Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 08/23/2011 - 18:13
Forums
Adaptations of Marine Worms in Antarctica

Mike, I am from the Northeast and our snow is heavy and packs well to make snowmen. I read your journal entry about how light, fluffy and squeaky the snow in Alaska is and I heard that Antarctica had a rare snowfall just prior to your arrival. Can you describe what the new snow in Antarctica is like? How much did they get? Do you actually need to shovel? Will there be a McMurdo snowman contest? Thanks, Lynn G

Tue, 08/23/2011 - 19:39

Michael League

Lynn, It's funny you should ask. We're currently in Condition 2, which
I'll explain more about in a later journal. Basically, we've been
getting some snow for the last 18 hours or so and it has been blowing
around quite a bit.
The snow here is VERY different from what I am used to seeing on the
East Coast. I am used to the very wet, easy to pack snow of the East
Coast. The snow gets heavy quite quickly, and is useful for snowmen,
snow forts, and snowballs. Under your feet, East Coast snow makes a
thump noise. Here at McMurdo, the snow is a very fine, powdery snow.
Even in large quantities, it is usually quite light. It is so fine that
it is hard to photograph or video, but I will try. Under foot, McMurdo
snow makes a very satisfying crunch. People call it styrofoam snow.
When it gets packed enough, you can actually cut it with a saw and shape
it like styrofoam blocks.
And to answer your final question, we've shoveled out the dive locker
and we might need to do it again - but there won't be a McMurdo snowman
contest - the snow just doesn't pack well. Great question. Maybe we'll
do a whole journal just on snow.
Mike