Living in Antarctica

I usually get up early anyways. I have been getting up early in order to work on stats when no one else is around talking/playing itunes etc. It's quiet - so I can think and work. So - I guess my system continues in that routine. I have also gone to bed a bit earlier lately (before midnight), so about 6 hours of sleep seems to be all I can do here.

Have you found your sleep patterns have changed or is your
internal clock still working ?

I'm not really sure - I want to sleep more, but can't. Not sure what that's about.

I have been getting up early in order to work on my UNH coursework when no one else is around talking/playing iTunes, etc. It's quiet - so I can think and work. So, I guess my system continues in that routine. I have also gone to bed a bit earlier lately (before midnight), so about 6 hours of sleep seems to be all I can do here. I want to sleep more, but can't.

 

The sun doesn't go down here because of the way the earth is tilted at the moment. The earth wobbles a bit as it spins around in space. As it wobbles, different parts of the earth are facing more towards the sun, and different parts of the earth are facing more away from the sun. Do you know how NH is going into winter right now and the days are getting shorter? That's because the northern hemisphere (where NH is) is facing away from the sun, so it doesn't get as much sunlight this time of year. In a few weeks, the north pole will be in total darkness for a few months because it is facing completely away from the sun. The opposite is happening here in the southern hemisphere. This part of the earth is facing more towards the sun. I am far enough south, that we are facing basically right towards the sun. So we can see the sun all day long! It's hard to explain without a globe to show you. I hope this made at least a little bit of sense!

I have a little bit of time where I can take a break. During those moments, I catch up on email, work on Statistics (I'm taking a class at UNH, and have to finish the work from here!), and write my journals. So time is pretty filled up. I am definitely going to take some time one day from Fryxell and hike up the mountain there. I have not been up there, and I hear there are some really great ventifacts! So, I am going ventifact hunting with my camera! Hopefully!

 

Different camps produce different amounts of grey water. Obviously, it depends on how many people are in camp and how much water they use. Lake Hoare produces about 21 barrels of grey water each season. A barrel is a 55 gallon drum. Lake Hoare is a very active camp, with LOTS of people coming and going!

Great question! Very little virus/illnesses (colds, flu, etc.) are started here. What does happen though, is that when a plane comes in with new people from the "mainland", anything they may be carrying travels through the people here like wild fire. Because we are in such close quarters, and it is not as easy to stay clean as in most "normal" places, whenever anyone starts showing signs of an illness, we load them up with vitamin C, and are extra careful to keep things a little cleaner. I also took "Air Borne" for several days when I first got here - just as a little extra protection. I have not been sick here this year; hopefully that will stay that way! I did, however, get sick the first year I came. That was NOT fun!

I haven't seen dark sky since I left New Zealand! It is a bit odd getting used to it being daylight all the time, but I don't have trouble sleeping. I can sleep just about anywhere! We are usually so physically tired at the end of the day anyway, that I find it easy to sleep! The biggest challenge is finding the time to sleep!

Well... it's no easy task! It depends on where we are:

• In town - same as back home - there are bathrooms with flush toilets.
• In some field camps: similar to back home, but there is only an outhouse.
• Other field camps: One must pee into a designated water bottle (marked P) - you wouldn't want to confuse that bottle with your real water bottle!

It can be a bit chilly in the field - especially for women who find it easier to "drop their drawers" - little chilly on the behind! There is also a funnel that women can use so the pants don't need to be dropped.

Any way you look at it, going to the bathroom is difficult in the field - especially for women.

Ms. Ellwood, this question still has me puzzled and wondering how you do this. I was wondering what your schedule is like in Antarctica and when you get any sleep. Between responding to emails and diving it seems like you would never get a break.

Well... you're pretty close! We get in from the field about 7, have dinner, then go back out and refuel equipment that needs to stay running overnight. Sometimes we are not back until 10:30 or so, then I answer/write emails and post the journal and pictures. Sleep is definitely at a minimum, but I am managing. It's so fun to share everything with people, that I actually enjoy it!

There's lots to eat here. Actually, food is a very important part of the safety system. Eating the right foods to keep everyone "fueled up and warm"! There are several options, typically there is a vegetarian option as well as a meat option. There is pasta, turkey, beef, soup, bread, and lots of chocolate! We even had crab legs the other night! The food here is quite good. There is some freeze dried food, but we usually don't have to dip into it - it's really here for emergencies.

Is it hard to adjust to the different temperatures when you arrive in/leave
Antarctica? Do New England winters feel wicked warm when you get back?

It is difficult to adjust to the sudden temperature changes from one place to another. It is also challenging to maintain a comfortable temperature here. For instance, there are moments when it's quite warm here (15-20 degrees). We need to remove layers of clothing so we don't sweat. Then, sometimes moments later, it will cool off and we have to put layers back on. It's a constant balancing act! Actually in some ways New England winters are colder than Antarctic summers - at least referring to the Dry Valleys and McMurdo Station (places on the plateau of the continent are MUCH colder than New England winters). I think one of the big factors in New England is that the air has moisture in it and it gets dark at night. Here, the air is very dry and the sun never goes down - this sometimes makes it feel warmer than New England! Hard to imagine isn't it! (Remember - I am only talking about those two areas - inner continent is MUCH colder!)