Our Equipment
After The Move I wrote a journal a couple of days ago about the WISSARD equipment being moved onto thicker ice. The move is about done. There is a little bit more adjusting to do, but everything…
Traverse Tractors
Today was different. Our equipment is being moved or so across the ice to a new location. Currently we're on thin sea ice. It's about two meters (six feet) thick. We need more ice!!!! Our new…
Antarctic Vehicles
This is just a fun entry to show you the weird and wonderful array of trucks, planes, and other transportation that you might see in Antarctica. These are some of the common vehicles you see in…
Scott
The Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration This map shows the routes of Scott, Amundsen, Shackelton, and other explorers of the heroic age of Antarctic Exploration. Map from PBS Antarctica remained…
Troll
Confessions As an introduction I have a confession - I wish I'd known the opportunities that I'd have here in Antarctica before I got here. If I'd had the insight that I have now, I would have…
Workshop
I spent the day working at the WISSARD site. Today Mike and I worked on finishing up some interior work on the workshop container (remember, our workshop is a 40 foot long shipping container that…
Scientists Working
Most people have this vision of science that usually includes people in white lab coats, working in a lab with beakers bubbling away or peering into a microscope. On the left is what most people…
Percussion Corer
Boxes We had some science excitement today. A shipping container with most of the scientific data collection instruments was shipped from Christchurch, New Zealand to McMurdo on yesterdays C17…
At Scott Base
Going for an International Visit Last night Mike Osmont (another WISSARD member) and I went over to Scott Base to see what it looked like. Scott Base is the New Zealand Antarctic Research Base and…
VHF propagation
Radio Communications in the Field This entry is because of a question I got from my son Nick. He’s an amateur radio operator (ham) and president of the Clemson University Ham Club. Thanks for the…
MacOps
MacOps Today I visitted with Shelly Campbell in MacOps. MacOps is the communications center for McMurdo field operations. They monitor radio communications and provide the primary safety contact…
Eclipse
There was a total solar eclipse today that was over the southern Pacific Ocean. We were supposed to see part of it here at McMurdo Station but. . . . . It was cloudy and snowing, so you really…