McMurdo Sunday

Oct 3, 2004 | Antarctica

It’s a sunny McMurdo Sunday and a brisk walk up Observation Hill is in order after our 10am brunch. All Raytheon employees here work six day weeks, 9 hours a day so Sundays are precious–especially ones when the wind doesn’t blow. We’ve just...

Another Balloon Launch

Sep 27, 2004 | Antarctica

Another perfect day with little wind gives our “balloonatics” another chance to launch an ozone balloon. An earlier midday launch yielded no data so we repeat the performance after dinner. Every day we’ve been having very nice displays PSCs (type II...

Ice School at Barne Glacier

Sep 22, 2004 | Antarctica

One of my first excursions out of camp–nearing Scott’s first hut on Hut Point one can see the emerging solar presence after 6 months of darkness. In the very distance is Tent Island and the slope of the Barne Glacier.  Those of us who venture off base must...

LIDAR in the Sky

Sep 8, 2004 | Antarctica

An eerie green glow is frequently seen in the dark hours here at McMurdo: that of the LIDAR or Light Detection and Ranging instruments emerging from Crary Labs. Built by Roberto Morbidini from Rome, Italy, this is one fantastic machine! More impressive than its looks...

McMurdo

Aug 21, 2004 | Alaska, Antarctica

I made it in one piece after some very long flights (not to mention the tugboat trip down to Seattle from Sitka). McMurdo is truely a different and serious place-and of immense desolation and beauty. I’ve been here two days and this morning, Sunday-our only day...