Hi Mindy,

I enjoyed your last journals: the water in McMurdo, Weddell seals, the vehicles,the encounter of scientists who are also artists, and food for your Dry Valley trip

A) The McMurdo water production reminds me of the water production when I worked on research vessels high at sea. We still had a limitation to showers and washing, though.

Questions: A.1. How much freshwater is produced per day in McMurdo? A.2. Is there a limitation to the number of showers you can take at McMurdo?

B) The "evolution" of vehicles is very interesting. I like your idea of using the set as an identification key.. I use the left shoes of students when I introduce taxonomy. But I will keep your vehicles set in mind! Great idea!

Questions:

B.1. How many miles or kilometers does your team have to drive every day? B.2. What kind of fuel are you using?

C) Carl Klimt and his relation to Gustav Klimt is very interesting. I think we are all artists in some ways. Artist and scientists can be great advocates for environmental issues, don't you think so?

Questions:

C.1. What kind of art has Clint been doing? C.2. In what type of Antarctic art project are your students involved?

D.) We were very interested reading about your calorie calculations for your upcoming trip to the Dry Valleys.

Questions:

D.1. How many calories do you need to consume living in McMurdo and how many more will you need to consume in the Dry Valleys? D.2. What kind of work will your trip to the Dry Valleys involve? D.3. will you live in tents during the 11 days ?

I am looking forward to all your responses!

Elke

Mindy Bell

Hi Elke,A.1 They produce 60-70,000 gallons of freshwater a day.
A.2 The Station can handle about 1,100 people at a time.  Right now the flights to the South Pole have been delayed so we are at over capacity.  This strains the water supply, but they count on people limiting their use voluntarily.  So far we haven't run out of water!
B.1 Mileage really varies.  We may go out 15 miles, which takes about an hour at the speed the vehicles can drive.  Most days we stay close to town and only go out a mile or two.
B.2 They use JP-8 in almost all the vehicles.
C.1 Carl does a variety of art media, but he focuses on drawing.
C.2 I'll have to ask our art teachers what the FALA students are doing!
D.1 I'll let you know if we eat more Calories in the field (most likely) but I eat about 4,000 Calories a day here and 2,000 Calories a day at home.
D.2 Stay tuned for the work in the Dry Valleys!
D.3 We will be living in tents!
Time for me to go help the team pack for our trip.