Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 12/14/2006 - 11:55
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Oden Antarctic Expedition 06

Hi, Mr. Miller, Mrs. Brown's class has some questions for you.

You said that the swells and waves were between 10 and 15 feet and that was considered calm or light. What extra safety precautions have you taken or will you take as you go around the Cape?

We're learning there are different types of snow and ice. Did you have to study the differnt types and how they form? How many different kinds do you know?

What types of minerals are there in the ice that make the antarctic waters so rich in nutrients?

Has Mrs. Chippy gotten seasick yet? We found out that the other Mrs. Chippy was shot so that the sled dogs would not get her when the Shackleton expedition got off the Endurance. We hope that doesn't happen to your Mrs. Chippy.

Will you have a Christmas party when you get to the base? Did you bring any presents from home?

Mrs. Brown wonders which geosynchronous satellite is relaying your messages. Her husband has been in on the orbit determination for a lot of them.

We would love to be on the live webcast tomorrow, but we are unable as we are signed up to watch the 2nd and 3rd graders do a performance of Julius Caesar.

Our best to you.

Fri, 12/15/2006 - 11:24

Allan Miller

You said that the swells and waves were between 10 and 15 feet and that wasconsidered calm or light. What extra safety precautions have you taken orwill you take as you go around the Cape?We have everything on board tied down - last night the ship was rocking about 10 degrees from side to side, which is enough to send plates sliding and making it difficult to walk with out holding onto the rails (which they have in every corridor just for safety). The Chief Office Ole told me yesterday that in one very serious storm the ship had listed over 60 degrees - no danger of capsizing but definitely steep enough that anything not secured would go flying.
We're learning there are different types of snow and ice. Did you have tostudy the differnt types and how they form? How many different kinds do youknow?
As soon as we reach the ice pack (which they say will be on Monday) - I'll be spending up to 6 hours each day observing and recording ice condition with the scientists. It is fascinating to me that something like snow or ice which once seemed simple to me, is actually incredibly complex. For the boat research they are mostly interested in the type of ice and where they are located - such as the fast ice which is ice directly anchored to land, pack ice, which is broken pieces of ice that have reconnected (but are still just floating), and ice floes or icebergs - which are chunks that have separated and are free floating.
What types of minerals are there in the ice that make the antarctic watersso rich in nutrients?
The nutrients are actually in the water itself - the ice tends to freeze very pure and in fact early sailing ships counted on being able to collect icebergs in order to get fresh water for their voyages. But the cold polar waters (the same is true both in Antarctica and the Arctic) are a perfect environment for microscopic plants and algae which we call phytoplankton and microscopic animals called zooplankton. Cold water and lots of sunlight (conditions here in the summer) are perfect to let these tiny plankton thrive, which are then food for small shrimplike animals called krill, which then feed a wealth of fish, penguins, whales, etc. But the key is to have a huge supply of this plankton which is the base of the Antarctic and Arctic food web.
Has Mrs. Chippy gotten seasick yet? We found out that the other Mrs. Chippywas shot so that the sled dogs would not get her when the Shackletonexpedition got off the Endurance. We hope that doesn't happen to your Mrs.Chippy.
Fortunately we don't have any dogs on board so I don't think Mrs. Chippy II is in any danger - plus we're on an icebreaker, which if Shackleton had had would have kept the expedition from being trapped in the ice.
Will you have a Christmas party when you get to the base? Did you bring anypresents from home?
I brought a few simple presents for everyone and we'll have a party where we will swap them and enjoy a great meal together - it will probably be on the boat since we are not due to arrive now until Dec. 26. The coolest presents that I have on board are from Xander and Mackenzie - they wrote me a bunch of notes that I get open every night before I go to sleep. It's a fun way to keep my family in mind when I am so far away.Mrs. Brown wonders which geosynchronous satellite is relaying your messages.Her husband has been in on the orbit determination for a lot of them.
When the ship was farther north, they were using the Marinesat satellites which are in a geosynchronous orbit (meaning they are always above the same position on the earth). However now that we're nearly at the Antarctic Circle those satellites are out of range due to the earth's curvature and the power of our antennas, so they have had to switch to iridium satellites which are in a polar orbit, that is they circle the globe in a north to south orbit. They pass directly over us regularly - but are also in constant motion so it's tougher to get a long constant connection and phone signals comes and goes regularly.
We would love to be on the live webcast tomorrow, but we are unable as weare signed up to watch the 2nd and 3rd graders do a performance of JuliusCaesar.
Well be a great audience and I'm sure that you will their hard work for the play. Fortunately I can come and visit your class very easily when I come back and have lots more to share with you then. Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - look forward to seeing you all again in 2007!