Posts Tagged ‘Antarctica trip’

Waste is how the contents of the bags and plastic vials may be described by someone who is not totally familiar with them. With such specimens originating from the Larsen Ice Shelf in Antarctica the scientists will truly be kept busy for long. It has been said by a college senior that mud is very informative. A one month trip to Antarctica was funded by the National Science Foundation and the participants, including this college senior, belonged to the chosen university and college group. When it comes to research travel, these schools have been exposed to them already.

Punta Arenas Chile was the starting point for the group that traveled in early February on a research vessel. It was on the east of the Antarctic Peninsula, the Larsen Ice Shelf, where they first stopped and it was an unfamiliar place. Such a location has yet to be explored before they arrived. There was no rapid motion for the boat as they used sonar for the measurement of the ocean’s depth. Water and sediment samples not to mention video footage were all gathered by the students and researchers from the deck.Decades may pass before the samples are analyzed completely. You will find that further information on travel to antarctica is on that site.

With global warming in mind, mud will be part of the conducted studies considering everything from how much water it holds to the elements comprising it. For the students, this trip was an ultimate blessing. It gives you a taste of what it’s really like said this student. Planning to study about global warming in graduate school, this student is a native of Scotland. It is during the next year when one student who agrees to spend the rest of her life on a ship will be studying at the school of Oceanography in one university.

Taking note of how intense the Southern Hemisphere weather conditions are, the group coped well. What was thought of was Upstate New York. When the sun rises at 430 am and sets at 930 pm the cold days are not as intense as this. When you look out the window, the brightness can make it rather painful. Civilization was lacking, but science was happening 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you were a student, a typical shift would be midnight to noon or vice versa. A group lounge was where students watched movies when they were not working, some slept on the bunk beds too.

Every student is still expected to abide by some rules. Informing seniors of any serious activity is a must. From checking out a newly discovered surface volcano to an emperor penguin became the task for a senior student. Such an encounter was enjoyable for this particular Dryden native. Everyone favors such encounters. A trip to Vega Island was the best moment for her during the trip. When there are only about 10 people who have reached the location, it becomes an incredible feat. To get a better understanding of antarctica vacation, visit their website.

The students actually missed five weeks of classes. During the trip not much work was done in terms of their schoolwork for they had busy schedules and their vessel dealt with several environmental perils. The ship always being in motion did not make the situation easier. They were not able to contact the people back home as much. With their common living areas not to mention fewer distractions to deal with the students and faculty grew close with each other. For one student any escape effort was futile. Not only the desolate area but also the extreme environment will really make you close.

Heading back to the United States the specimens were placed inside coolers and they also prepared documents explaining each one for the customs officials. A student also carried five film rolls and 323 digital pictures. For a student who was part of last year’s exploration, it was simply better to experience the surroundings. It has been said that pictures are not enough. Grasping the environment is necessary.