Do you know what Dallas, USA and the South Pole have in common? Believe it or not, they both see 100 degree temperatures in July.The difference is that at the South Pole the temperature is 100 degrees below zero.This means that a person could freeze in just a matter of seconds.
During this time there is alo no sunlight, little contact with the outside world, and little hope for assistance if things should go wrong, and yet twenty-eight people will spend six months of their lives in Antarctica.These twenty-eight people are part of the U.S. crew that maintains and operates the telescopes and other scientific equipment found at the South Pole research station.Present day communications and technology are altering that purpose.
North American astronomers have even been able to utilizie satellite communications to operate the telescope at the South Pole.It was the only time a telescope located at the South Pole had been manipulated from another continent.The hope is that astronomers will someday be able to use the telescope from the comfort of the warm, comfortable, regular office.adventure antarctica tours
This would be much preferrable to the current requirement of braving the coldest, driest and windiest environment known to the Earth.With the elevations here being higher than anywhere else on the planet, they also have to deal with breathing issues.It is the harsh and severely cold climate that makes it only possible for cold-adapted plants and animals to survive on this continent. These include penguins, seals, and various forms of algae and tundra vegetation.
Anyone who faces the challenges of working a winter in Antarctica is known as a “winter-over”.To make the experience better, they are given excellent food, some exercise equipment, computers, a pool table, and a variety of videos to watch.However, winter-overs do not typically share their experiences of what happens during their stay in Antarctica between February and October.antarctica vacations
With the huge expansions of the research program at the South Pole there have been continuous power shortages.The three oil-powered generators at the station have been unable to meet the energy demands of the computers, lasers, telescopes, and other devices dependent upon power sources.Due to this issue, winter-overs find themselves dealing with the added problems of inadequate power, cramped quarters and cold buildings.
Traditions are fun ways to while away the hours while in Antarctica.Once of the most infamous traditions is the introduction into the “300 Club”. In order to do this, a day is required where the temperature is at least 100 degrees below zero.The sauna is brought up to over 200 degrees.They then sprint from the 200 degree sauna into the minus 100 degree air and back again.
The also look forward to the airdrop.In June, a U.S. National Guard military transport plane flies above the South Pole and drops pallets of food, mail and other supplies.Heavy equipment is used to collect the pallets in order to be broken down and used.This airdrop is the closest contact with the civilization and the outside world that the winter-overs will experience during their six month stay.
During their stay in Antarctica, they will not travel over a mile from the pole or even see a tree.But everyone is provided a one week vacation at McMurdo Station, which is the main U.S. Antarctic base.While on vacation, the winter-overs can enjoy camping and frolicking on the rocky beach in jeans and t-shirts in the relatively warm 25-degree weather.
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