Journal Entry

It's happening. It's really happening.

As the first of five flight segments takes off, there is only one thought in my mind.

I can't believe I'm going to Antarctica!

Antarctica?!?

Antarctica.

I've been surprisingly calm the past few days, but right now it's hitting me.

I'm excited, nervous, and a little freaked out. Okay... a LOT freaked out.

Holy... "moly." I'm going to Antarctica!!

This. Is. Happening.

Comments

Sat, 12/06/2014 - 11:30

Ram Bala

I see this wast sheet of ice. If salt is added from the ocean water to this ice sheet why does it not melt? or is this ice free of salt? Can you or the scientist group throw some light?

Mon, 12/08/2014 - 00:15

Yamini Bala

Hello, thanks for a very interesting question. The vast majority of ice on the Antarctic continent is freshwater, or glacial ice. The ocean water around the continent that freezes each winter is called Sea Ice. The Sea Ice does kind of "latch onto" the glacial ice for a while to join the continent, but then much of it melts back into the ocean as temperatures warm. Some glacial ice along the outer continental boundary does melt along with the Sea Ice, and it flows into the ocean as melt water each year. Also, a small amount of Sea Ice can get trapped in the glaciers, remaining frozen on the continent.
Salt from circulating ocean water does not cause great amounts of glacial ice to melt mostly because the climate in Antarctica is too cold. Salt can decrease the freezing point of water by about 2 degrees C, but the average temperature around most of Antarctica is well below this (-2C) for much of the year. For example, average temperatures here on Ross Island are between -3 and -7 degrees Celsius (27 to -15F). So while the salt water does help melt some glacial ice, this amount is relatively small and easily replaced (by precipitation and other factors) due to the cold climate.

Salt can also blow onto the continent (glacial ice) from the ocean if there is a lot of sea spray. However, the open ocean is generally quite far from the land because of the Sea Ice, which currently extends for 20 miles continuously out from the continental coast of Antarctica. Winds mostly blow out from the continent toward the ocean, so there is little chance that massive amounts of salt would spray onto the glacial ice.

Even if they did, or if we dumped tons of salt into the middle of the Antarctic continent, it is not likely that it would cause any long-lasting, major melting of the glacial ice.

Hope this answers your question!