Submitted by Ben Smith on Sun, 12/28/2008 - 18:13
Forums
Erebus Volcano Antarctica

Hi John,

-Your posted photos are terrific. -From the solar-seismometer photos, to the Erebus rim shots, to the 5K Turkey Trot shot(surely a PR for you!?) Everything about your research experience looks and sounds tremendous! Again, thank you for sharing it with us. John, considering the numerous research projects currently underway and those in the decades previous, are you aware of ice core data that provides a record of Mount Erebus outgassing (CO2, SO2, NO2, ...other gases)? I realize that coring is not a focal point of your project, but was wondering if such a record has been documented. (It seems that such a proxy record "should" exist...)

We live on the leash of our senses. -Diane Ackerman

John, thank you for helping us extend our senses thousands of miles.

Be Well, Ben Smith and his Environmental Science Students at Peninsula High School California

Tue, 12/30/2008 - 15:16

John Wood

Hello Ben,
Thanks for the comments.  Sorry to have taken so long to get back to you.  We have finished collecting all of the seismometers and are now busy getting everything ready to be flown down.  This project has been fantastic!  Yes, there are many core samples that have been taken over the years from this area.  Andrill just last year cored into the Ross Ice Shelf not far from McM.  Many of the cores do show activity from Erebus as well as giving data on gases from the volcano.  The process is on-going with many of the ice samples still in storage and have yet to be looked at.  If you have not already, I suggest you look through copies of the Antarctic Journal, released by the NSF each year.  There are many projects dealing with cores.
Thanks again for the interest.  Oh, and this Turkey Trot was not even a PR for me in Antarctica.  I ran the "Around the World" Race at South Pole almost 30 years ago in a better time.
Happy New Year!
 John

Wed, 12/31/2008 - 15:15

Ben Smith

Dear John,
Thank you for your reply. We'll look at the NSF Antarctic Journal for Erebus ice core data.
John, given your South Pole "Around the World" Race and McM's 5k, I'm guessing that you have enjoyed some of the (better known) trail races closer to your California home? (among the many: San Juan 50 ?, WS100 ?, ...)
Thanks, Be Well, and Happy New Year John.
Namaste',
Ben Smith and his Environmental Science Students at Peninsula High School
Rolling Hills, California

Wed, 12/31/2008 - 18:28

John Wood

Ben,
A few trail runs.  My longest being the Ridgecrest 50K.  We do train on Saddleback mountain a fair amount.  I run a couple of marathons each year and qualify for Boston in my age group each year.  More so I am involved with triathlons and have completed four Ironman races so far.  I have still to do Hawaii.  I hope to do the Death Valley Marathon this year when I get home.  
Living in P.V. you must run your share of hills and trails? 
Happy New Year!
John