June 14, 2008 – Flag Day
The predicted storm found its way nearer to us this morning. Snow has been blowing and drifts building all day. The temperature has remained relatively warm but the wind continues to increase. According to our amateur meteorologist Tony, we should have 35 knot winds by 3:00 am (40 miles per hour). Might have to dig myself out of my tent in the morning!
Because of the weather we haven’t been able to take atmospheric readings. Instead we spent the day looking over data and creating graphs and watching the wind build snow sculptures out the window.
Flag Day? Today was the day of flags. Not for any particular reason, probably just because we had a little down time to take care of the "important” things. I put up a new curtain at my workspace in Sat Camp, a Montana State University banner, my alma mater. MSU provided me with 8 wonderful years of memories (and a few years of education!) and I thought I would make a curtain to remind me how much money it really cost me to get to Greenland!!! Barry had a University of Houston flag which he used to make a curtain over his window as well! See, men CAN decorate!
The sun shines 24 hours a day into our science lab. A Montana State University banner provides some darkness on an otherwise darkless day at Sat Camp.
I brought a Montana flag with me as well and we decided today was the day to plant a small piece of the Treasure State into "Balloon Island”. The flag stood proud through the start of the storm but was taken down before it blew off to Norway! It will be back after the storm.
The Montana flag stands firmly against a strong Greenland wind.
This afternoon we had another science meeting (data meeting) where the researchers could talk about what they are finding in each of their experiments.
Part of the science team meets to pour over data at Sat Camp during a science meeting (from lower left clockwise: Barry Lefer (University of Houston), Jeff Luxford (University of New Hampshire), Chris Moore (University of Maryland), Steve Brooks (NOAA), Craig Clements (San Jose State University).
After dinner Zoe Courville (one of the Snow Freaks from yesterday’s journal) gave a presentation about an expedition she will be joining this November – February (that is four months, if you didn’t want to do the math). She is traversing (traveling across) Antarctica from the South Pole to Troll (a Norwegian research base) in specialized vehicles that tow their living quarters, kitchen, and research facilities behind them. The Big House of Summit Camp was full of eager listeners and jealous souls.
Food Update:
Lunch: Sloppy joes, veggie barley soup, cheese platter and salad.
Dinner: Build a Pizza: Summit Campers met up in the galley to build pizzas, I was out at Sat Camp and wasn’t able to participate. I can’t even explain half of the pizzas as they were very creative but I did have a slice of each of the following: Pepperoni with Onions; Artichoke with capers, feta, spinach, and several other odd things; Sauerkraut and cashew. All of them were fantastic, even if they sound a little odd!
Stay Warm!!