Experiments are coming to an end, but some more great questions have arrived.

Students in Mrs. McLaughlin’s 6th grade B-block science class at Berkeley Prep asked:

“Do you like being in Antarctica, or do you consider it something you have to do?”

Interesting question.  I definitely like being here, and don’t consider it something I have to do.  Rather, I consider myself very fortunate to be able to experience this place, and conduct scientific research here.  Not too many people are lucky enough to spend time in the Antarctic, and even fewer get to experience this particular place - Palmer Station.  In fact, I consider myself very lucky to be a scientist - I get to think up interesting questions about really amazing animals, then look for the answers.  What a great job!!  Being able to do it down here is sort of like the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae!

“Has anything changed since your last trip to Antarctica”

That is a really tough question to answer.  The easy answer is that every trip is different and unique — in fact every day seems to bring something unexpected.  The harder answer has to do with location.  My first trip down here was spent at McMurdo Station, which is further south.  So, it was much colder and all the water was covered with ice as far as you could see.  My second trip was also to McMurdo, but the ice had moved around, and there was still a lot of ice, but a little more open water, and with it some penguins and whales and all the little critters they feed on.  This trip I am on the Antarctic peninsula, which is further north, and has been experiencing a warming climate over the past 50 years.  Because this is my first trip to Palmer Station and Antarctic peninsula, it is hard to really see much change.  People who have been coming here for years have definitely seen big changes in the ice, as well as the organisms that depend of it.  It will be interesting to come back here in the future and measure these changes myself.

Students in Mrs. McLaughlin’s 6th grade C-block science class at Berkeley Prep asked:

“Do you prefer the climate of Antarctica or Florida?”

There are parts of both that I like.  I like being able to wear flip flops outside all year round in Florida, but I love the sunshine and scenery of the Antarctic.  Everywhere you look there is an amazing view — it’s hard to show you that in photographs, you just have to be here to appreciate it!  It snowed today, which it has not done that often.

“Are scientists from other countries at the station with you, and what are they working on?”
At the moment, all of the scientists at Palmer Station are from the United States.  In addition to me, there are people studying bacteria, phytoplankton, insects, and birds, as well as several long term experiments measuring the earth’s magnetic field, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and ultraviolet light.  We did just have a quick visit from a Spanish naval ship.  They joined us for lunch, and there were some scientists as well as the ship’s crew.  I was talking with one spanish scientist who studies seals, and it turned out we have a few friends in common.  It’s a large planet, but a small world!