Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/17/2008 - 10:24
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Oden Antarctic Expedition 08

Do you think you will be able to find any fossiallized things like animals or bugs under the ice? If you do do you think you have things that could find out what it is? i hope you will be able to find some interesting things! Also is it dangerous to be working on ice that could crack and possibly kill you?

Mon, 11/17/2008 - 10:32

soccer_star_

hi!!!! If there is life underneath the frozen ice in the water, wouldn't you be sacered that it could kill you??? I know i would!!!!!

Mon, 11/17/2008 - 17:09

Jeff Peneston

Thanks for the question,First, let me respond to safety.  The captain of the Oden will not let us work on the sea ice unless he has determined that the ice is thick enough and solid enough.  We will also bring protective safety gear so that we will not be able to sink even if we fall off the ice.  I have been walking on frozen lakes my whole life and I have never ventured out on ice that I did not check first and trust.  I have never fallen through ice and I don’t plan to start now.Second, the ice we will be drilling through is 1-2 meter thick sea ice that is mostly only one year old and floating on the ocean.  We will not drill into rock or find any fossils.  I have collected fossils many places but this trip will not give me the chance to do that.  However, I am excited that I will be able to use my underwater video camera to look beneath the sea ice for living things like krill, penguins and seals.
Take care and keep the questions coming,
Jeff Peneston