Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 01/10/2008 - 14:47
Forums
Antarctic Weather Stations

Dear Mr. B,

I have a few questions:

1.Have you ever been stuck in a snowstorm?

2.When you flying to Antartica how long did it take?

3. When you showed a picture of a whale it only showed part of it.Did you see the whole whale?

4.How is there water around antartica? Since it is so cold why doesn't it freeze?

5.Is happy campers school over?

6.Is there some place warm you're keeping you'r laptop because wouldn't it just freeze?

7.You said in one of you'r letters that you had to keep you'r water under you'r coat utherwise it will freeze.Has you'r water ever frozen?If sow, were you able to take the ice out?

Thanks,

Ashna 3W

P.S. I'm from one of you'r sisters classes

 

Thu, 01/10/2008 - 15:37

Kirk Beckendorf

We have sort of been stuck for the past two days because of the snow storm, since we could not fly anywhere. It is starting to clear off now. I did see more of the whale than I got in the picture, but not the whole thing.It took almost 24 hours of being in an airplane to get here, and a lot of time sitting in airports.
Very good thoughts about the ocean freezing. The oceans around Antarctica do freeze. When we were camping during Happy Camper (which only lasted for two days) we were actually camping on top of the frozen ocean.
We stay in the buildings here in McMurdo, but for people who stay out in the field, having a way to keep things warm is very important.
At Happy Camper school I forgot to put my wat bottle in mycoat and when I went to get it, it was about half frozen.
Thanks for writing.
Mr. B. 

Fri, 01/11/2008 - 17:06

Tala 4W I used…

  
Hi,
 Do u and ur team believe that globle warming is caused by humans-I do-I should know but I haven't read everything even though I plan to?
 
What thing are u studying now?
 
What is ur favorite thing to do in the arctic-Antarctica?
 
What is ur favorite animal in Antarctica  or do u not have one?
 
I herd that u saw a whale have u seen any more?
 
Aren't there polar bears in Antarctica -have u seen any? Do any of ur team study them?
 
What kinds or whales do u have in Antarctica?
 
 What kind of fish live just below the surface where u can see them?
  
                                                        Good Luck Tala
 
 

Sun, 01/13/2008 - 12:59

Kirk Beckendorf

Thanks for all of the questions.Most scientists who study climate are now convinced that the current changes in the Earth's climate are due to human actions, primarily due to using fossil fuels. There is whole lot of research that has and is being done about climate that is a whole lot too read, probably more than an individual can read in their lifetime. But can certainly read a lot.
 The scientist that I am working with manage remote automated weather stations around Antarctica. The data from these stations is used by many people for everything for weather prediction to relating the weather to what ever is being studied. Anyone can look at the realtime data and also request older data from these stations.
http://uwamrc.ssec.wisc.edu/aws.html
I love to see and experience new places in both polar regins and also enjoy experiencing extreme conditions.
I haven't seen very many animals, but my favorite were the Adelie penguins.
I have not seen any more whales and no polar bears, they only live in the arctic.
I am not sure what kinds of whales there are, although I know there are minke whales and orka whales. 
The ocean is frozen here so you really don't actually see liquid water or fish. But there are antarctic cod, icefish and something called a bullhead. They all have a kind of antifreeze in their body to keep them from freezing.
Mr. B.