the North Pole (Barrow is 1250 miles away from the North Pole) to the South Pole: from almost 24 hour darkness and Arctic winter temperatures to 24 light and Antarctic summer temperatures. Teresa is an electronic technician and she has been living with her...
Preparing the greens for the winter-over time
Temperature: - 28 C, - 18.4 FWindchill: -28 C, -18.4 FWind: 0.0 in the morningWeather: Clear and sunny with a few high clouds
It was beautiful Sunday. There was no wind in the morning and it was great for outside activities. Most people had the day off and recharged by skiing, playing out door Frisbee, in door soccer, doing laundry or just reading a book. I caught up with writing, mailing and emails. However, I also visited the green house again. I pass it by every day ! It is great just going inside and smell all the greens and feel the moist air.
The view of the Green House form the hall way.
The gardener at the South Pole. Monique Dulac is the gardener at the South Pole. However this is not her full time job. She is from Main and studied...
What would we do without machinery?
Temperature: -27.8 C, - 18.0 FWindchill: - 36.0 C, - 32.8 FWind: 4.9 knts. Weather: clear and sunny
David Carson is the head of the VMF, the Vehicle Maintenance Facility, in other words the garage. This is his first season on the ice. He and his team take care of all the heavy and light vehicles. The garage is located in one of the three arches next to the power plant and the storage facility.
The garage (VMF) of South Pole Station.
Inside the garageThere are 10 people working in the garage, including 5 heavy mechanics, 1 light mechanics, 2 general assistants (GA), a work-order-scheduler, and the VMS supervisor. The operators of this equipment work in a different department.
Heavy machines being repaired.Heavy machines being repaired inside the garage...
Sir Edmund Hillary led the first Tractor party to the South Pole
Temperature: -26 C, -18 FWindchill: - 36. 5C, -34 FWind: 5 knts.Weather: sunny and clear
Remember what I told you yesterday about Jerry Marty’s love for Antarctic history.
Today we received this email from him which I appreciated very much!
"Jan 4, 2008 South Pole Station
To All,
For all of you Antarctic and South Pole history buffs. Today 1/4/08 marks the 50th anniversary of the New Zealand tractor party arrival at South Pole led by Sir Edmund Hillary – January 4, 1958.
The Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition was comprised of the United Kingdoms’ Dr. Vivian Fuchs and the New Zealand’s Sir Edmond Hillary. Dr. Fuchs was to depart from Shackleton Base, and then on to Scott Base as the final destination via the...
A day and a life at the South Pole
Temperature: - 27.5 C, - 18.6 FWindchill: -37.5 C, - 35.7 FWind: 0.0 in the morning 4 knts. Later in the dayWeather: Clear and Sunny
The weather in the morning was absolutely gorgeous. We had little wind, which is very unusual for the South Pole.
No Wind at South PoleIt is very unusual to have no wind at the South Pole Station. This morning was such a day.
I had an appointment with David from the garage to learn about all the different light and heavy machines used at the South Pole.
At 11:30 we were expecting representatives from congress for the day. We had prepared ARO for the upcoming visitors.
Andy is explaining some of the data to visitors.Andy is explaining some of the data to visitors.
Facing the camera to his left is Russ Carnahan, member of...
Radiation to and from the Earth
Temperature: - 27.5 C, -18.2 FWindchill: -37.2 C, - 35.0 FWind: 5 knts.Weather: clear and sunny
The Global Monitoring Division of NOAA monitors also the incoming and outgoing radiation at different sites, including at the South Pole. This is important because energy associated with the Earth’s radiation budget (incoming and outgoing radiation in our atmosphere) is not only responsible for maintaining the thermal state of the planet‘s atmosphere and oceans but also affects their motions and related processes. For instance, changes in radiation might cause climate changes, therefore, this data collection also investigates causes and consequences of any changes in the observed surface radiation budget of the earth’s atmosphere. How can radiation change? For...
The moving of the geographic pole marker!
Temperature: -28 C, -18.4 FWindchill: -37.8, - 36.0 FWind: 6.6 knts.Weather: clear and sunny
Another year has started: 2008!
I was looking forward to this day and the celebration of placing the new Geographic Pole marker at the correct 90 degree South position! The celebration was at 6:30pm and many people attended to see the ceremony: moving first the US flag, then the Amundsen-Scott Memorial plate and placing the new Pole at 90 degree South.
First, the correct position for 90 South was determined and marked with flags
Flag designate the new Geographic Pole.Flags designate the new Geographic Pole position (green) and the position for the American flag and the Amundsen-Scott honorary plate.
Drilling deep into the snow.Next, the holes in the snow...
Temperature: -27.5 C, 17.4 FWindchill: -37.2 C, - 35.8 FWind: 5.6 knts.Weather: clear and sunny
Although today is New Year’s Eve, yesterday was our official New Year’s Eve party, to be able to give all on station a long weekend (except scientists). Today, Monday was a day to rest; tomorrow, the first of January, will be a normal work day at the American stations in Antarctica.
Since it is Monday, we needed to do a stratospheric balloon flight. After posting my journals and answering questions during morning satellite hours, I went to the BIF where Amy had already started the flight.
We used the flight hours conditioning another ozonesonde and cleaning up the lab in the BIF. Preparing the ozonesonde. Cargo has not arrived yet, so we conditioned the ozonesonde that has been used and...
Pipes under the snow provide our heat - including for the early New Year’s Party at the South Pole.
Temperature: -25.3 C, - 15.5 FWindchill: - 36 C, - 32.8 FWind: 11 knts. Weather: overcast in the morning clearing in the evening.
This Sunday was filled with all kind of different activities. Because of logistics, today was also our official New Year’s Eve.
The morning was filled with answering emails and posting one more journal. I made it to the gym before brunch and enjoyed the New Year’s Eve prep- activities in the gym below. The ceiling was going to be decorated with an old parachute.
Gym getting ready for the PartyI was amazed how hard everyone worked to make this event very special.
After brunch about 8 of us met Craig Bell, the utility engineer (same person I met to learn about...
The Safety and Health Department
Temperature: -25.6.8 C, - 14.1FWindchill: - 38.4C, - 37.1FWind: 12.6 knts. Weather: clear and sunny
A 6:30 am morning call gave me time to post the journals and meet Carolyn Macola, our Safety and Health Engineer at 8 am to accompany her for some water sample testing.
I was looking forward to this meeting because of similar testing I do with students using water from the Hudson and the East River around New York City during my Ecology Water Unit. Kai Ross, the Health and Safety specialist from McMurdo just arrived at the South Pole and came along with us. She is originally from New York and used to work for the DEP in New York being responsible for the drinking water. (It is very tasty; I can assure you that having lived in New York City for many years!...
Power and Heat is important
Temperature: -25.6.8 C, - 14.1FWindchill: - 38.4C, - 37.1FWind: 12.6 knts. Weather: clear and sunny
Tim, one of the power plant engineers and former air plane engineer first explained to me the different parts of the power plant because once we would be inside the engine room we would not be able to talk much because of the noise.
The power plant has 4 generators. 3 are identical in size: each could produce 750 KW. The 4th generator is smaller.
The daily demand of the station is about 675 KW. The power plant supplies all main building of the station with power and heat: the main station, ARO, summer-camp, the cryo-building (holding of the helium tanks), and the “Dark Sector” plus a few smaller camps, such as the Jeffery Observatory that conducts solar...
The Water-Well at the South Pole. Temperature: -26.3 C, - 15.3 FWindchill: - 33.3 C, - 28.0 FWind: 4.2 knots.Weather: 100% overcast in the morning, with ice crystals in the air. In the afternoon and evening clear and sunny
The Satellite is now up only until 9:30 am, so it was an early morning again to get the journal corrected and posted. At 10:30 am I was able to meet Craig Bell the Utility Chief Engineer (Preventive Maintenance Foreman) of the station to learn more about the water production here at South Pole.
Since we are 800 miles away from the coastal water and the station is located on 9700feet of accumulated snow and ice on top of a continent, the only way to get fresh water is to melt the snow or ice. Since the very first station was in operation during the IGY in 1957, until...
A team went across Antarctica.
Temperature: -27.8 C, - 18.0 FWindchill: - 36.0 C, - 32.8 FWind: 4.9 knts. Weather: clear and sunny
In the morning of Christmas Eve we had special guests arriving at the South Pole that we looked forward greeting for some time. It was the ITASE Travers team. We were glad they made it to our Christmas dinner on December 24. Most of them also participated in our “race around the world”. The team has been traversing Antarctica since October. Here is some information about them. The team posted daily journals on their web
ITASE Traverse (International Trans Antarctic Expedition): Research from Taylor Dome to South Pole (Event # I-153-M/S)The ITASE Traverse is an ongoing project that is a collaborative of many nations. The traverse this year is from Byrd...
Andy’s spectacular tale of ozonesonde retrieval Temperature: -27.9 C, - 18. 1FWindchill: - 36 C, - 32.8 FWind: 4 knotsWeather: Clear
It was another late night of sorting photos and organizing for the holiday journals. However, I was able to get up early and post everything. The questions and comments are also updated! Thank you all for all the questions.
As you noticed, the daily data collection at ARO continued during the holidays. All the instruments have to be checked and the Dobson data has to be collected. Air samples have to be taken. The work has to be done to assure continues data collection.
And today was a perfect day to continue the surface ozone balloon flight: bright and sunny with little wind. Today was also a good chance to retrieve the ozonesonde with the GPS...
Running around the world 3 times in 2.5 miles!
Temperature: - 28.5 C, - 18.9FWindchill: -39.8C, - 39.5 FWind: 3 knotsWeather: clear and sunny
I went up at 7:30am to call my family in Germany. It was 7:30 pm for them at Christmas Eve, just the right time to call.
The race was supposed to start at 10 am followed with a wonderful brunch.I had time to get a bowl of oatmeal, some fruits and tea, and check my emails. Then I got dressed for the race. I went out early to see all participants arrive in their creative outfits or means of transportation.
The race was 3 times around the world: a total of 2.5 miles.
All vehicles acceptedThe race started next to the South Pole. Some of the drivers with thier heavy machinery were already waiting.
Erin from New Zealand Erin, a mechanic, is from New...
Christmas Eve at South Pole:
Temperature: - 28.5 C, -18.5 FWindchill: - 36.6 C, -35.2 FWind: 2 kntsWeather: Clear and sunny
For many scientists it was a normal work day until the Christmas gala dinner which was held in three different seatings. I knew we needed to get up early to start the Monday Stratospheric balloon flight.The kitchen, in the meantime was getting ready for the afternoon gala dinner:
Christmas spirit was evident everywhere! The Dining hall assistants always wore Santa hats.
Amy was already at the BIF at 8:30 am and at 9:30 am she was ready to launch the stratospheric Xmas balloon.
Amy ready to LaunchAmy is in front of the BIF, ready to launch the stratospheric balloon.
Amy letting goAmy is letting go of the balloon.
Xmas Balloon in the airThe Xams Balloon is in the...
Before Christmas at the South pole
Temperature: - 29 C, - 20.2FWindchill: - 39C, - 38.2 FWind: 6.6 knts.Weather: Mostly clear
Saturday morning was taking up with posting journals, answering questions posted on the web, and attending the weekly all-station science meeting with representatives of all science projects present. After lunch, I answered more student’s question fro the web and went to ARO at 3pm, just in time for tea-time and more “stollen”.
The evening was taking up doing laundry and answering more students’ cards to be mailed from the South Pole. The rest of the station geared up for Christmas and the anticipation and Christmas spirit was evident everywhere.
Dining Hall Christmas preparationGeneral Assistants Katie and Coreen are preparing the candle lights for the...
Temperature: - 27.7 C. -7.1 FWindchill: -29.6C, -21.3FWind: 5.2 Knots.Weather: Overcast
Yesterday ended not until today with answering comments from the PolarTREC website. Great to get all the different comments and questions! Thank you all!
After breakfast the station conducted an emergency drill to practice every body’s skills and organization in case of an emergency.
I was allowed to take pictures from afar and follow the effort of about 100 people involved with a particular job. In addition, many volunteers were standing by to help out. It was good to see how well everybody was working together and that the station was well prepared for an emergency. All departments were involved and everybody knew what to do. Amy was part of the trauma group and Andy was one of the observers. Some...
Communicating with classrooms!
Temperature: - 22.7 C, - 15FWindchill: - 33.6 C, - 32.5 FWind: 15 kts, in the morning, calming throughout the day, clear at nightWeather: Overcast
Today we had “Life from IPY” at 7:30 am. It was December 20th for us at the South Pole. For all of you it was different time zones on December 19!! Full of anticipation, Andy, Amy and I awaited the webinar and hoped for a better phone connection for “Life from IPY” directed by the PolarTREC team in Fairbanks. Schools could have a phone connection with us while the PolarTREC team showed slides that I emailed ahead of time, introducing the research team and our work. Bryan Johnson connected with us from Boulder, Colorado. Katherine from the weather station here at the Pole came as well. We were happy when the...
20 packages over the South Pole
Temperature: - 22.7 C, - 12 FWindchill: - 34 C, - 31 FWind: 3 knts.Weather: Clear and sunny, very good visibility.
The weather is turning warmer and today we were watching the information screens in the dining hall very carefully. The air-drop had been postponed until today because of the weather. I hoped that it would hold so we all can see the packages being dropped from the C17 air plane (the same type of plane that brought us from Christchurch to McMurdo) and then descending to the ground with parachutes. This is what happened:
It was the second airdrop of this kind. The C17 was used to fly over an area near the station and dropped 20 packages with goods in an area near the antenna fields. Each package weight was 1000 pounds: 20 000 pound all together...
Looking into student’s classrooms!
Temperature: - 27.0 C, - 16.6 FWindchill: - 38.8 C, - 37.0 FWind: 9.1 knts.Weather: bright and sunny until noon.
The day started again at 5:30 am to get breakfast and then to get ready for our second video broadcast using a Polycom camera. This camera is also used by other team members of the station, like the medical team. Medical emergency, of course, would have the priority!
The first one we conducted on Saturday at 6:30 am with two schools in New York, the school of Columbia University (grade 7) , and my own school( grade 8, some grade 12, several teachers of different subjects), the United Nations International School, UNIS in New York. It was interesting to see my own classroom from so far away! Students were well prepared with questions. Andy,...
Andy and Strato are being filmed! Good by to skiers!
Temperature: minus 24.9.5 C, minus 12.8 FWindchill: minus 33.6 C, minus 28.4 FWind: 6 knts.Weather: bright and sunny in the morning, then increasing cloudy with little visibility
I started my Monday at 5:30 am to send more pictures and webinar information during the best satellite times.So, during the morning of this magnificent Monday at the South Pole, I was in the computer room. It was wonderful getting so much done. The computer room was packed during these satellite hours!
At noon Amy, Andy and I met for lunch and discussed our Monday stratospheric balloon launch. We had a visitor today: an Artist who wanted to film Andy conducting the launch. She is part of the NSF program: Artists and Writers on the ice. Her special interest is...
Detecting CFC’s and their replacements at the South Pole
Temperature: minus 24.9.5 C, minus 12.8 FWindchill: minus 33.6 C, minus 28.4 FWind: 6 knots.Weather: bright and sunny in the morning, then increasing cloudy with little visibility
I did not want to confuse topics in the previous journal, so I decided to write two parts for one day. In part 2 of December 17 I would like to cover what Andy taught me a few days ago: How we detect CFC’s in the Antarctic atmosphere.
First some background information: CFC’s are the pollutants that destroy our ozone layer. Scientists discovered CFC’s as a useful coolant in the 40ties. Ever since, we have been able to enjoy refrigeration, air-conditioning, spray cans, cleaning agents, to name only a few.
Imagine life without ice cream in your freezer!...
Catching neutrinos deep in the ice!
Temperature: minus 25.1.5 C, minus 12.7 FWindchill: minus 31.2 C, minus 28.7Wind: 5 knotsWeather: bright and sunny with some clouds, changing to cloudy
I went to the gym in the morning and had my first shower here at the station. Yes, we have a gym! Please check on future journals for “Life at the South Pole Station”. I will cover many aspects of life and work at this new South Pole station.
While I was writing in the “Quiet reading room” 4 skiers from 4 different countries came in during a tour of the station. They just arrived earlier in the morning after 8 days the Antarctic plateau and they were awaiting their ride back with a “Twin Otter” plane. It was great hearing about heir adventure and the skier from Germany was happy to converse in his own...
South Pole air provides the control samples for the world
Temperature: minus 23.5 C, minus 12.1 FWindchill: minus 32.2 C, minus 27.3Wind Speed: 5 knotsWeather: bright and sunny with some clouds
Today I learned how to collect air samples from the Clean Air Sector for carbon dioxide identification. CO2 Samples are taken from the field to check the data recorded by the monitor inside of ARO.
I spend the day with Amy to learn about different air sampling techniques.The air will be collected inside the Clean Air Sector, away form all possible human impact. No one is to enter that area without permission and no plane is allowed to fly over this area. The wind blows to 98 % away from this area. This is the cleanest air we have on earth and it is compared to air samples of different parts of the...
Amundsen, the Geographic South Pole,IGY, and the Clean Air Sector today
Temperature: minus 25 Celsius, minus 14 FWindchill: minus 38.6 Celsius, minus 39.1Wind: 21 knotsWeather: snow blown in the air , overcast:
The answer to yesterdays question seems fitting with the date. Amundsen arrived here at the Geographic Pole December 14, 1911. Actually, it also is registered that he came to the correct point of 90 Degrees South on December 16, 1911. However, the plate at the Geographic Pole indicates his arrival here on December 14.
Amundsen and Scott’s arrival at South PoleThis is the plate that honors the effort of both: Amundsen and Scott . Scott arrived at the Geographic Pole 4 weeks later than Amundsen.
Elke at the Geographic PoleElke holding the pole that designates 90 degrees South.
Each...
Temperature: minus 25C, minus 15 FWindchill: minus 41 Celsius, minus 40 F Wind: 25 knotsWeather: White Out with Halos
The start of the day was at 4 am to get ready for “Life from IPY”. Everything was set for the broadcast.. The conference room was just down the hall from me and upstairs. I did not have to face the increasing white-out conditions. However, outside work continues. The temperatures have not been as cold but the wind made it seem much colder. We could observe a hola all day long.
As I walked down the hall this is what I saw outside the window.
Window view at South Pole This is the view out of the window along the hall of the new station. In the background a Halo over the cargo area. The outside work continues, though.
Nothing is stopping us We have close to white-out...
More Ice Crystals and Halos in the Air
Temperature: minus 27 Celsius, minus 17 FWindchill: minus 42 Celsius, minus 43 FWind: up to 19 knotsWeather: blowing snow: a white out
The day started a 4:30 am with posting journals, and photos. As I looked out of the window, I could not see far: the winds had picked up and we had a "white out", meaning that so much snow was stirred up that it looked like a snow storm. I knew we could not fly a balloon today. All day only one plane out of 6 actually made it to the South Pole and back to McMurdo.
During the morning I organizing the broadcast for tomorrow with Mike and Henry from the IT department and making plans for future communications. Bryan and I also discussed what to do when he is not here since he will be leaving back home tomorrow...
It is the pink one today again?Pink balloon flying under halo conditions
Temperature: minus 28 Celsius, minus 18 F
Windchill: minus 42 Celsius, minus 43.5 F
Wind: 14.3 knots
Weather: sunny with snow blowing, snow and ice crystals in the air.
The morning started at 6 am and was busy with posting the journal and photos. Then my computer internet plate broke. The computer does not pick up the wireless from summer camp across the station, unfortunately. The IT department has been very helpful trying to help me and will request a replacement part from McMurdo.
Now to my answer to the photochemistry at the South Pole:
As I wrote yesterday: photochemistry (sunlight interacting with gas molecules) is one of the key elements of ozone dynamics near the snow surface. At the South Pole we have...
Good by Patrick and our first stratospheric balloon.
Temperature: minus 30 Celsius, minus 22F
Windchill: minus 44 Celsius, minus 47 F
Wind: increasing to 17 knots
Weather: Sunny, with a few hours overcast in the afternoon
I will answer the surface ozone photochemical question in my next journal because today we conducted the regular stratosphere ozone profile launch.
Finishing writing and sorting photos at 1:30 am, my Monday morning started at 6:30 am with posting journals during satellite hours and continued with meetings.
Before lunch we all went to the ski-way (runway) to say good by to Patrick. He is looking forward having skiing times with family and friends before he is going to Greenland to the Summit Station.
Patrick Cullis
Good by! Patrick and...
An eventful Sunday at South Pole
Temperature: minus 32 Celsius, minus 25.6 F
Windchill: Minus 47.1 C, minus 52.9 F
Wind: 13 knots
Friday night was an “all-nighter” to post journals and prepare for the “Life From IPY” broadcast. Staying up is not so hard to do since the sun is always up. However, it is advised to get enough sleep in these harsh conditions at high altitude. I went to bed at 7 am and got up at noon. Saturday was too windy for another balloon experiment. So I finished preparing my part for the science lecture on Sunday.
All kinds of activities are planned throughout the week for recreation, in particular on the weekend. The dining hall is designed to be used for lectures and general movie presentations. This Saturday night 8mp we all could see the...
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, 90 Degree South
Temperature: minus 35 Celsius
Wind chill: minus 43 Celsius
Weather: bright and sunny with blue sky
We made it to the South Pole with no further delay!!
Transportation from McMurdo was at 7:30 am via Taxi (a van) to Williams Field skiway. It operates from October until February and is build on the Ross Ice Shelf about miles via snow road from McMurdo. This site sits on about 25 feet of compacted snow, lying on top of 260 feet of, floating over 1800 feet of water. Williams Field skyway is utilized by LC – 130 and Twin Otter ski-equipped aircraft. We were flying with an LC 130.
Inside the LC 130: Andy Clark, left of me and Bryan Johnson on the right. Both are from my reserach team
Interesting was to observe how important...
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.
Temperature: minus 37.7 C = minus 25.7 F
Windchill: minus 43.7 C, m = minus 46.6 F
Winds: 8 kns
Weather: Clear and sunny
Answer to yesterday’s question: at high altitude the air contains less oxygen. That puts a lot of stress on the body. This elevation has great physiological consequences: oxygen in the blood is suddenly at lower concentration equal to a person who has smoked a pack of cigarettes for 40 years. Over time, the body produces more blood cells to compensate for the missing oxygen in the air. At South Pole, the change of barometric pressure makes it feel to be even higher than the actual elevation. So, it is important to take it easy.
However, we were able to start our project on ozone concentration.
We will study...
From Christchurch to McMurdo, Antarctica
Temperature: Christchurch: plus 15, Mcmurdo: Minus 6 Celsius
Weather: bright and sunny
Weak up was at 5am and the shuttle brought us to the Airport at 5:45 am. Departure time to Antarctica was 9am.
After putting our ECW gear on quickly, the weight of everything and everybody had to be taken, including the weight of our carry on bags. The time went by fast and we departed on time on the C17. The C17 is much larger than the LC130 and does not have skies. It is a jet plane and it took only 5.5 hours to get from Christchurch to McMurdo. We landed on the Pegasus White Ice Runway, 18 miles from McMurdo. The C 17 is an amazing plane!
After briefing about all we needed to know we got our rooms set up and had dinner at 5pm. 7 pm was "Bag...
McMurdo
Temperature: minus 5 Celsius
Weather: overcast with light snow
We went to bed on time, got up at 6 am to make it to breakfast and to our 7 am transport time to South Pole. We waited for 2 hours for the weather to clear and from then on we were on stand by. We took the opportunity to get some exercise and walked up Observation Hill, got our email account and internet connection, and were told at 4 pm that all flights are canceled. A great chance for me to catch up with journal writing and posting pictures because at South Pole internet will be limited and each journal and each photo will have to be sent separately via email to be posted by Polartrec in Fairbanks.
I am walking with the carry-on bag to the transport hall to
to be transported to the LC 130 for South Pole...
From Toronto I went to Chicago, Illinois were Hillary Tulley; friend and Antarctic fellow teacher (Teachers experiencing the Antarctic 1998/99) organized one-day high school class presentations at Niles North High School in Skookie, Illinois. Her students will be participating in the ozone data analysis.
The following two days were spend at Husmann Elementary School, Crystal Lake were 3 – 5th graders were eagerly awaiting me, in particular Betty Trummel’s 4th graders!
Betty has been to Antarctica twice (TEA 1998, ANDRILL 2006) and we are looking forward to our collaboration
Elke and Hillary demonstrating the ozone sonde balloon to her Niles North students
A break in between classroom presentations!!
I headed North to see the polar bear population in Churchill near the Hudson Bay, Canada. This is my chance to observe polar bears in the wild!
There are only two ways to get to Churchill: by plane or by railroad. No roads lead to Churchill. I went by plane with a stop-over in Winnipeg.
We saw some great "bear activities" while in the tundra. The bears are stranded here after the sea ice melted earlier in the year. They gather near Churchill for the early sea ice formation in November. The sea ice formation happens here earlier than anywhere else on the Hudson Bay because it is mixed with the river freshwater which lowers the salt content of the water. This bear population has been living like this for thousands of years. Global...
I am finally back home in New York for a few weeks to present at different schools, including my own , the United Nations International School. This outreach program is an amazing opportunity to reach out to many students outside of my own classroom.
Besides UNIS/Manhattan and UNIS/Queens, I was able to visit the School of Columbia University, and Marymount School of New York.
The challenge was the transport of the presentation material to different schools: imagine a yellow cab full of penguins, globe, and Antarctic gear!!
Unis 12th graders are learning about their teacher's advenure
450 in the audience: 9 - 11th garaders in the UNIS theatre
Introducing the importance of the International Geophysical Year, IGY , 1957, and the role of "...
Taking advantage of my sabbatical, I was able to attend a special family gathering in Germany this November. Of course, this was also a time when schools are in sessions in Germany. I was able to start collaboration with teachers of my former Middle School in Neukloster and of my former High school in Wismar early in the summer. Both cities are in the North of Germany, near the Baltic Sea.
Before I presented to 3 times 170 German students in my own language, I practiced presenting to my family...They were wonderful correcting my expressions!!
The presentations at my former schools were a treat. Who would have thought that I could share in person my upcoming excursion to the South Pole back in Germany? This was very fitting as part of the International Polar Year.
I am looking forward...
I left New York November 27 and I arrived November 29!! No Nov 28th for me!!
That is what happens when you cross the date line!!
I left in the fall and I arrived in late spring early summer here in Christchurch, New Zealand. No winter for me this year!!
This is what happens when you cross the equator starting from the northern hemisphere in the fall to the southern hemisphere.
The deployment to Antarctica is scheduled for Dec 4th. So I have time to catch my breath after 3 month of travel and presentations, get over my cold I caught in Germany, and get ready for the "Big, White, South”, Antarctica!!
First, I must visit the botanical garden and literally "stop and smell the roses", then I will get some rest!!
After crossing the date line and the equator, we have...
Temperature: 12 Celsius
Weather: overcast with light rain
Bryan Johnson, my NOAA researcher arrived yesterday, December 1st.
Since I have been invited to give a talk at South Pole station on December 9th, we proposed to give a joint talk about our ozone project: a true collaboration between educator and researcher!
We took breaks to enjoy the Christmas activities in town such as the children's Christmas parade and a bag-pipe competition!
Who has the best Santa hat?
Christchurch, NZ
Temperature: 18 Celsius
Weather: bight and sunny
Dressed summer clothing, we were heading to the Clothing Distribution Center (CDC) to receive and try out our Extreme Cold Weather Gear: we received many layers of clothing, six pairs of tube sox, hats and mittens, and the famous white boots, of course. My parker’s hood was a bit defected, so I was able to get a very new one!!
We were reminded that carry - on bags must contain overnight change for Christchurch - just in case we will not make it to Antarctica and we will have to return to Christchurch!!
Wake up will be at 5 am... I hope we will make it on our first try!!
Entrance to the Clothing Distribution Center, Monday, Dec. 3, 2007
In front of the collection of the Extreme Cold weather Gear....
Yes, the ozone hole is forming over Antarctica! No, I am not at the South Pole yet. However, the Global Monitoring Division (GMD) of NOAA (the team I will be working with) has many links regarding the formation of the ozone hole:
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/
Watch the sun continue to rise: South Pole camera!!
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/obop/spo/livecamera.html
Figures of the ozone hole and an ozone hole animation
Look at the lunar eclipse in August over the ARO: Atmospheric Research Observatory at South Pole Station
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/dv/spo_oz/
Identify the ozone hole at this graph!!! Where is the stratosphere? Why? What is the stratosphere?
Link to the graph is at:
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/webdata/ozwv/...
What an exciting thought: imagine a 16 year old girl whom I had not seen in 8 years writing me a thank you letter in the middle of a snow storm from an Arctic village called Rankin Inlet last April. She was thanking me for the Antarctic presentation I gave to her class when she was 8!! A teacher's dream came true: she assured me that my lesson with the penguin, slides form the South Pole, and the polar gear probably placed a seed in her mind to stay fascinated with and concerned about the polar areas. Further inspired by her geography teachers Ed Otten and Linda McGlade from Bishop Allen Academy in Toronto, she joint their geography club and was part of an exchange program with the MUI high school in Rankin, learning about the Arctic and its inhabitants.
This girl is Adriana, daughter of...
Teacher orientation, Fairbanks, Alaska, March 20 - 24, 2007.
( Auf Deutsch: siehe unten)
Orientation for the Poles!!
We were 15 teachers plus all of the team of the PolarTREC organizers. What a wonderful group of people. How honored I feel to be part of it! Every teacher is excited about their upcoming excursion to the Arctic or Antarctic. Equipped with computers, podcast recorders, web-posting outlines and instructed in public outreach tips as well as in field survivals, we are all ready to bring field science research closer to the classrooms, to communicate with students from the field, and to return to our community as ambassadors for the polar regions, one of our most fragile areas on earth.
New PolarTREC shirts display the Arctic Turn , a bird that ranges from the...
What am I doing in Barrow, next to the Arctic Ocean?
After my PolarTREC orientation in Fairbanks, I happened to have spring break. So, I was able to use some of the time to visit classrooms in Barrow, Alaska. The visit was just amazing: a save landing in an Arctic snow storm, getting stuck with the truck in the snow drift, the frozen Arctic ocean, the visits with the local middle and high school. I wanted to make it easy on all supporters from BASC (the Arctic research center in Barrow that also takes care of all science related visitors) who helped me to get around and offered to walk… “No, Elke, that is too dangerous! It is polar bear season!” was the answer. Yes, I was in the Arctic. The ocean was still frozen. Sometimes polar bears “get lost looking for food”, I was told. So...
Traveling with my co-presenter, the penguin.
(In German translation at the end)
A fine start to my sabbatical: equipped with penguin, polar gear, ozone models, UV beads, a globe, an Antarctic map and photos, I was off to my first school in California, the Juana Briones Elementary School in Palo Alto.
As you see below, I am having a chat with my co-presenter in the plane before my arrival! The penguin will stay with the school Juana Briones as a reminder of my trip. Many first graders will also conduct penguin research.
"I wonder what name the students at Juana Briones will give me ?" contemplates my co-presenter the penguin.
Organized with the help of Jeannie Lythcott from Stanford University, students from K through 3rd grade at Juana Briones were eagerly...
The school year is starting! So, why am I going to Colorado?
(In Deutsch: siehe unten)
It is Labor Day, 2007 and I am flying to be with my Antarctic research team. Tomorrow school starts in all of the USA except for me. After many years of teaching, I received a teacher-enhancement year , or a sabbatical . This was honored independent form the PolarTREC program. Sometimes all good things happen all at once! I will be using the time away from my teaching for the PolarTREC outreach program, visiting classrooms across the USA, Canada, and Germany
However, my first stop will be in Boulder, Colorado, to be retrained by my ozone research team: the Ozone and Water Vapor of the Global Monitoring Division (GMD) of NOAA. Researcher Bryan Johnson will train me as he has done in 1998...