Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 11/29/2008 - 14:09
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Erebus Volcano Antarctica

-Does the Weather affect the experiment?

-What kind of explosives are you using?

-How close are your tents to the mouth of the volcano?

-How far away are you going to be when the explosions go off?

-What Temperature is it down there and how is the weather?

-Can the Experiment be cancelled with stormy weather?

                  -Rachel M. (per. 2)Innocent

Sat, 11/29/2008 - 15:10

John Wood

Rachel,
Thanks for the questions.  We are in Antarctica at McMurdo Station, but we have not made it up to Erebus yet.  Yes! With most experiments weather is a factor.  In Antarctica the weather is everything.  Our first team of people have been at the Fang camp now for four days because of the 60mph winds on the mountain.  They are not able to move up to the observatory to begin the experiment.  My group will try to fly to Fang on Thursday if the weather is good.  We need to place 100 seismomenters around the mountain.  If the weather is not good, we will not be able to put them out, and pick them up again.  Our camp at the observatory is less than a mile from the crater.  During the explosions we will be at least 500 feet away.  The explosive we will mostly be using is called ANFO.   Which stands for Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil.  This comes in a loose form that can be pored in to the holes that we will drill in the ice.  The temperature around town has been +12 degrees during the daylight hours.  Not bad!
Cheers,
Mr. Wood