You are browsing the archive for January 2010 - Page 2 of 3 - Dan's Wild Wild Science Journal.
16 January 2010
Back In The Real World (With very mixed feelings!)
We left Antarctica at 8 PM Friday night from the Pegasus ice runway at McMurdo. FIve hours later we landed in the first darkness we had seen in 7 days. Several people on the plane had not seen night in 3 months. They crowded around the window on the door of the C17 as the sun set as we flew Northward. Back to the real world. I have not seen …
14 January 2010
Leaving Antarctica Is No Easier Than Getting Here
Our flight back to Christchurch is delayed due to weather. It really is not that bad, but conditions at the ice runway an hour away by bus can be different. So I get a few more hours here and we now expect to arrive in Christchurch around 1am. One of the most amazing things about Antarctica is how much support is involved to do any scientific research. The support staff …
13 January 2010
Last Night on the Ice (Weather Permitting)
I do what is called the BAG DRAG at 8pm tonight. That mans I get weighed with all my bags and ECW gear on for the flight back to Christchurch tomorrow. The weather sets the schedule here though. Our trip to the WAIS Divide ice core site was cancelled because of high winds and no visibility. Similar conditions to what trapped us at the Pole. Just enough time to show …
The Driest Spot on Earth (and darn near the coldest too!)
I spent the day travelling by helicopter across parts of Antarctica. Courtesy of the National Science Foundation. They have my unparalleled gratitude. We flew through the famous Dry Valleys of Antarctica. Likely the driest spot on Earth is here. We also landed on the edge of the sea ice to look at Adele Penguins and Whales. The Dry Valleys are one of the hottest research spots in the world. The …
12 January 2010
24 Hours At The Very Bottom of The World!
Man does not conquer the Pole. The Pole conquers man. No amount of reading or other preparation can prepare you for what it’s like when you step off an LC130 aircraft at the bottom of the planet. You are standing on two miles of ice. The elevation is nearly 3,000 meters (over 9,000 feet). Because the air is so cold and the planet’s spin, the altitude you would get on …
10 January 2010
The Amazing Rugby Match in Antarctica!
I witnessed a real spectacle today here. Every year the Kiwis over at Scott Base and the Americans at McMurdo base have a Rugby match. Rugby is the national past time in New Zealand and they are VERY good at it. The USA has never scored a goal against them, much less won the match! So what was the final score?? See the picture! The Kiwis won again, and the …
9 January 2010
The Great Bottom of The World Rugby Match (Hello from Mac Town Antarctica)
I’ve spent one day and zero nights here at the bottom of the World now. Before bed last night I walked to building 155 to get midnight rations in the cafeteria. The sun was shining high above the dirt main street that is McMurdo Station. Midnight rats, as they call it, was delicious. The NSF has kindly given me a distinguished visitor pass so I can eat right at midnight …
6 January 2010
Boomerang Flight To Antarctica!
I have seen Antarctica, but I am not there tonight. We spent 10 hours on a U.S. Military C17 from Christchurch to McMurdo. Today was our second attempt, after we were canceled at Dawn Tuesday due to bad weather at McMurdo. So at dawn today (Wednesday here in Christchurch) we headed to the airport. After a 30 minute briefing, and packing our luggage into bright orange bags, we headed to …
3 January 2010
Stunner of a Sunset in Christchurch Sunday Night
and here it is: Ann and I are off to pick up our Antarctic Clothes this afternoon! US military Plane South early tomorrow.
2 January 2010
Scott and Shackleton's Last Port of Call En-route to History
Lyttelton New Zealand on Sunday Jan 3,2010- Shackleton and Scott’s last port of call en-route to the Antarctic. Dan’s pic. Ann Posegate and I are taking the weekend here in Christchurch to practice with our video and camera equipment. We head to Antarctica on Tuesday morning. Trip of a lifetime. Everyone we meet here who learn our true destination is jealous! I bought some stuffed penguins at the gift shop …
Dan Satterfield has worked as an on air meteorologist for 32 years in Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama. Forecasting weather is Dan's job, but all of Earth Science is his passion. This journal is where Dan writes about things he has too little time for on air. Dan blogs about peer-reviewed Earth science for Junior High level audiences and up.