South Pole air provides the control samples for the world
Temperature: minus 23.5 C, minus 12.1 F Windchill: minus 32.2 C, minus 27.3 Wind Speed: 5 knots Weather: bright and sunny with some clouds
Today I learned how to collect air samples from the Clean Air Sector for carbon dioxide identification. CO2 Samples are taken from the field to check the data recorded by the monitor inside of ARO.
I spend the day with Amy to learn about different air sampling techniques. The air will be collected inside the Clean Air Sector, away form all possible human impact. No one is to enter that area without permission and no plane is allowed to fly over this area. The wind blows to 98 % away from this area. This is the cleanest air we have on earth and it is compared to air samples of different parts of the world.
Since the sampling has to be done outside in the open air, a carrying case with 2 air bottles needed to be prepared.
Securing the air sample bottles
Elke securing the CO2 bottles inside the field case. The case will be brought to the Clean Air Area outside of ARO.*
Once the field bottle case was prepared Amy carried it to the Clean Air Sector behind ARO.
The Air Sample Field Case
Amy carries the Field CO2 case down the steps of the ARO Building.*
Entering the Clean Air Sector
Amy is entering the Clear Air Area outside the ARO building. No one is allowed to enter this field. No planes are allowed to fly over this area.*
Setting up the Sampling Case.
Amy is setting up for the CO2 intake. An air- tube is extended up above the container.*
**The Air Sampler **
The CO2 case is left afar for ‘flushing” the air. We stepped away to avoid contamination with respiration CO2.*
Close by breathing not allowed.
Elke is pointing to the CO2 case standing inside the Clean Air Sector.*
Once the air sampler is "flushed” with the surrounding air for about 10- 15 minutes, It will be turned on for the actual air - sampling. In order to avoid contamination from CO2 (carbon dioxide) of once own respiration/breath, one has to hold once breath while turning on the bottle sampler
Hold on your breath and run!
When the Air/CO2 sampler needs to be turned on for air-sampling, one needs to hold ones breath when near the sampling case in order not to contaminate the sample with respiration CO2. Amy is running to the sampling case while holding her breath.*
Hold on your breath!
Amy is turning on the sampler while holding her breath.*
Amy did the same when she turned off the case and signaled me once she was done so I could come over to the sampling site. I helped pulling down the air tube.
Hold on your breath and run back!
Amy is running back from the container while holding her breath. This way accurate sampling is assured.*
Securing the air tube!
The sampling is completed. Elke is pulling down the Air tubes.*
It was my turn to carry the sampling case back to ARO.
Air can be heavy!
Elke is carrying the CO2 case back to ARO.*
Up Steps
Elke is walking up the steps to ARO with the CO2 case.*
Amy was an excellent teacher. I appreciated all her patience I was glad I leaned so much today. These samples battles will also have to be mailed to the NOAA lab in Boulder for analysis.
Amy and Andy also sample gas bottles for other laboratories and I will introduce these techniques another time.
It was certainly a busy day. After dinner I said good luck to Amy and the rest of the "camping group”. They were going camping over night 2 miles away from the station to practice truly cold weather camping!! I was lucky that they had space on their "Pisten-Bully”, a tractor-like transporter, and I could catch a ride to their camp site.
**Campsite away from South Pole
**
12 members of the station went on a recreational over-night camping trip. I am standing with Ethan in front of their transporter the "Pisten-Bully”. Ethan helped out to be the driver. He is an astrophysical engineer and applied to be an astronaut.*
As we drove back to the station, we both enjoyed the vast space around us and commented how wonderful it is that we still have places like the Antarctic plateau on Earth that are relatively untouched by humans.
**Return to the station. **
We are driving back to the station across the vast plateau of Antarctica.*
It has been over a week since I arrived at the South Pole Station. For several days we have not been allowed to take showers or to do the laundry because of water tank repairs. These restrictions have been lifted , so tonight I did my once-a-week-one load permitted load of laundry and tomorrow I will take my first shower !! After all it will be Sunday!
**Laundry time at South Pole. **
Jill and I are doing our laundry. Jill Fox is also a teacher but took a job here at the station as a kitchen assistant between teaching jobs. (www.antarctic_dishwasher.net)*
I am looking forward to my shower tomorrow, then brunch, writing journals, and the open house with the "ice cube "research team.