Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 01/13/2008 - 20:44

Hello from the Great White North and Happy New Year Elke!

 

We have been enjoying your journal entries and your infectious enthusiasm for all of the important work ongoing at 90 degrees south.  Your recent entries have caused me to reframe a question related to life and work at the pole.

 

Since the earth has a rotational speed at the equator of approximately 1,000 miles per hour, the speed at the poles is therefore zero.  Are there any noticeable differences at the pole concerning this significantly reduced rotational velocity?  Does this condition have to be taken into account in the experiments of the various programs?

 

For instance, it seems that it should simplify the tracking calibration of telescopes.  But did it enhance or impede performances in the recent ‘Round the World race?  No doubt, that would depend on the direction one took.

 

Stay healthy – we know you are happy.

 

love and peace

Sabina, Adriana, Clara, Paul

Elke Bergholz

Hi Sabina,Adriana, Clara and Paul in Toronto, I am glad that you had a chance to follow my journals.
You posted interesting questions. The telescopes do not have to be calibrated differently because we are at the pole, as far as I know. They are responding to the signal they are researching. Their receiver movement can be fast and quick, all of its movements can be manipulated by computers in terms of its orientation.
Satellite dishes, on the other hand, need to be directed to the horizon only becasue the signals will not rise higher that 5 degree above the horizon. 
As far as the  race around the world is concerned, none of the facts pointed out by you influenced our race because we all ran in the same path in the same dirction around the pole!
 Happy belated New Year to you as well!!
Cheers, the happy ELke