Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 16:14
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Glacial History in Antarctica

You have mentioned that it is really quiet there, but can you hear ice cracking and moving? Are there any birds that make noises? Is the wind loud? How sound proof are your tents?

Fri, 01/14/2011 - 10:22

Lesley Urasky

Most of the time we've camped sufficiently far enough from the ice that we can't hear it. While camped on Cloudmaker Peak, we did have a small, alpine-type glacier on the mountain above us and sometimes you could hear large chunks of ice falling off of its toe. They sounded like loud gunshots and then if you listened carefully, you might be able to hear some smaller rocks that had been dislodged by the ice's fall tumbling down the hill.One thing that I have been amazed at it the sound of running water. While on the Shackleton Glacier, there was actually quite a good sized river flowing down the glacier. On the other mountains, there are always some small melt streams flowing down from snow and ice fields. When the sun is out 24-hours/day, it isn't unusual for slight melting to occur. This isn't related to climate change, it is just a natural response to continuous sunlight.
We have been far enough inland that we haven't seen or hear any birds. While in McMurdo, we did frequently see and hear Skuas, but they were the only type of bird I noticed.
We also haven't had much wind (yea!) so I can't tell you how loud the wind really is. If you're from windy southern Wyoming, you could imagine it to sound much like at home. If you're from somewhere else, it would sound like an ebbing and growing howl. The few days we had winds in the 30s mph, the tent did flap throughout the night. It took a little bit longer to fall asleep because of the sound, but I was so tired from the fieldwork it didn't keep me awake.
Our tents are not soundproof at all. Imagine hanging a blanket down the middle of a bedroom with another person sleeping on the other side of it. I can hear people in the next tent over snoring, all footsteps over both rock and snow, and conversations.
Keep the good questions coming! Thanks.