Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 14:28
Forums
Glacial History in Antarctica

Hey, Mrs. Urasky.. It's Danika Haynes. I just have a few questions regarding your visit to Antarctica that I never got to ask at the program they had at the Higher Ed.:

-Do the samples you get have to be constant, and at what temperature are you keeping them? -What parts of this expedition are you going to miss most once you're gone? And which are you going to be thankful for being gone? -What experience do you think is going to be most memorable to you? -While collecting samples, do you think that you'd enjoy doing something in that field rather than teaching us still at Rawlins High? -Are you going to attempt to go on anymore of trips with PolarTrec?

Thank you for your time, best wishes & have fun while you still can! :)

Fri, 01/14/2011 - 11:25

Lesley Urasky

Hi, Danika!
I'm so happy that you went to the live event down at the Higher Ed. I heard that there were some students there.
Question 1: I'm not quite sure what you mean by: do the samples have to be constant? There are three criteria that must be met for a rock to be considered a quality sample: 1. It must have quartz in it. 2. It must be weathered just the right amount. 3. There must be signs (striations) that the rock was transported by a glacier. They do not have to be stored in any constant conditions. They've been exposed to the elements for thousands of years, and we place them in labeled canvas sample bags, put them in a box, and ship it back to the States. The only key is that it is now in the dark, so cosmic particles are no longer affecting them.
Question 2: The part of the expedition that I'll miss the most is the amazing scenery and remoteness of the Transantarctic Mountains. This has been some of the most spectacular scenery I've ever been immersed in. I'll be thankful to be able to sit by my wood stove and be consistently very warm and cozy. It will also be nice to sleep in my own bed and no longer on a thin, inflatable mattress on the hard, rocky ground.
Question 3: The most memorable experience has been the helicopter flights low over the mountains. Helicopters are pretty exciting to fly in because they can maneuver rapidly in so many directions and you can also feel the slightest bumps. When we've flown from camp to camp in the helicopters we fly to close to the mountains and sometimes to low to the ground that you feel like you can reach out and touch them. Plus, it's really cool to be able wear the fighter pilot style flight helmets!
Question 4: While collecting samples, it did remind me of why I originally got my degrees in geology. I do love being outside and not confined by four walls all day long. But, that being said, I do enjoy teaching and being able to share things like this with you.
Question 5: While I'd love to participate in more PolarTREC expeditions, they don't send participating teachers on other expeditions. They prefer to spread the experiences among teachers so a maximum number of people can be reached. I understand this philosophy and am glad that I'm the one who got to come down here instead of PolarTREC sending a past teacher again.
Thanks for all the great questions, Danika, and I'll see you in a week or so.