mcmurdo
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Exploring the World’s Most Powerful Icebreaker – The Jet Engine-Powered US Coast Guard Cutter “Polar Star”
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After an excellent season working at WAIS Divide, my team and I returned to McMurdo to wrap up a bit of administrative items, finalizing this season’s shipping, and pack everything up for redeployment to New Zealand. Luckily, during those few days at McMurdo the US Coast Guard Cutter “Polar Star” came into port, cutting the…
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Ship Operations at the World’s Southernmost Seaport
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McMurdo Station, Antarctic survives on the food, supplies, and fuel brought in via the air and sea. By far the most cargo comes in every year by sea, and McMurdo’s Seaport is the southernmost in the world. The port operates with an Ice Pier, and handles a variety of ships. Here’s a few timelapse videos…
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Flying From Civilization To Nowhere – New Zealand to Antarctic Field Camp
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Flying to Antarctica is an adventure in itself. Here’s a brief collection of clips during my 2014-2015 flights from Christchurch, New Zealand, through McMurdo Station, and finally ending up at the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide Field Camp – WAIS Divide. Both airplanes are LC-130 Hercules, operated by the New York Air National Guard 109th…
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COSRAY – Detecting Neutrons in Antarctica
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One of the hidden gems at McMurdo, in terms of science experiments, is the COSRAY Neutron Detector. I had the opportunity to go inside the current COSRAY Building at McMurdo, led by technician James Roth. More on COSRAY, from UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE BARTOL RESEARCH INSTITUTE NEUTRON MONITOR PROGRAM : A neutron monitor is an instrument…
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IceStock 2015 – McMurdo Station, Antarctica
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Every year at McMurdo, to usher in the new year, there’s a giant concert celebration that takes place in the middle of town. Bands that have been formed in the beginning part of the season, as well as bands formed over the years, all get a chance go play for the town. It’s a huge…
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Helicopter Operations at McMurdo Station
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At McMurdo, helicopters play a vital role in local transportation and logistics. McMurdo has its own helicopter operations hanger and pad, operated by PHI Helicopter, featuring 6 pads, and an indoor enclosed hangar for maintenance. During my month or so living at McMurdo while awaiting transport to field camp, I had the opportunity to watch…
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Happy Holidays from McMurdo!
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McMurdo’s holiday party this year was fantastic! Including family photos slideshow, multiple bands, beer and wine bars, chillout room, and of course, a santa+elves photobooth.
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McMurdo’s Ice Shelf Airport – Willy Field
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Here at McMurdo, we have a number of airfields used for different missions. Willy Field is located on the McMurdo Ice Shelf, and therefore can be used year-round, even when the floating sea ice has melted. Only ski-equipped aircraft land here, including LC-130H, and DHC Twin Otters. Earlier today I took a quick trip out…
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McMurdo Station’s Hospital
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Currently, McMurdo Station is hosting a little over 800 people in an industral, dangerous, busy town about as far away from anywhere as you can get. Naturally, with so many people, there’s the occassional sickness and injury. To deal with that, there’s a complete hospital and medical staff waiting to take care of any medical…
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McMurdo’s General Store – Anything You Want In The Middle of Nowhere
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Since I’ve been stuck at McMurdo Station, Antarctica for the past week, I’ve had numerous opportunities to shop at the McMurdo General Store. This is the place on station to get gifts, souvineers, clothing, movies, liquor, and just about anything else you could need to feel comfortable. In addition to just providing general goods, interestingly,…
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Observation Hill
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Observation Hill is a small mountain that looms over McMurdo station to the east. It’s a fairly steep, but easy climb, and gives views of the entire surrounding area, including the Long Duration Balloon launch facility on the McMurdo Ice Sheet. During my stay in McMurdo, I hiked it a few times. A few pics…
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The National Science Foundations Central Offices at McMurdo – The Chalet
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At McMurdo, the National Science Foundation uses a building called the Chalet as their central offices – this includes office space for the senior representative, high level administrative staff, travel staff, as well as general reception and meeting spaces for science and program related meetings. It’s a beautiful building, and a pleasure to visit. A…
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Pre-Field Preparations at McMurdo Station, Antarctica
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A quick update from McMurdo Station: For the past week, I’ve been working with my team at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. We’re running around town gearing up for our upcoming field expedition to WAIS Divide, Western Antarctica. In addition to our briefings and gear organization, McMurdo has a ton of great stuff to do! Here’s a…
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I’m Going Back To Antarctica To Work At The West Antarctic Ice Sheet Field Camp
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After a year of training, travel, expeditioning, and preparation, this Austral Summer I’m going back to Antarctica to work with the United States Antarctic Program on an science expedition at the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Field Camp, one of the most remote permanent field stations in Antarctica. I’m very excited to be going back to the…
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Exploring McMurdo Station, Antarctica
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Once I landed at McMurdo Station, my journey to the south pole wasn’t nearly over. Ahead to explore was Antarctica’s largest outpost of humanity: McMurdo Station. Photos My time at McMurdo was a welcome, but brief rest fro the constant travel – just enough time to do a small bit of exploring. After the big…
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I Got My Dream Job! – Working in Antarctica
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A few weeks ago, I published an article detailing my efforts over the last four years to land my dream job working in Antarctica. At the time I published it, I had just received bad news from what I thought was my last and final hope of getting this job for this year, Austral Summer…