Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 10/01/2007 - 11:20
Forums
SIMBA Antarctic Sea Ice

Hunter: How thick is the ice?

Shay: Why did you choose to go to Antarctica?

Jasmine: How far are you from Boerne?

Patrick: What is the coldest temperature you have had so far? 

Mon, 10/08/2007 - 11:12

Sarah Anderson

Great to hear from you...sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. We've been working very hard on the ice since we got here a week ago. Just walking through the snow takes a lot of effort here. The boot we wear to keep our feet warm and dry weigh almost 8 pounds each...and some of the snow we are working in has drifted to waist high! It's very pretty though, and fun to be outside in the snow.Hunter - how thick is the ice?The thickness varies, but I don't think we have measured anything less than 55 cm as I recall. That's about 22 inches, so it's pretty thick. We are working on a large floe (1.5 miles or so in diameter) so it seems more like you are on land than ice.Shay - why did I choose to go to Antarctica?That's a good question!! And hard to answer, also...let's see...the opportunity to go somewhere where almost no one is able to go, the opportunity to help conduct important scientific research, the desire to "take a new path" and see where it leads...etc. If someone presented you with an amazing opportunity like this, how could you not be interested!I'm grateful for this opportunity, I know that very few are able to experience what I am.Jasmine - how far are you from Boerne?Jasmine, you'll have to help me with this one, as I don't really know! Thousands of miles, but I'm not sure. Perhaps y'all can find this on the Internet...I flew from San Antonio to Dallas, Dallas to Santiago, then Santiago to Punta Arenas (both in Chile). Then we boarded the ship...and we are probably at least a thousand miles from there. I'm definitely a long way from home!!Patrick - coldest temperature so far...I think that might be right now...it's -18 degrees Celsius (around zero Fahrenheit). It's much colder inland, the ocean helps moderate the climate. It feels much colder than the thermometer says because of the winds here...most of the time it's pretty windy. The winds now are at 30 knots, which is about 35 miles per hour, so our wind chill temperature is -44 now, which is -47 Fahrenheit. It was clear this afternoon and evening, so the radiation from the sun was reflected back out and it's colder it has been now. With a thick cloud layer the temperatures stay more consistent. It's not that bad to be outside, though. We have thick coats and wear multiples layers of gloves and socks to keep our feet and hands warm. Youalways wear a hat and usually put the hood up on your coat, and try to cover as much of your face as possible.Great to hear from y'all...please write again!Mrs. Anderson

Mon, 01/25/2010 - 12:44

COURTNEY

DEAR MS.TURNER` YOU ARE THE BEST TEACHER IN THE HOL WILD WRLOD