Fog and Volleyball, December 19, 2005 Options

[Dena_Rosenberger]

Fog and Volleyball
19 December, 2005

For those interested in things Antarctic, 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?
Crary Labs, McMurdo Station, Ross Island, Antarctica

Dr. Yo Chin, our lead scientist (PI) from Ohio State University, was twice “boomeranged” (see definitions, December 16) to New Zealand in his journey to McMurdo Station. You can see in the photo below (taken from Ob Hill) the reason why it was impossible to land here. McMurdo is in the foreground and our ice runways are in the background, covered with fog on the sea ice. The cargo/passenger planes with skis leave New Zealand hoping that the fog will clear by the time they get halfway here (about 3.5 hours), but must turn around at the halfway point (over the ocean!) if it hasn’t cleared enough to land at McMurdo.



Well, he is finally here and got right to work helping Jenn and I in the lab:


Me sparging with argon:


Me and Jenn processing Photolysis samples:


Since Chris, our Senior Research Assistant, is going out to the field on another project until the end of the week and Christine, the co-PI, is heading back to the U.S. Wednesday (weather permitting), we took our science group photo in front of the National Science Foundation chalet flying international flags today. From left to right: Jenn Guerrard (PhD student at Ohio State University), me (Teacher at El Capitan High School), Christine Foreman (co-PI, Montana State University), Yo Chin (PI, OSU), Chris Jaros (Senior Research Assistant and super field coordinator guy), Markus Dieser (PhD student at MSU), Kaelin Cawley (PhD student at University of Colorado):



Scientists are always soooooo serious:


I play in a volleyball league on Monday nights in the “big” gym.


Volleyball, Antarctic style...
We lost


Did you know?
The continent of Antarctica is 99% ice-covered and contains 90% of the world’s ice. These 30 million cubic kilometers of ice contains about 70% of the fresh water in the entire world. IF the Antarctic ice sheet were to melt completely, the oceans would rise by up to 70 meters (over 200 feet!) – from Lonely Planet: Antarctica

Current Conditions at McMurdo Station
What a gorgeous day! HOWEVER…a new system should bring increasing cloudiness tonight.

Right now:
Partly cloudy
Pressure: 29.400 inHg
Winds from N at 10 knots
Temperature: 32 oF/0 oC with wind chill: 16 F/ -9 C
Sunset: February 20 at 1:38 am

[Guest]

Funny I had this vision of all of you romping around outside..in full gear, boots parka's and gloves.. playing....Im almost disappointed....

Whats your teams record so far? Is there a small gym too...you guys have all the comforts of home Except fro traffic..Malls, Xmas crush.. and 50 deg weather why would anyone want to come home

BTW....
Merry Xmas from Shannon, Devin and whats his name..

Stay warm and work on your setting and spiking for the next game.....

[Jeff Kemper]

Hi Dena,
From the pix, it looks like you are getting to have some fun, too - not all research. El Cap made it through the week leading up to winter break - everyone seemed to really need a rest. We're looking forward to a new year and to your being back with us!

[Kristen Silva]

Hey, the gym looks really nice:) I hope its heated... I'm sure everything is heated there- even the KoolAid (heehee- you like silly jokes, admit it). Well, it's so good to see that you are doing well, and have great people with you.

Can't wait to read more entries.....Until then, love you!