Journal Entry

I've been posting a lot about the science of what I'm doing and a little about what life is like down here but I've rather neglected posting about Antartica proper. I think I've been waiting to find the words but there aren't any. I might have been waiting to get the right photo but they don't capture it. This place is stark, and beautiful, and powerful. I'm not a poet so I have no tongue to describe it. I'm not an artist so I don't have the eye. So I'll just post a few pictures that might hint at what this place is all about. Forgive me for their failings.

View at Willie FieldView at Willie Field. View from Discovery PointView from Discovery Point. Seals in McMurdo SoundSeals in McMurdo Sound. Hazy SunA hazy sun circles the sky in Antartica. Erebus from CosRayErebus, the Antarctic volcano. Discovery PointDiscovery Point. Clouds at McMurdoClouds at McMurdo.

Comments

Sun, 01/22/2017 - 19:26

Safiyah Quraishi

What a great difference it must have been while staying there and having the privilege of looking at that every day! Was it difficult at all though to adjust to the constant sunlight there and your sleep schedule? Did you ever get tired of it?

Sat, 01/14/2017 - 16:54

Eric Thuma

I have not told you about Discovery Point yet but I just got an official tour of the site. Elaine Hood is my contact at McMurdo and she told me all about the history so I need a little time to get a journal together that is worthy of her description.

Sat, 01/14/2017 - 19:46

Eric Thuma

Thanks ... I am still getting the hang of it. I should have brought a camera with better optics.

Mon, 01/23/2017 - 04:14

Jacob Shin

Hi Mr. Thuma!
Do you need to take any safety measure through the ice? Is there any equipment or information that you'll have to keep in mind for your observations?

Mon, 01/23/2017 - 04:14

Jacob Shin

Hi Mr. Thuma!
Do you need to take any safety measure through the ice? Is there any equipment or information that you'll have to keep in mind for your observations?

Sun, 01/15/2017 - 03:49

Deanna Wheeler

Even though the photos may not do justice to what you are seeing and feeling, they do give me a glimpse of the grandeur of Antarctica-- a place I dream about. Thank you.

Sun, 01/15/2017 - 12:05

Henry Theodoroff

Let's see the beard!

Sun, 01/15/2017 - 12:56

Grace Cardellio

I didn't know there were volcanoes there. How many are there, and are they active?

Sun, 01/15/2017 - 13:49

Eric Thuma

Yes Mt Erebus is an active volcano. One of the volcanologists told me that a volcanic bomb (a large piece of debris thrown from the volcano) came down in the middle of his camp just the other day!! Not sure if any of the other volcanos in the region are still active.

Mon, 01/16/2017 - 08:16

Morgan Zainea

I've heard there's not many hours of sunlight there, are you outside for a majority of the day? Or because it's in the Southern Hemisphere is it considered summer and more sunny?

Mon, 01/16/2017 - 10:06

Eric Thuma

That's right in the southern hemisphere it is summer right now. And because I'm at such an extreme latitude the Sun hasn't set at all since I've been down here. In fact, the next sunset at McMurdo won't be until Feb. 20th. It takes some adjustment to get used to 24hrs of sunlight a day but eventually you figure it out. Whether I'm inside or outside really depends on my duties for the day.

Tue, 01/17/2017 - 18:12

Eric Thuma

Current estimates put the ice coverage of Antarctica at 99% with only about 1% exposed rock.

Wed, 01/18/2017 - 04:59

Andrew Carson

Have you seen any penguins?

Wed, 01/18/2017 - 06:26

Dillan Gregaitis

Great pictures, what kind of wildlife have you encountered while you've been up there?

Wed, 01/18/2017 - 10:15

Eric Thuma

not yet but I'm still hopeful. Now that the ice breaker in here there is a path for them to follow in ... so fingers crossed.

Wed, 01/18/2017 - 10:18

Eric Thuma

So far I have seen a lot of leopord seals and skua (a big bird) I saw some roundworms in a microscope as well. But not much else. I'm hoping to see some penguins or maybe an orca before I leave.

Fri, 01/27/2017 - 15:40

Eric Thuma

I didn't find it too hard of an adjustment. I think that I liked out on the timing of my flights so I shifted my sleep cycle when I was traveling. The light can affect a lot of people but I tried to be cautious. I wore sunglasses in the evening and kept the blinds in my room closed. I tried to limit sunlight exposure in the evening when I could.

Fri, 01/27/2017 - 15:43

Eric Thuma

I wasn't really in the field all that much and when I was there were plenty of professionals to keep me safe. The biggest safety issues are keeping an awareness of your surroundings, preparing for bad weather even if it looks clear, and keeping to designated and well marked paths when hiking. Crevasses are a real danger so that last one is super important. In general, I listened to and watched the people who were more experienced than me.

Thu, 01/19/2017 - 19:01

Sejin Chun

Are there volcanoes under the ice sheets that can erupt?

Thu, 01/19/2017 - 19:10

Eric Thuma

Well Mt. Erebus is above the ice but there are believed to be subglacial volcanos particularly on the western part of the continent. There are also subglacial volcanos in Iceland. There is evidence of older, inactive formations of this type are in British Columbia and Yukon Territory, Canada.

Add new comment

About text formats