Dawn in Antarctica

Devin in front of a working DTS instrument! December 1, 2013 I felt a bit ill in the morning, but it wore off.  Ian and I deployed the drop camera and tested a sediment sampler in the dive hole.  We decided the sampler wasn't too useful and didn't use it again.  In the afternoon, I helped Devin deploy the DTS.  I don't know what the TLA stands for, but it consists of a long, industrial bundle of fiber optic lines that gets suspended in the water (to the bottom of the lake).  A laser sends pulses down the line, and the reflections are timed.  The strength and timing of the reflections measure the temperature of the cable in different places.  The idea was to look for small temperature changes related to convection in the lake. Deploying the cable was very stressful.  It is a stiff cable and was wound backward, so we had to manipulate it a lot.  It made many popping sounds, so both Devin and I were terrified we were breaking it.  H...

There are so many little things I didn't think of before the first time I went to Antarctica that make a difference.  I like having clean teeth, so brushing twice a day is very important to me, even in the field.  I can handle dirty hair, but not dirty teeth. It's hard to brush your teeth when your toothpaste is frozen into its tube. That small hole at the top requires the toothpaste to deform to get out. And that part gets cold the fastest, often getting clogged with a plug of toothpaste ice. This isn't so much a problem in December in the Dry Valleys, nor was it a problem at Lake Untersee, because although the temperatures are often below freezing, sunlight heated my tent sufficiently during the day that the temperatures inside could be up to 20°C (70°F!).  However, in October at Lake Joyce, I couldn't get any toothpaste out of a big tube without warming the top of the tube against my stomach. There is a little secret, though: small tubes warm up faster.  ...

I'm spending my weekend wondering whether or not I can go to Antarctica, on pins and needles as I deal with "Unfortunately the official line right now is “waiting” – yeah we are just starting to sort out what is going to happen and what is not.  Hopefully we’ll all know more by the middle of this week." (from my logistics coordinator earlier today - note she's working on the weekend!) To help deal with my stress, I spent almost 3 hours in capoeira classes at Capoeira Mandinga . It was wonderful.  I'm tired, happy, sore, and relaxed - almost.  After class, we talked about a capoeirista who is in the hospital with pneumonia, and he doesn't have health insurance.  His friends (which include some of my friends) are raising money for him.  I've donated to the fund (and you can too at  http://www.mandinga.org/support.html , tax deductible, let me know if you want more information).  We also talked about workshops that are being organized on how to sign up ...

I've been going through an emotional roller coaster.  With the government shutdown, my project in Antarctica is likely a goner.  However, I also feel that it isn't nearly as important as many of the other government functions.  I feel like crap for myself and feel even worse for others.  I keep thinking that tenure is fantastic (my salary is secure), my research doesn't depend on yearly measurements over a decade, and my life isn't in danger.  However, my research and life were structured around a glorious 3 months of work preparing for and doing research in Antarctica.  I am a geologist for opportunities like this.  It is the most important thing in my professional life, and it gives me immense personal pleasure.  I don't know what to say except that: It is so much easier to destroy than it is to build! That is what is happening to our government.  A few people want to destroy the status quo, not just change it.  We have to stand up...

My new Glacier Sorel boots arrived!  With extra liners.  Plus liners for my old, less warm Sorels. They go with my skirt! The Glaciers are rated to -100°F or -73.3°C. I find the increase in the number of significant digits after a unit change amusing. Are they really rated to exactly -73.3°C? I'm sure that if it gets down to -73.4°C, my feet will get cold! I typically wear size 8 women's shoes.  However, I bought size 9 men's boots.  One of the key things I have found for foot comfort is to be able to wear a couple of pairs of socks and still have my boots loose around my feet.  That allows good blood circulation to my feet, which is essential for keeping them warm, particularly when standing around handling lines for divers under the ice.  However, I think most people would think that the boots feel way too big.  They do have good laces at the ankle, and I can tighten them down so they won't fall off.  And my feet and ankles are very...

Pooping in the Dry Valleys is a topic that no one talks about, so I will because there are two very important issues with human waste for remote camps in Antarctica: 1) Health and 2) Environmental Protection.  I'll start with some background, discuss the importance of hygiene, and follow up with environmental issues.  The last section includes what I'll bring this year as my emergency "shit kit" and how to use it.  I'd appreciate any suggestions for improving the kit or the procedures! Tyler's image of our Lake Joyce Toilet Tent in 2010 (from  his blog ).  The black barrel with the funnel is for "grey water", e.g. pee, dish water, etc.  Some tall men can go directly into the funnel - I've accidently walked "in" on them doing it.  Note that there is a vinyl berm below the barrels to catch any drops that miss from the waste barrels or refueling the generator (red).  Everything is strapped down to keep the wind from blowing things over...