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Ancient Buried Ice in Antarctica

Jackie!

 It is so great to hear that you are on your way and headed to the ice. I must admit that I think the location and research topic you will be working with is amazing. The overview of your expedition suggests that you may be able to retrieve tundra fossils in frozen soil that date back 13 million years. It reminds me of our visit to the permafrost tunnel. Does the team expect that the potential fossils will be frozen original remains with tissues/DNA intact? That would rewrite how I describe fossils to my students!

 I am also jealous that you got to go to the CDC to try on your ECW gear. The group on the Oden will board the ship in Uruguay and we will be hundreds of miles from the Raytheon CDC in Chile. So....we only get to HOPE our stuff fits.

Take care, have fun & make memories,

Jeff

Tue, 11/11/2008 - 22:49

Jacquelyn Hams

Jeff,I just returned from Happy Camping Training in Antarctica and I am not so happy. Read the upcoming journal.
I can see why it is so important for us to have correct fitting gear. Yours will probably be fine as well and you are never too far from transportation to the ship are you?
By the way, I met a penguin wrangler at McMurdo. Isn't that your job?
In regards to the fossils, Dave Marchant describes them as "freeze dried" specimens that are perfectly preserved. I asked Polartrec to post the article which contains the fossil photos under the resources in my expedition. Dave's research has led to the discovery that the polar environment was preceeded by a tundra environment i.e, the fossils.
Thanks for reading my journal. My students and I will be following you in January.
 
Jacquelyn Hams
Los Angeles Valley College

Sun, 11/16/2008 - 05:17

Guest

The field camp in Beacon ValleyHi Ms. Hams,
We are following your trip with great interest because our son is on the expedition with Dr. Marchant.  He called on Friday by satellite phone and said that you are due to arrive on site early next week.  We were very happy to hear that they are fine, and that they reached their goal of 20 meters with the drill at the first drilling location.
Will you be able to communicate from the camp in Beacon Valley and how is that possible? Will you bring your computer and tie into the internet via satellite phone?   You are to be commended for your courage and sense of adventure.  It will be wonderful to hear directly from you in Beacon Valley.   I hope your hands are better and that you have a safe trip out to the field camp.  We are looking forward to your next entry. 
Jayne