DOCSLIB.ORG

The Antarctic Sun, November 5, 2000

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Antarctic Sun, November 5, 2000 ww w. p o l a r. o rg / a n t s u n The November 5, 2000 PublishedA duringn the australt a summerr atctic McMurdo Station, Antarctica,Sun for the United States Antarctic Program Quote of the week “If we had to, we could run Roll out the barrels naked back to town.” Diver Rob Robbins, on wearing extreme cold weather gear to Fish Hut 4 on the sea ice 20 feet from McMurdo Station Fish story The ones that didn’t get away By Josh Landis Sun staff In a row of clear, plastic tanks in the Crary aquar- ium, a life cycle is underway. Early this season, divers brought a cache of dragonfish eggs out of the sea to be hatched in captivity. Now, for the first time ever at McMurdo, scores of the fish are growing up under the watchful eyes of researchers, giving them a look at a process that’s been largely unobserved: how their resistance to sub-freezing temperatures changes as they mature. Gently pouring plankton-rich water into the tanks, Teri McLain watches the small fry swim and twitch with hungry vigor. Each day these tiny fish reveal a little more of their species’ secrets of sur- vival, and she records it all. Fuelie Dave Tuepker checks new fuel drums for water condensation. Droplets formed inside some of them during transport to Antarctica, making them The droning of a gas-powered winch deafens the unsuitable for airplane and vehicle use. The ones that pass inspection will be inside of an old ice shack. Through a gaping hole in used to airdrop fuel to field camps and remote depots. Photo by Josh Landis. see Fish on page 4 By Jeff Inglis Sea ice under stress Sun staff It ’ s strong enough to land planes world. And when it breaks up and on, too thick for a small drill to get blows north, it leaves a spectacular through and cracks under pressure. expanse of open water. Sea ice is vital to the early-season David Cole and John Dempsey research based at McMurdo Station. have forged a partnership out of the Scientists base themselves on the frozen ocean to study the marine see Sea Ice on page 5 INSIDE Skewering First sight The long, Women’s skuas of big ice cold haul movement page 2 page 3 page 6 page 10 2 • The Antarctic Sun November 5, 2000 News In B R I E F Bird’s-eye view scientists were concerned that low- made of ice and snow. Do penguins fall over backwards flying aircraft could cause stress The hotel, built of 4,500 tons of when watching aircraft fly over- among penguins and affect their snow and 250 tons of ice, is sched- head? breeding performance. uled to open next January just out- Two British scientists are travel- “There may be an increase in side Quebec City. It will stay open ing to South Georgia in the south heart rate as helicopters fly over, ” for three months before it melts in Atlantic to find answers to that ques- Stone said. “The worst possible the spring. tion and others from a study of the e ffect is that there would be a reduc- The ice hotel’s facilities will island's 400,000 king penguins. tion in their breeding performance. include a bar, a cinema and art gal- Scientists have usually been skep- If they were incubating eggs this leries, with exhibits made of ice, as tical about reports of penguins could be quite devastating for well as executive suites complete falling over backwards to watch air- t h e m . ” with an ice bed. The cost, US $109 a craft flying above them. But a senior Stone said helicopters from HMS night, will include a hot breakfast. officer on the British navy ship HMS E n d u r a n c e would fly at diff e r e n t The concept of an ice hotel is Endurance, which is taking the sci- altitudes over the penguins to help in being imported from Sweden, which entific team to South Georgia, said the research. constructed what its owners say was he believed the reports. the world’s first ice hotel in “The penguins always look up at Jukkasjarvi, some seven hours’drive the helicopters and follow them all New ice hotel from Stockholm. the way until they fall over back- to open doors The Canadian structure will cost wards,” Stuart Matthews, the ship's Canadian entrepreneurs have US $230,000 to build, including operations off i c e r, told the D a i l y announced plans for North over US $80,000 from Quebec's Telegraph. America’s first ice hotel and said government. ■ Dr Richard Stone of the British 1,000 tourists had already signed up Antarctic Survey told Reuters that to spend a night in a chilly building from news and wire services The skua: A bird for the ages By Josh Landis Sun staff The first skua sightings of the year have been reported, and within no time the boisterous birds will once again photo by Walter Clark become fixtures of McMurdo Station. Skuas are probably the least-liked of all Antarctic animals. In fact, they’re each other. Each individual reg a r ded its ‘p e e p i n g ’ of the struggling little one. Just almost universally despised. They get a neighbors as its mortal enemies…. as I had finished the work and rose from bad rap, and it’s nothing new. Estimated by outward and visible signs, my kneeling position, I received two blows Photographer and writer Herbert G. the skua-gull is a gentleman, and his mate in rapid succession, one on the back of the Ponting accompanied Robert Scott to Ross a dainty, well-dressed lady – appearances head and the other in the right Island on the Terra Nova expedition in the being thus deceptive, for… there is nothing eye…Suffering acutely, I lay on the grou n d early 1900s and became the first profes- refined about either male or female; both for an hour or more, my eye strea m i n g sional cameraman to shoot on the Ice. ar e scamps and malefactors. with water, and I could see nothing with it. He had his share of run-ins with skuas At Cape Royds, the gulls were even He played biological theorist, too, and wrote pointedly about his feelings for mo r e savage than in our own vicinity and with some startling conclusions. the species in his book Gr eat White South. (had) the disgusting practice (of) vomit - I noticed no instance where the moth - … the skua-gulls were with us for six ing on interlopers. They would fly toward er had more than one chick after the first months of the year, and nested within a us from the rea r , and, carefully making week. I do not know what became of the hu n d r ed hards [sic] of our Hut. We did allowance for speed and distance, dis - other: whether some cannibal neighbor not find them altogether pleasant neigh - ch a r ge a nauseating shower of filth. made off with it, or whether the pangs of bors, for they were extremely noisy and Ponting tried to document the skuas in hunger had made the dainty morsel too of a most quarrelsome disposition; various stages of their lives, but was tempting to one or other of the res p o n s i - th r oughout the summer their raucous hardly a welcomed observer. ble pair, for – yes, I will state it, though it sc r eaming never ceased, day or night, Once, at Cape Royds, when the skua seems too horrible – I even suspect these ar ound us. … These birds are greedy and chicks were hatching, I decided to kine - unprincipled birds of the crime of eating selfish to the point of folly. … Though matograph the process…. When I was their own young. … Really, each fres h numbers of these rapacious birds fre - rec o r ding the final phase … the paren t s insight that I gained into the habits of quented our vicinity, we soon found that we r e swooping wildly around me, screa m - these unlovable birds increased my they had no kindred feeling whatever for ing with rage and fear as they heard the antipathy to them. ■ November 5, 2000 The Antarctic Sun • 3 irtual Antarctic expeditions •http://www.terraquest.com/ antarctica/ A shipboard journey from Argentina to Antarctica, visit - ing the South Shetland VIslands and the Antarctic Peninsula. •http://www.foxnews.com/ science/antarctica/ introduction.sml A Fox News expedition from B- 1 5 ’ s big debut Chile to the South Pole, with The first photos of iceberg B-15Awere taken this week off the Ross Ice Shelf. astronaut Jim Lovell. When it formed in March, the original iceberg (B-15) was the size of Connecticut above the water and ten times as large below. It’s now broken into relatively smaller pieces, but each one is still enormous. Satellites are tracking the bergs’ •http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/ movements, and later this season scientists will attempt to land on two of the imagewall/antarctica.html larger ones to plant weather and GPS instruments. Photo by Josh Landis. NASA’s tour of Antarctica, using satellite photographs. the week in weather around A n t a r c t i c a Medical still needs volunteers McMurdo Station Palmer Station South Pole Station stretcher-bearers and High: 21F/-6C High: 41F/5C High: -31F/-35C recorders for the Low: -6F/-24C Low: 23F/-5C Low: -84F/-64C Windchill: -64F/-54C Avg.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Mcmurdo Dry Valleys, Southern Victoria Land
    Measure 1 (2004) Annex Management Plan for Antarctic Specially Managed Area No. 2 MCMURDO DRY VALLEYS, SOUTHERN VICTORIA LAND 1. Description of values to be protected and activities to be managed The McMurdo Dry Valleys are characterized as the largest relatively ice-free region in Antarctica with approximately thirty percent of the ground surface largely free of snow and ice. The region encompasses a cold desert ecosystem, whose climate is not only cold and extremely arid (in the Wright Valley the mean annual temperature is –19.8°C and annual precipitation is less than 100 mm water equivalent), but also windy. The landscape of the Area contains glaciers, mountain ranges, ice-covered lakes, meltwater streams, arid patterned soils and permafrost, sand dunes, and interconnected watershed systems. These watersheds have a regional influence on the McMurdo Sound marine ecosystem. The Area’s location, where large-scale seasonal shifts in the water phase occur, is of great importance to the study of climate change. Through shifts in the ice-water balance over time, resulting in contraction and expansion of hydrological features and the accumulations of trace gases in ancient snow, the McMurdo Dry Valley terrain also contains records of past climate change. The extreme climate of the region serves as an important analogue for the conditions of ancient Earth and contemporary Mars, where such climate may have dominated the evolution of landscape and biota. The Area is characterized by unique ecosystems of low biodiversity and reduced food web complexity. However, as the largest ice-free region in Antarctica, the McMurdo Dry Valleys also contain relatively diverse habitats compared with other ice-free areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Draft ASMA Plan for Dry Valleys
    Measure 18 (2015) Management Plan for Antarctic Specially Managed Area No. 2 MCMURDO DRY VALLEYS, SOUTHERN VICTORIA LAND Introduction The McMurdo Dry Valleys are the largest relatively ice-free region in Antarctica with approximately thirty percent of the ground surface largely free of snow and ice. The region encompasses a cold desert ecosystem, whose climate is not only cold and extremely arid (in the Wright Valley the mean annual temperature is –19.8°C and annual precipitation is less than 100 mm water equivalent), but also windy. The landscape of the Area contains mountain ranges, nunataks, glaciers, ice-free valleys, coastline, ice-covered lakes, ponds, meltwater streams, arid patterned soils and permafrost, sand dunes, and interconnected watershed systems. These watersheds have a regional influence on the McMurdo Sound marine ecosystem. The Area’s location, where large-scale seasonal shifts in the water phase occur, is of great importance to the study of climate change. Through shifts in the ice-water balance over time, resulting in contraction and expansion of hydrological features and the accumulations of trace gases in ancient snow, the McMurdo Dry Valley terrain also contains records of past climate change. The extreme climate of the region serves as an important analogue for the conditions of ancient Earth and contemporary Mars, where such climate may have dominated the evolution of landscape and biota. The Area was jointly proposed by the United States and New Zealand and adopted through Measure 1 (2004). This Management Plan aims to ensure the long-term protection of this unique environment, and to safeguard its values for the conduct of scientific research, education, and more general forms of appreciation.
    [Show full text]
  • The Antarctic Sun, January 15, 2006
    January 15, 2006 Scientists learn volumes from ancient tracks By Emily Stone Sun staff To Molly Miller, little lines etched in stone are the history books of ancient Antarctica. Miller and her fellow scientists are hunting for tracks left by the tiny animals that inhabited the continent’s lakes and streams between 240 million and 280 million years ago. Understanding what was living here will reveal much about the climate, landscape and ecology of the period. “We’re piecing together a picture of the past,” said Miller of Vanderbilt University, Steven Profaizer / The Antarctic Sun who is a co-principal investigator on the Randy “Crunch” Noring prepares to hook a hanging cargo net to a helicopter hovering project. at Marble Point Refueling Station. The facility functions as a gas station, food stop and Her two co-principal investigators are way station for many flights in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. doing similar searches. John Isbell of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee is looking for features in the rocks that See TINY on page 11 Much more than fuel Marble Point Refueling Station gives pilots a taste of home By Steven Profaizer Sun staff There is no question what continent you are on when standing outside the main hut at Marble Point Refueling Station. A large glacier terminates a few hundred meters away. Icebergs stick up out of the sea ice, frozen in place. And the cold, dry wind whips across your face. Inside the hut, however, you might think you’ve been whisked away to a friend’s house, complete with a small kitchen wafting the smell of chicken noodle soup, fresh-baked bread and homemade cookies.
    [Show full text]
  • Continental Field Manual 3 Field Planning Checklist: All Field Teams Day 1: Arrive at Mcmurdo Station O Arrival Brief; Receive Room Keys and Station Information
    PROGRAM INFO USAP Operational Risk Management Consequences Probability none (0) Trivial (1) Minor (2) Major (4) Death (8) Certain (16) 0 16 32 64 128 Probable (8) 0 8 16 32 64 Even Chance (4) 0 4 8 16 32 Possible (2) 0 2 4 8 16 Unlikely (1) 0 1 2 4 8 No Chance 0% 0 0 0 0 0 None No degree of possible harm Incident may take place but injury or illness is not likely or it Trivial will be extremely minor Mild cuts and scrapes, mild contusion, minor burns, minor Minor sprain/strain, etc. Amputation, shock, broken bones, torn ligaments/tendons, Major severe burns, head trauma, etc. Injuries result in death or could result in death if not treated Death in a reasonable time. USAP 6-Step Risk Assessment USAP 6-Step Risk Assessment 1) Goals Define work activities and outcomes. 2) Hazards Identify subjective and objective hazards. Mitigate RISK exposure. Can the probability and 3) Safety Measures consequences be decreased enough to proceed? Develop a plan, establish roles, and use clear 4) Plan communication, be prepared with a backup plan. 5) Execute Reassess throughout activity. 6) Debrief What could be improved for the next time? USAP Continental Field Manual 3 Field Planning Checklist: All Field Teams Day 1: Arrive at McMurdo Station o Arrival brief; receive room keys and station information. PROGRAM INFO o Meet point of contact (POC). o Find dorm room and settle in. o Retrieve bags from Building 140. o Check in with Crary Lab staff between 10 am and 5 pm for building keys and lab or office space (if not provided by POC).
    [Show full text]
  • Explorer's Gazette
    EEXXPPLLOORREERR’’SS GAZETTE GAZETTE Published Quarterly in Pensacola, Florida USA for the Old Antarctic Explorers Association Uniting All OAEs in Perpetuating the History of U.S. Navy Involvement in Antarctica Volume 6, Issue 3 Old Antarctic Explorers Association, Inc Jul-Sep 2006 Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star at McMurdo Ice Pier Polar Star Change of Command Ceremony Compiled by Billy-Ace Baker ince the late 1970s, the 400-foot mammoths of the Coast The “J”-shaped cranes and work areas near the stern and S Guard fleet, based in Seattle, Washington, have been port side of ship give scientists the capability to do at-sea traveling north and south on their primary mission of studies in the fields of geology, vulcanology, oceanography, scientific and logistical support in both Polar Regions. Polar sea-ice physics, and other earth science disciplines. class icebreakers, the Polar Star and the Polar Sea, have a On 10 June 2006 at 10:30 a.m. in Seattle Washington, a variety of missions while operating in Polar Regions. change of command ceremony took place aboard the Coast During Antarctic deployments, their missions include Guard Cutter Polar Star at Pier 36. breaking a channel through the sea ice to McMurdo Station On 30 June, the icebreaker entered caretaker status at its in the Ross Sea. Resupply ships use the channel to bring homeport in Seattle pending a decision whether the ship will food, fuel, and other goods to McMurdo Station. In addition be decommissioned or undergo a major renovation. Polar Star serves as a scientific research platform with five See Polar Star on page 4.
    [Show full text]
  • II. Expedition Dates
    Information Exchange Under United States Antarctic Activities Articles III and VII(5) of the Modifications of Activities Planned for 2003-2004 ANTARCTIC TREATY II. Expedition Dates II. Expedition Dates Section II of the Modifications of Activities Planned for 2003-2004 lists the actual dates of significant events occurring during this time period. Significant Dates of Expeditions Date Activity 05 Apr 03 LMG03-04 10 May 03 LMG03-04A 16 June 03 LMG03-05 16 Aug 03 LMG03-05A 21 Aug 03 First flight to McMurdo Station for Winfly operations 22 Aug 03 NBP03-04C 07 Sep 03 LMG Maintenance open period for maintenance 14 Sep 03 NBP03-04C 22 Sep 03 LMG03-06 28 Sep 03 Palmer Station annual relief 30 Sep 03 First C-141 mission to McMurdo Station during Ice Runway period McMurdo Station commenced summer operations (1 of 19) 05 Oct 03 Marble Point opens 01 Oct 03 First C-17 mission of the season to McMurdo Station (1 of 12) 09 Oct 03 NBP03-04D 10 Oct 03 LMG03-07 (Palmer Station Shuttle) 14 Oct 03 Pieter J. Lenie Field Station (Copacabana) opens 14 Oct 03 Odell Glacier Camp Opens 14 Oct 03 Lake Hoare Camp opens 16 Oct 03 Lake Bonney Camp opens 17 Oct 03 F6 Camp opens 18 Oct 03 Lake Fryxell Camp opens National Science Foundation 2 Arlington, Virginia 22230 October 1, 2004 Information Exchange Under United States Antarctic Activities Articles III and VII(5) of the Modifications of Activities Planned for 2003-2004 ANTARCTIC TREATY II. Expedition Dates Date Activity 22 Oct 03 Three (3) 109th AW LC-130’s arrive McMurdo Station to start on-continent missions
    [Show full text]
  • Wilderness and Aesthetic Values of Antarctica
    Wilderness and Aesthetic Values of Antarctica Abstract Antarctica is the least inhabited region in the world and has therefore had the least influence from human activities and, unlike the majority of the Earth’s continents and oceans, can still be considered as mostly wilderness. As every visitor to Antarctica knows, its landscapes are exceptionally beautiful. It was the recognition of the importance of these characteristics that resulted in their protection being included in the Madrid Protocol. Both wilderness and aesthetic values can be impaired by human activities in a variety of ways with the severity varying from negligible to severe, according to the type Protocol on Environmental Protec tion to the Antarctic Trea ty - of activity and its duration, spatial extent and intensity. A map of infrastructure and major travel routes the "M adrid Protocol" in Antarctica will be the first step in visually representing where wilderness and aesthetic values Article 3[1] may be impacted. It is hoped that this will stimulate further discussion on how to describe, acknowledge, The protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent an d associated ecosystems and the intrinsic value of Antarctica, understand and further protect the wilderness and aesthetic values of Antarctica. including its wilderness and aesthetic values and its value as an area for the conduct of scientific research, in particular research essential to understanding the global environment, shall be fundamental considerations in the planning and condu ct of all activities
    [Show full text]
  • Visual Recovery of Desert Pavement Surfaces Following Impacts from Vehicle and Foot Traffic in the Ross Sea Region of Antarctica TANYA A
    Antarctic Science 25(4), 514–530 (2013) & Antarctic Science Ltd 2013 doi:10.1017/S0954102012001125 Visual recovery of desert pavement surfaces following impacts from vehicle and foot traffic in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica TANYA A. O’NEILL1, MEGAN R. BALKS1 and JERO´ NIMO LO´ PEZ-MARTI´NEZ2 1Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand 2Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Auto´noma de Madrid, Spain [email protected] Abstract: Sites of past human activity were investigated to assess the visual recovery of the desert pavement following impacts from human trampling and vehicle traffic. Visually disturbed and nearby control sites were assessed using comparative photographic records, a field-based Visual Site Assessment, and Desert Pavement Recovery Assessment. Sites included: vehicle and walking tracks at Marble Point and Taylor Valley; a campsite, experimental treading trial site, and vehicle tracks in Wright Valley; and vehicle and walking tracks at Cape Roberts. The time since last disturbance ranged from three months to over 50 years. This investigation also attempted to determine what has the greatest lasting visual impact on soil surfaces in the Ross Sea region: dispersed trafficking or track formation? Walking tracks remained visible in the landscape (due to larger clasts concentrating along track margins) long after the desert pavement surface had recovered. However, randomly dispersed footprints were undetectable within five years. For many sites, allowing widespread trampling will give lower medium-term visible impact than concentrating traffic flow by track formation. For steep slopes and sites where repeated visits occur, use of a single track is recommended. Some 1950s vehicle tracks remain visible in the Antarctic landscape, but where visually obvious impacts were remediated, evidence of former occupation was almost undetectable.
    [Show full text]
  • Insights on the Environmental Impacts Associated with Visible Disturbance of Ice-Free Ground in Antarctica SHAUN T
    Antarctic Science 31(6), 304–314 (2019) © Antarctic Science Ltd 2019. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. doi:10.1017/S0954102019000440 Insights on the environmental impacts associated with visible disturbance of ice-free ground in Antarctica SHAUN T. BROOKS 1, PABLO TEJEDO2 and TANYA A. O'NEILL3,4 1Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 2Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain 3Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand 4School of Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand [email protected] Abstract: The small ice-free areas of Antarctica provide an essential habitat for most evident terrestrial biodiversity, as well as being disproportionately targeted by human activity. Visual detection of disturbance within these environments has become a useful tool for measuring areas affected by human impact, but questions remain as to what environmental consequences such disturbance actually has. To answer such questions, several factors must be considered, including the climate and biotic and abiotic characteristics. Although a body of research has established the consequences of disturbance at given locations, this paper was conceived in order to assess whether their findings could be generalized as a statement across the Antarctic continent. From a review of 31 studies within the Maritime Antarctic, Continental Antarctic and McMurdo Dry Valleys regions, we found that 83% confirmed impacts in areas of visible disturbance.
    [Show full text]
  • Visual Recovery of Desert Pavement Surfaces Following Impacts from Vehicle and Foot Traffic in the Ross Sea Region of Antarctica TANYA A
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Research Commons@Waikato Antarctic Science 25(4), 514–530 (2013) & Antarctic Science Ltd 2013 doi:10.1017/S0954102012001125 Visual recovery of desert pavement surfaces following impacts from vehicle and foot traffic in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica TANYA A. O’NEILL1, MEGAN R. BALKS1 and JERO´ NIMO LO´ PEZ-MARTI´NEZ2 1Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand 2Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Auto´noma de Madrid, Spain [email protected] Abstract: Sites of past human activity were investigated to assess the visual recovery of the desert pavement following impacts from human trampling and vehicle traffic. Visually disturbed and nearby control sites were assessed using comparative photographic records, a field-based Visual Site Assessment, and Desert Pavement Recovery Assessment. Sites included: vehicle and walking tracks at Marble Point and Taylor Valley; a campsite, experimental treading trial site, and vehicle tracks in Wright Valley; and vehicle and walking tracks at Cape Roberts. The time since last disturbance ranged from three months to over 50 years. This investigation also attempted to determine what has the greatest lasting visual impact on soil surfaces in the Ross Sea region: dispersed trafficking or track formation? Walking tracks remained visible in the landscape (due to larger clasts concentrating along track margins) long after the desert pavement surface had recovered. However, randomly dispersed footprints were undetectable within five years. For many sites, allowing widespread trampling will give lower medium-term visible impact than concentrating traffic flow by track formation.
    [Show full text]
  • Management Plan for Antarctic Specially Managed Area No. 2
    Management Plan for Antarctic Specially Managed Area No. 2 MCMURDO DRY VALLEYS, SOUTHERN VICTORIA LAND 1. Description of values to be protected and activities to be managed The McMurdo Dry Valleys are characterized as the largest relatively ice-free region in Antarctica with approximately thirty percent of the ground surface largely free of snow and ice. The region encompasses a cold desert ecosystem, whose climate is not only cold and extremely arid (in the Wright Valley the mean annual temperature is –19.8°C and annual precipitation is less than 100 mm water equivalent), but also windy. The landscape of the Area contains glaciers, mountain ranges, ice-covered lakes, meltwater streams, arid patterned soils and permafrost, sand dunes, and interconnected watershed systems. These watersheds have a regional influence on the McMurdo Sound marine ecosystem. The Area’s location, where large-scale seasonal shifts in the water phase occur, is of great importance to the study of climate change. Through shifts in the ice-water balance over time, resulting in contraction and expansion of hydrological features and the accumulations of trace gases in ancient snow, the McMurdo Dry Valley terrain also contains records of past climate change. The extreme climate of the region serves as an important analogue for the conditions of ancient Earth and contemporary Mars, where such climate may have dominated the evolution of landscape and biota. The Area is characterized by unique ecosystems of low biodiversity and reduced food web complexity. However, as the largest ice-free region in Antarctica, the McMurdo Dry Valleys also contain relatively diverse habitats compared with other ice-free areas.
    [Show full text]
  • United States Antarctic Program Participant Guide 2004-2006 Edition
    UnitedUnited StatesStates AntarcticAntarctic ProgramProgram PPaarrttiicciippaanntt GGuuiiddee 22000044 –– 22000066 EEddiittiioonn National Science Foundation • 4201 Wilson Boulevard • Arlington, Virginia 22230 www.nsf.gov A QUICK GUIDE TO COMMON QUESTIONS Just how cold is it? Is there e-mail and Internet access Go to page iv in Antarctica? Go to page 58, plus: Are there ATM machines in For McMurdo Station, read page 62 Antarctica? For South Pole Station, read page 65 Go to page 21 For Palmer Station, read page 67 For research vessels, read page 70 Do I need to bring special adapters for electrical currents? Can I make phone calls from Go to page 27 Antarctica? For McMurdo Station, go to page 62 What and how much should I pack? For South Pole Station, go to page 65 Go to pages 26-29 For Palmer Station, go to page 67 For research vessels, go to page 70 What is my mailing address in Antarctica? Go to pages 63-70 All available online at www.usap.gov Compiled by Elaine Hood, April 2004. Cover photo by Kristan Hutchison. All photos are available in the Antarctic Photo Library: www.usap.gov. United States Antarctic Program Participant Guide 2004-2006 Edition NSF 04-28 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 4201 WILSON BOULEVARD ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22230 ii www.usap.gov 1-800-688-8606 U.S. Antarctic Program Participant Guide, 2004-2006 Welcome… WELCOME… NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 4201 WILSON BOULEVARD ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22230 Welcome to the United States Antarctic Program. As a participant in this national effort to learn more about Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, you are one of some 3,000 people who deploy each year to ships, stations, and field camps to perform or support research projects.
    [Show full text]