The Blazin’ Krasin, December 29, 2005 Options

[Dena_Rosenberger]

The Blazin’ Krasin
December 29, 2005

For those interested in things Antarctic or fine Journalism on a harsh continent, check out the weekly Antarctic newspaper at http://AntarcticSun.usap.gov

Hello from the Ice!
For additional Antarctic pics, check out the Gallery.

Where’s Rosenberger?
Ross Island, Antarctica

Finally, the Russian Icebreaker has made its way to McMurdo Station!


When I went into the lab this morning and looked out the window, wow! The Krasin is right outside!


It spent all day just breaking out a big turn-a-round for the other ships coming into McMurdo in January. At lunch, I grabbed my camera and ran out to Hut Point to get closer to the action. It is pretty amazing to see it backing up and ramming the ice again and again. Lot’s of other people were out there checking it out, too.





For our lab group, this last two weeks have been an uncertain time. By the 20th of December, we had decided that Pony Lake would be unsuitable for gathering enough water because it was frozen solid and covered with a meter of snow. So we decided to move operations to another lake, Lake Frixell, in the Dry Valleys on the Antarctic continent. Well, since then, the weather has been a bit warmer. When Yo and Chris went out to Pony Lake a few days ago to move the equipment that was there by helicopter over to Lake Fryxell, they noticed that much more of Pony Lake had melted. They took some water samples and we have been processing the samples they brought back and it looks like now we may be moving operations back to Pony Lake. We have been waiting for approval from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to move to Fryxell and now we want to switch it back. Maybe it is not “Buh, Bye” to the penguins?

Did you know?
There are very large ham radio stations both here in McMurdo and at the other U.S. Research Base called Palmer Station up on the Antarctic Peninsula (the “tail” of the continent). Well, last week they were able to contact the International Space Station! The current U.S. Space expedition is run by Commander William McArthur, a retired army colonel. This expedition was launched on September 12 and is expected to last six months. Their focus is on preparations for space station assembly, maintenance, education and science in microgravity, Earth observations, and other scientific experiments. By ham radio, they talked with Palmer Station about the oxygen supplies onboard, ongoing science experiments, and both sides agreed that they are operating in harsh environments. A very interesting and amusing conversation! If you like space stuff or ham radio stuff, check out their conversation at the link below:

http://archive.arcus.org/trec/downloads/Space_...-Palmer_HAM.MP3

Current Conditions at McMurdo Station
A high pressure ridge moves in tomorrow, bringing continued partly cloudy skies and light winds. Visibility unlimited, very pleasant day!

Right now:
Winds very light and variable
Pressure: 29.515 inHg
Temperature: 34 oF/1 oC with wind chill: 27 F/ -3 C
Sunset: February 20 at 1:38 am

[Laurie Montgomery]

Hi Dena,
Hello from San Diego. Ive been reading your journal daily. It is quite interesting and lots of nice pictures. Hopefully the Russian Ship will bring you guys some goodies, maybe some new meals to enjoy....Have a Happy New Year.....

[Dena_Rosenberger]

Hi Laurie:

Thanks for the New Year's greeting. We, too, are hoping for some goodies!

Happy New Year!
Dena

Hi Dena,
  Hello from San Diego. Ive been reading your journal daily. It is quite interesting and lots of nice pictures. Hopefully the Russian Ship will bring you guys some goodies, maybe some new meals to enjoy....Have a Happy New Year.....

[louis]

Hi Laurie:

Thanks for the New Year's greeting.  We, too, are hoping for some goodies!

Happy New Year!
Dena