Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 04:53
Forums
Human Impacts in Antarctica 2011

HI MS. BROWN!!!! 1. Was everything the way you imagined it would be? Did you meet anyone on the way there? -Katie, Bree, Jacob & Haven

  1. Ms. Brown, will you bring us back a class pet? (penguin) -Emily, Zach, Jose, & Anna

  2. How does the diver not freeze underwater? -Jamie, Rose, David, Tanis

  3. What does your "usual" day look like? Do you have a "usual" day?

  4. What did you do on the long flights to New Zealand and Antarctica?

  5. How many people are currently there at McMurdo and what do they do?

Thu, 11/17/2011 - 10:49

Michelle Brown

Hello!Great questions everyone!
For Katie, Bree, Jacob and Haven:
It is hard to compare what I imagined to what the reality is here. I
think some of it is how I expected--I knew about the cafeteria and happy
camper school and some of the buildings, but there's something about
being here that I could never have expected. Every time I look out the
window and see the sea ice and mountains, I can't believe I'm actually here.
I have met SO many interesting people here! Once we landed in
Christchurch, New Zealand, I started meeting other researchers. There
are some really cool projects going on here. I will be introducing you
to all of them in my journals as we go along.
For Emily, Zach, Jose and Anna:
I would love to bring you back a penguin, but unfortunately it's not
allowed. We are not allowed to touch, take or interfere with any living
creatures down here unless we have a permit to do so for our research.
Sadly, that means no real penguins for the class, but maybe I can get a
toy version!
For Jamie, Rose, David and Tanis:
The divers do not freeze underwater because they wear a dry suit. A dry
suit has a shell that keeps divers dry and insulating layers underneath
to keep them warm. Even though dry suits keep divers warm, it is not
for too long. After 30 or 45 minutes or so you start getting cold.
In regards to my "usual" day, so far it's been a lot of training! I
wake up around 6:30 or 7 or so, make it to breakfast (which ends at
7:30 a.m.), and then go to Crary Lab. I have a spot at a desk that I
write my journals at, so I usually sit there for an hour or so and work
on the journal or emails. This week I've been going to trainings just
about every day, but that will not be a typical part of my day after
this week. We will start going out in the field and collecting samples
soon, and then make it back to the cafeteria for lunch. I often get
caught up talking to other scientists or working with Bob and Andy from
the AGO group in the afternoon. Dinner is at 5 or 6, and then I go back
to the lab to finish my journals. This is my "usual" day now, but it
will change pretty soon now that the trainings are done!
What did I do on the long flights from the states to New Zealand (that
was 13 hours--New Zealand to Antarctica was only 5): I slept!! I slept
a lot on the plane. I also read the surveys my students wrote, and
watched some movies. From New Zealand to Antarctica I spent a lot of
time just taking it all in (it was the most exciting plane trip I've
ever had!). I also read my book--I finished The Hunger Games after a
student gave me a copy!
There are about 1100 people here at McMurdo right now. They do a bunch
of different things! There are lots of researchers who are coming and
going doing various research projects, there are staff to work on and
fly planes and helicopters, cafeteria staff, janitors, firemen, medical
staff, technology support staff, and just about everything else you can
think of! There are also military staff here too!
Thank you for the great questions! It's nice to know you are all
interested in what's going on here! Keep the questions coming!
Sincerely
Michelle (Ms. Brown)

Fri, 11/18/2011 - 09:08

Anonymous

What is the most beautiful sight you have seen so far?

Fri, 11/18/2011 - 09:12

Anonymous

Have you gone insane yet?; Our real question is actually are there any nocternal animals that you have seen or heard of.-Khunal, Garrett, Ava, Daiga

Fri, 11/18/2011 - 09:14

Anonymous

What time zone are you in?

Fri, 11/18/2011 - 09:17

Anonymous

It looks like you are having alot of fun! I hope you dont mind all our questions. How far was the hike you had to take? What was the dehydrated food made from? Do you sleep well at night? Why or Why not? Do you like the big red suit? Is it hard to move around in all the clothes you wear?

Fri, 11/18/2011 - 09:18

Anonymous

How hard was it to adjust to the new temperature and the change of time in the days in the Antartic? Also, are you nervous about leaving the classroom for so long? We are having a great time with Mr. Santos, he is such a good teacher. We are learning about waves, Hailey thinks it is so interesting! Jesus has been attending tutorials a lot lately, so i don't think he gets the material too much. Oh well, Hailey, Angel, and Joseph love it though! Have a good time in Antartica, we look forward to seeing you soon!

Fri, 11/18/2011 - 14:49

Michelle Brown

Hello Rene, Eleanor and Jaime!I love your question because it forces me to think back through all the
beautiful things I've seen so far, and there's a lot!
I would say the most beautiful sight I've seen so far is Mt. Erebus.
(There's a picture of it in my Happy Camper journals). It is so
majestic and there was a beautiful, lens-shaped cloud (called a
lenticular cloud) that sat over it for hours. I'm sure I'll come across
many more beautiful sights though. Just looking out the window at miles
of white is breathtaking!
Please keep the questions coming!
Sincerely,
Michelle (Ms. Brown)

Fri, 11/18/2011 - 14:49

Michelle Brown

Hello Khunal, Garrett, Ava and Daiga!Not insane yet! But perhaps I'll get there!
Nocturnal animals are hard to find since there is no real "night"
here--the sun won't set until late February! The animals that are here
(penguins, weddell seals and other seals, sea life) are up and about
during the waking hours and late hours!
Great questions and keep in touch!
Sincerely,
Michelle (Ms. Brown)

Fri, 11/18/2011 - 14:49

Michelle Brown

Hi Rene, Elanor and Jaime,I'm in the same time zone as New Zealand -- this means I'm 19 hours
ahead of you! Right now I'm writing this on Saturday, at 12:45 p.m.,
but for you it is 5:45 p.m. on Friday!
Great question!
Sincerely,
Michelle (Ms. Brown)

Fri, 11/18/2011 - 21:34

Michelle Brown

Hi Summer and Billy!No, I don't mind your questions at all! In fact, I was just telling my
colleagues here it is so nice to know you are all paying attention to
what I'm doing down here!
The hike I took to the happy camper location was probably a half mile or
so, but it was hard because we were wearing so many layers and carrying
a lot of gear.
The dehydrated food was made of beans, spices, dried veggies, and dried
(dehydrated) meat (kind of like jerky). Imagine taking a meal and then
sucking all the moisture out of it. When you add water to it, it comes
back to life! For example, Ramen noodles are dehydrated.
Yes, I sleep very well at night because I'm typically exhausted by the
end of the day! I put on an eyemask and fall right asleep. I didn't
fall right asleep when I was outside in the mountain tent for Happy
Camper training, but that was because it was so exciting to be out there
and I was nervous I had forgotten to do something important.
I do like the big red jacket when it's freezing out, but often I find
that I'm too hot with it. It was perfect for the flight over here, since
it was my backrest, and it also makes for a great blanket! The pockets
are nice and big too, so I can fit tons of stuff in it!
Yes, it is very hard to move around with all the clothes! I just came
back from a dive hole (one of our team members went for a practice dive)
and we had to get in a Pisten Bully (scroll down and see the picture at
this website: http://huey.colorado.edu/77DegreesSouth/week5_04p2.htm)--I
could barely get up into the cab because it was so hard to move! Luckily
I'm getting better at it though!
Great questions--keep them coming!
Sincerely,
Michelle (Ms. Brown)

Fri, 11/18/2011 - 21:34

Michelle Brown

Hello Joseph, Angel, Jesus and Hailey!It actually hasn't been that hard to adjust to the new temperatures. It
is cold out (today was colder than usual), but with as many layers on as
I have, I am warm almost all the time. It was good to learn about signs
of hypothermia and survival skills in case I do get cold though!
I'm so glad to hear you are learning a lot with Mr. Santos! If it wasn't
for him, I probably would be nervous about leaving the classroom, but I
know you are in good hands.
I look forward to seeing you all too!
Sincerely,
Michelle (Ms. Brown)