Waste is how the contents of the bags and plastic vials may be described by someone who is not totally familiar with them. From the Larsen Ice Shelf in Antarctica came such specimens and the scientists will have their hands full with these. One mud sample, according to a college senior, can lead to a multitude of information. For this college senior, a trip to Antarctica became possible with other people from a college and university as the National Science Foundation provided the necessary funds. Research travel is something usually engaged in by these schools.
The group departed from Punta Arenas Chile, in early February aboard a research vessel. Their destination, the Larsen Ice Shelf on the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula was uncharted territory. It has been said that they were the first explorers to reach that place. The boat moved slowly, using sonar to measure the ocean's depth. Not only were water and sediment samples secured from the deck but the students and researchers also videotaped their exploits. Such samples will not be easy to analyze.
They will analyze the mud from its water content to its composition and from this they will be able to determine its association with global warming. This has been a rare opportunity for the students. Such a trip offers a face to face encounter with life, according to a student. Planning to study about global warming in graduate school, this student is a native of Scotland. Not minding spending the rest of her life on a ship is one more student who will be studying at the school of Oceanography in one university next year.
The group did well even when they experienced harsh weather conditions in the Southern Hemisphere. A close comparison was Upstate New York. What was intense was the sun rising at 430 am and setting at 930 pm and not the cold days. Having a really bright sun did not make it easy to look out the window. Limited civilization did not hinder the 24 seven scientific activities. If you were a student, a typical shift would be midnight to noon or vice versa. The usual off day routines for students were watching movies in the group lounge or sleeping on the bunk beds.
Still there were a series of rules to follow. Should something serious occur, a senior must be told. There was a time when a senior student had to visit an emperor penguin after checking out a surface volcano. It was said by this Dryden native that this was a great thing. You don't want to miss something. She said one of the best days of her life was when members of the expedition went ashore on Vega Island. Sharing a rare travel experience with a limited few, say 10, was rather exhilarating for her.
The students actually missed five weeks of classes. The hectic schedules they were given plus the environmental safety conditions in their vessel prevented them from getting all of their schoolwork done. There is not much consolation in a ship that keeps moving. Two emails a day became their only connection back home. Still a closeness was established with the students and faculty due to the absence of distractions and close quarters. There's no escaping, said one student. The bleak area and harsh environment will really bring you close together.
All of the samples were carried in coolers once they were brought back to the United States with specially prepared paperwork for such bizarre cargo for the customs officials. Some other things a student had were 323 digital pictures and five film rolls. Another student, who went on the expedition last year as well, said she spent more time embracing her surroundings. Pictures are not the same, she said. You need to be aware of your surroundings. - 39815
The group departed from Punta Arenas Chile, in early February aboard a research vessel. Their destination, the Larsen Ice Shelf on the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula was uncharted territory. It has been said that they were the first explorers to reach that place. The boat moved slowly, using sonar to measure the ocean's depth. Not only were water and sediment samples secured from the deck but the students and researchers also videotaped their exploits. Such samples will not be easy to analyze.
They will analyze the mud from its water content to its composition and from this they will be able to determine its association with global warming. This has been a rare opportunity for the students. Such a trip offers a face to face encounter with life, according to a student. Planning to study about global warming in graduate school, this student is a native of Scotland. Not minding spending the rest of her life on a ship is one more student who will be studying at the school of Oceanography in one university next year.
The group did well even when they experienced harsh weather conditions in the Southern Hemisphere. A close comparison was Upstate New York. What was intense was the sun rising at 430 am and setting at 930 pm and not the cold days. Having a really bright sun did not make it easy to look out the window. Limited civilization did not hinder the 24 seven scientific activities. If you were a student, a typical shift would be midnight to noon or vice versa. The usual off day routines for students were watching movies in the group lounge or sleeping on the bunk beds.
Still there were a series of rules to follow. Should something serious occur, a senior must be told. There was a time when a senior student had to visit an emperor penguin after checking out a surface volcano. It was said by this Dryden native that this was a great thing. You don't want to miss something. She said one of the best days of her life was when members of the expedition went ashore on Vega Island. Sharing a rare travel experience with a limited few, say 10, was rather exhilarating for her.
The students actually missed five weeks of classes. The hectic schedules they were given plus the environmental safety conditions in their vessel prevented them from getting all of their schoolwork done. There is not much consolation in a ship that keeps moving. Two emails a day became their only connection back home. Still a closeness was established with the students and faculty due to the absence of distractions and close quarters. There's no escaping, said one student. The bleak area and harsh environment will really bring you close together.
All of the samples were carried in coolers once they were brought back to the United States with specially prepared paperwork for such bizarre cargo for the customs officials. Some other things a student had were 323 digital pictures and five film rolls. Another student, who went on the expedition last year as well, said she spent more time embracing her surroundings. Pictures are not the same, she said. You need to be aware of your surroundings. - 39815
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