Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 12/23/2009 - 13:58
Forums
Dissolved Organic Matter in Antarctica

I know that you are working hard every day, but because of the sun, does it feel like its still the afternoon, or does it feel like nighttime? Why is it that it is sunny 24/7?

Sat, 12/26/2009 - 15:54

Sarah Diers

It did take me a little while to adjust to 24 hours of daylight, but not as long as it has others in Antarctica. I have experienced these loooooooong days before, as a commercial fisher fishing above the Arctic Circle in Alaska's waters. It helps that there is a schedule to keep at McMurdo- breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at specific times. There are activities, like movies, sports team practices, and listening to live music that happen in the evening just as they do back in the States. So, I guess most people just get used to the 24 hours of daylight. I tend to keep a schedule similar to the one I have at home- up at 6:30, coffee and a quick breakfast, at work by 7:30, lunch at noon, work until dinner at 6:30, then hanging out with friends, or watching a few of the TV shows I have on my computer.The reason for the 24 hours of light in the summer, and 24 hours of darkness in the winter is primarily due to the angle at which the Earth rotates on its axis. For more information on this check out this page of SkyTellers.Keep cool! Sarah