Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 09/09/2011 - 05:29

Mike, Great journals! The photos from under the ice are absolutely gorgeous and exciting. You have described four of the senses impeccably. We know you are feeling cold air, cold snow, super cold water, heavy weights and squeezing into many layers of clothing. You are seeing further in the water than anywhere else on earth, seeing beautiful landscapes, have gone from dark days to light days. You have heard wind, crunchy snow and seals chatting. And, you have been tasting yummy foods in the dining hall and your lip balm and I suspect some snow and salty sea water. But, what are the smells? Like that fresh smell after summer's first thunderstorm on the East Coast or spring's daffodils (doubt you have any of those popping up) or the way a big pile of fall leaves smells when you were a kid or fresh cut evergreens in winter. Are our outdoor smells generated by our greenery and change of seasons? Is Antarctica void of smell?
Thanks, Lynn G

Michael League

Hi Lynn,Wow, great idea... The smells of Antarctica! I wish technology would
allow us to have you experience the smells. I would say that being out
on the sea ice there is relatively little natural smell. With no plants
or animals, there is little to produce an odor. With so few
particulates floating in the air, everything just smells fresh.
Everything is clean, cold, and crisp.
In order to really register a smell, there needs to be another
influence: like the Pisten Bully exhaust, or food in your pocket. If
there are seals around, they definitely generate an odor (stinky!).
Also, some of the samples we are bringing back from under the ice have a
smell (really stinky!).
Now that you mention it, I miss all those smells, like the smell of
autumn leaves or evergreens in the winter. Oh, drat!
Mike