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CosRay Neutron Monitors

Dates

4 January 2016 - 27 January 2016

Location

McMurdo Station / Estación McMurdo

What Are They Doing?

2014 team members Paul and Sam removing neutron monitor tubes. Photo from UWRF Blog

We will be performing maintenance on the neutron monitors. The neutron monitors are used to study the sun, which occasionally undergoes solar storms that produce bursts of energetic particles. We are interested in learning more about the energy range and abundance of the particles produced in these events, which is important for understanding how to protect electronics and the electrical grid from extreme space weather events.

¿Qué están haciendo?

CosRay: Monitoreo de Neutrones

Nuestro trabajo consistirá en dar mantenimiento a los monitores de neutrones. Estos sensores son utilizados para estudiar al sol, el cual produce ocasionalmente tormentas solares en las que emite partículas de gran energía. Nos interesa aprender más sobre el rango energético de éstas partículas, asi como sobre su abundancia, ya que esto nos permitirá predecir mejor las tormentas solares y así podr proteger equipos electrónicos y las redes eléctricas acá en la tierra.

Juan Botella

Teacher

Monona Grove High School

Monona, WI
United States

Expedition Map

Human Impacts in Antarctica 2015

Dates

1 November 2015 - 6 December 2015

Location

McMurdo Station, Antarctica

What Are They Doing?

Andrew Klein collects a sediment sample at Arrival Heights, Antarctica. Arrival Heights, Antarctica.

Humans have occupied the McMurdo Sound for over a hundred years. Early visitors had little impact on the region, but starting in the late 1950’s year-round, permanent buildings were established at McMurdo Station. Over the years thousands of humans have visited this area and have changed the landscape. Under its obligations to the Antarctic Treaty, the United States maintains a long-term monitoring program designed to track the environmental conditions in and around the station.

Each year, the research team conducts environmental monitoring and chemical, physical, and biological sampling in and around McMurdo Station. They collect samples from both marine and terrestrial habitats as measures of human impact. They take the samples back to the lab to look for contaminants.

The results of this research help document and minimize the impacts of future science and support operations in Antarctica. This information can be used to inform management decisions in and around McMurdo Station to help preserve the unique Antarctic environment.

Learn more about this project by visiting the official project website: Island to Ice.

Michelle Brown

Teacher

State College, PA
United States

Expedition Map

17 September 2015 Get Fit Antarctica Challenge

Here I am getting physically fit! What exercises will you do to get fit?

Journal Entry

Time to get fit Working in Antarctica is tough. Over the past two expeditions, I have learned that you need to be physically fit, so you can carry your equipment and safety gear while working in the field. I also learned that ‘bunny boots’ weigh about three pounds each! Wearing "bunny boots" is

17 September 2015 Fly a Flag over the Antarctic

Journal Entry

It’s time to design your Antarctic flag! Would you like to be like our adventurers and have your very own flag placed on the ice of Antarctica? Now you can, by participating in the “Fly a Flag” challenge! ### Here’s how to participate: Step 1: Purchase a FLAG. * Flags are available at the

16 September 2015 Float Your Boat

Halo arcs and pillars with low arctic sun

Journal Entry

Cruise Day 39 Speed 0 knots (kts) (on station) Course n/a Location Alpha Ridge, ~290 nautical miles south of N. Pole Depth 2190 m ## GO DEEPER DISCUSSION: (see previous journal for the questions.) Everyone on the science team working outside on the ice or on deck wears an

15 September 2015 Ice Station Action

Ice characterization studies and USCGC Healy

Journal Entry

Cruise Day 38 Speed 0 knots (kts) (on station) Course n/a Location Alpha Ridge, ~292 nautical miles south of N. Pole Depth 2260 m ## GO DEEPER DISCUSSION: (see previous journal for the questions.) Did you get the riddle? H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O Answer: H to O… H2O… Water!

14 September 2015 Microscopic Life in the Ice

Journal Entry

Cruise Day 37 Speed 6 knots (kts) Course 204° (SSW) Location Alpha Ridge, ~258 nautical miles south of N. Pole Depth 2703 m ## GO DEEPER DISCUSSION: (see previous journal for the questions.) Check my math to see if you agree with the answer to yesterday’s Go Deeper! The formula

13 September 2015 Sunday Squeeze

Styrofoam cup and wig head before CTD cast

Journal Entry

Cruise Day 36 Speed 4 knots (kts) Course 223° (SW) Location Alpha Ridge, ~250 nautical miles south of N. Pole Depth 2785 m ## GO DEEPER DISCUSSION: (see previous journal for the questions.) As mammals, seals have to breath air. So even though ringed seals are unmatched by polar

12 September 2015 Life Under Ice

Journal Entry

Cruise Day 35 Speed 0 knots (kts) Course n/a Location Makarov Basin, ~198 nautical miles south of N. Pole Depth 3475 m ## GO DEEPER DISCUSSION: (see previous journal for the questions.) To explain the behavior of my compass, let’s remember the basics about a simple magnetic

11 September 2015 Which Way is North?

Journal Entry

Cruise Day 34 Speed 6 knots (kts) Course 219° (SW) Location Makarov Basin, ~146 nautical miles south of N. Pole Depth 2783 m ## GO DEEPER DISCUSSION: (see previous journal for the questions.) To get ice that is mostly clean with a dirty layer, perhaps it began to form in clear