Antarctic Working Conditions
You may be surprised to know that both Dallas, Texas and the South Pole reach temperatures of 100 degree each July.However, the difference between the two is that you experience negative 100 degrees at the South Pole.Colder than any deep-freezer, this temperature can instantly freeze any exposed skin in mere seconds.
Amazingly, twenty-eight people spend six months of their lives at the South Pole each year with virtually no contact with the rest of the world, no sunlight, and no way to get away.They are there to maintain the U.S polar base and operate the telescopes and other scientific devices located at the research station.As communications and technology see advancements, their job is changing.
Astronomers in North America can remotely operate the telescope in the observatories of the South Pole.It was the only time a telescope located at the South Pole had been manipulated from another continent.It is the dream of astronomers to be able to watch the universe from the South Pole’s telescope while controlling it completely from a warmer climate.affordable antarctica tours
This would be much preferrable to the current requirement of braving the coldest, driest and windiest environment known to the Earth.There is not other continent that has elevations like Antarctica, so the crew also has to deal with limited oxygen.The high elevations make it impossible for anything but cold-adapted plants and animals to survive. Some common plants and animals include penguins, seals, and various forms of algae and tundra vegetation.
“Winter-over” is the moniker given to people who spend their winter working in Antarctica for whatever reason.They have the privileges of a large variety of videos, a small exercise room, computers, a pool table and fabulous food.However, winter-overs do not typically share their experiences of what happens during their stay in Antarctica between February and October.antarctica vacations
One challenge faced by this crew is that the research program at the South Pole has continually grown and the research station is facing a great challenge in having a steady and consistent electrical supply.There are only three oil-burning generators to power the computers, lights, telescopes, lasers, and other electrical powered devices.That being the case, the winter-overs must cope with insufficient power, tight quarters and cold buildings.
The winter months are broken up using some traditions.In order to be part of the “300 Club,” there needs to be temperatures less than 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 crew also looks forward to airdrop.This occurs in June. It is the drop of pallets of food, mail, and supplies by a U.S. Air National Guard military transport plane.The winter-overs will operate heavy equipment to retrieve the supplies and bring them into the station.This is the closest winter-overs are able to come to physical contact with the outside world during the six month winter.
In their stay in Antarctica, the winter-overs are never able to see a tree or go more than a mile from the pole.Everyone who takes on this responsibility is given a week’s vacation at the McMurdo Station, which is a U.S Antarctic base.During their vacation they get to enjoy camping out in refreshing 25-degree climate, baking in the sun on the beach, and wearing t-shirts and jeans.
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