Janet, Sarah and the rest of the PolarTREC staff have already taught us how to post blog entries at our journal website. We have been issued our MacBook laptop computers and cameras so we are -- at least theoretically -- ready for the field.

    Tina Ciarametaro just told us that she saw the Northern lights very early today like at 2:30 am. I have not been as fortunate as the lights are seen mostly North and my room window looks due South. But Tina said that she did not really need to go outside with -34 C (-30 F) at 2:30 am in order to get the correct orientation, but rather went all the way round the hotel hall until she got a nice view due North. She will definitely be alerting me and the rest of the group if she sees the aurora again.

    I am also posting two pictures that I made yesterday.

    The Alaska Range
    The Alaska Range seen at sunset from Fairbanks

    The Alaska Range
    The Alaska Range seen at sunset from Fairbanks

    Starting today we will be getting out on afternoon field trips for the next couple of days. That will be quite an adventure, as we will actually venture out of town with colder-than-average Winter weather.

    Durante el día de hoy hemos aprendido de Janet, Sarah y el resto del equipo cómo ingresar textos e imágenes en el blog. También nos han entregado cámaras y computadoras MacBook, lo cual significa que ya estamos listos para la acción.

    Nos dijo Tina Ciarametaro que logró observar la aurora boreal hacia las 2:30 am. Lamentablemente a mí no me ha ayudado mi ubicación dentro del hotel, con ventanas orientadas hacia el sur. Sin embargo, Tina remarcó que no debería ser necesario salir afuera con temperaturas de -34 C, sino que bastaría con circular los pasillos de la hospedería y dar la vuelta hasta alcanzar el norte, dirección en que la aurora se presenta mejor. En efecto, esto fue lo que ella hizo, prometiendo alertarnos cuando repita la observación.

    Les incluyo también dos fotografías que tomé ayer.

    La Cordillera de Alaska
    La Cordillera de Alaska al atardecer, vista desde Fairbanks

    La Cordillera de Alaska
    La Cordillera de Alaska al atardecer, vista desde Fairbanks

    Desde hoy, y por los próximos días realizaremos salidas diarias cada tarde. Visitaremos lugares cercanos a la ciudad bajo temperaturas invernales, las cuales se han mantenido bastante por debajo de la norma.

    Date
    Location
    Fairbanks, Alaska
    Weather Summary
    Clear and steady
    Temperature
    -30
    Wind Speed
    0

    Comments

    Armando Caussade

    Thank you, Carol. It was good meeting you on Tuesday at the Museum, and you were so lively! And yes, the Alaska Range skyline is indeed impressive -- it caught my eye at once.

    Armando Caussade

    Hello Alex! Thanks for that. I know that you will be traveling to McMurdo station in Antarctica, and I also look forward to your adventure. I will also stop for a couple of days at McMurdo on the way to the South Pole, so it will be interesting to exchange impressions. Will keep you posted.

    Carol Scott

    Welcome to Fairbanks Armando! Nice job of posting the picture - one of my favorite skylines! That is one good thing about the cold snaps we have here -- when it is coldest, the skies are usually the clearest.

    Alex Eilers

    Hello Armando!

    All the best on your amazing adventure! We will be following your journey!

    Alex Eilers
    PolarTREC teacher 2012 and 2014