Orientation Day 4 (Part 2): Fashion and Phones
Fashion
“There is no bad weather, just bad clothing”. I heard this quote (or something roughly similar to it) earlier today. After my time in Fairbanks this week, I agree 100%. It is possible to be warm and pretty comfortable in subzero temperatures as long as you dress appropriately. We had the opportunity to learn the art of dressing in layers today.
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The weather at Toolik Field Station in June will vary dramatically, so I will need to have clothes to meet my needs in a variety of situations. I will likely experience snow, rain, and sunshine, but it is guaranteed that I will experience mosquitoes. Lots of them. In fact, the running joke in Alaska is that the mosquito is the state bird.
Mosquitoes are a part of life at Toolik Field Station. Alicia Gillean models a bug shirt that can help make the mosquitoes bearable.
Not to worry, though. I will have some protection from the mosquitoes with a stylish bug shirt! Watch out Miss America, I’m coming for your crown in this stunning outfit! The one I am modeling here is extra-large. Hopefully the one I will actually have in the Arctic is a bit smaller. The ground will probably be pretty wet and squishy while I am in Toolik (thanks to melting snow), so I will have a pair of rubber Xtra Tuff boots to wear, too.
Phones
When I am in Toolik, I will probably have fairly decent Internet connectivity, but some of the other PolarTREC teachers will be in much more remote locations and will need to communicate with a satellite phone. Cell phones won’t work in Toolik, so if researchers are far from camp, some of them take a satellite phone for emergencies. Satellite phones depend on satellites orbiting the earth rather than phone lines or cell towers to work. Because of this, they work in places land lines and cell phones do not work. We all had the opportunity to learn how to use a satellite phone today. It works pretty much like a regular phone. You just have to make sure the antenna is extended and pointed to the sky. Aren't you glad that your cell phone isn't this big?
Alicia Gillean practices using a satellite phone.