Today I was very busy with last minute practice using the technology I will need to communicate with you while Robin and I are in the field. We will be far from any phone service while working with the research team. There are no cell phone towers where we will be. We must rely on connecting to satellites to communicate with the outside world. So, learning to connect the satellite phone to the computer to send journal entries and photos to the PolarTREC web site is vital for my communication. I also practiced connecting the computer, camera, and the satellite phone to the solar panel to charge their batteries.
Practicing the use of solar panel charging satellite phone and using the phone with the computer to send emails while in remote areas.
Close-up of sat phone and solar panel on sidewalk during practice session.
Close up of my equipment: Solar Panel, Computer, and Satellite Phone!
Even though it is summer vacation and I have no students now, I had an opportunity to visit with two Earth Science summer school classes at Kingsburg High school. Robin and I had a great time meeting the students and introducing them to the research project. We hope they will write to us while we are in the field! Here is a student demonstrating the use of the survival jacket arms out and arms in!
Student demonstrating use of survival jacket with arms poking through arm holes.
Student demonstrating the use of the survival jacket in case of emergency of freezing.
Tomorrow we fly to Anchorage!