Temperature: -27.5 C, 17.4 F
Windchill: -37.2 C, - 35.8 F
Wind: 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 retrieved from the surface flight. I am preparing the ozonesonde for storage.

After dinner I settled into the “Quite Reading Room” and wrote about the busy Sunday we had (See December 30, 2007 journal. Tracy D’Souza, one of the stewards, came later in the evening to take a nap on the comfortable couches and she reminded me that we could soon celebrate the actual New Year right at the pole! That was a great idea. So we stayed up until just before midnight and then went outside. Vladimir, the NSF science representative and a few other people were already there checking the position of 90 degree South.

New Year at the Pole: Checking 90 Degree South

New Year at the Pole: Ethan and Vladimir Checking 90 Degree South.

We enjoyed an exciting and special moment together: welcoming the New Year. We all shared drinks and treats we brought. I brought special “Mon Cherie” chocolates my family sent me from Germany.

Welcoming the New Year at the Pole!

I am welcoming the New Year at the pole and sharing chocolates from Germany!! Thank you family! Great idea!

Happy 2008!

We are all wishing you a Happy and Healthy 2008!!

The Antarctic midnight sun was absolutely fabulous. It was difficult to settle down and go to sleep. I talked to some folks in the dining hall over a hot cup of chocolate. At 2 am the satellites were up and I used the time to post the last journal, enjoying the thought that I just welcomed the year 2008 at the Pole. We were the first on earth who welcomed the New Year! Just imagine!

I remember seeing Dave Hofmann , the director of the Clean Air Facility, on TV, conducting the first welcoming of the millennium on earth at the pole for the rest of the world! It was very exciting!

I never thought I would be able to great the New Year here at the pole myself eight years later. This was the first New Year for me at the South Pole: certainly a very memorable moment for which I am very grateful for!

Happy 2008 and Peace on earth to all!