Who we are and what we're doing!


Welcome to our project site! We are six National Science Foundation-funded researchers from Pacific Lutheran University, Berkeley Geochronology Center, University of Washington, and the University of Maine who are studying the glacial history of the Pensacola Mountains in West Antarctica.

Our 2011-2012 field season is almost underway! We will spend about two weeks in McMurdo equipping ourselves for another month in the Pensacola Mountains. We spent December 16th, 2010 through January 17th, 2011 in the Pensacola Mountains, where we mapped and sampled glacial deposits along the Foundation Ice Stream. This year, we will revisit last year's field sites, and map new regions of the mountain range.

Our work will track the thinning history of the Weddell Sea Sector of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, and will also provide insights into ice sheet dynamics, and the history of sea level contribution from this sector of the ice sheet.

In the coming weeks and months, we will use this site to show you our preparations for the 2011-2012 field season, and to share our initial results as they emerge. Please check back to catch up with our progress. Thanks for finding us!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

From Christchurch to McMurdo!


Hello from McMurdo! 

It finally feels like our adventure has begun. Sorry I wasn't able to update the blog yesterday; I had to wait until this morning to get my computer approved for access to the network. Our journey from Christchurch began at 5:45 in front of our hotel:

Kat and Michael waiting for a shuttle in front of our Christchurch hotel. That's only part of our luggage!!
We had to check into our C-17 flight at the USAP Passenger Terminal. There's Michael getting his bags weighed. We had to weigh all of our bags and ourselves!



After check-in, on the bus to our C-17!
The C-17!
Our safety briefing in the C-17.


Greg and Michael in the C-17. It was an easy 5-hour flight!
We made it! Michael's first few steps on the ice!
Heading to "Ivan the Terra Bus," our transport to McMurdo.


Mount Erebus! Can you see the puff of steam? Still active!
Inside Ivan the Terra Bus

Looking back at our plane from the bus - hard to believe it lands on sea ice! In the coming weeks, the surface melt on the sea ice will make it unsuitable for landing. At that point, the airfield will move inland to the ice shelf surface!
Michael outside of our new home! 

Michael and me on our hike up Observation Hill outside of "town." 

We're off to a briefing at 10:00 AM this morning. In that meeting, we'll meet with the leads on the McMurdo staff who will help us schedule all of the training and gear preparations we'll need to accomplish before heading out into the field!

More from us soon! Thanks again for checking in!

Claire
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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 30, 2010 at 4:17 PM

    Congratulations Mike...
    Mom and Dad

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 1, 2010 at 6:35 AM

    Claire,
    We are so excited at my office in Orlando, Florida- we are going to follow you and your fellow researchers too. Have someone else take a picture of you so I can see you. This is so much fun!
    Donna

    ReplyDelete

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