Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
By ScienceBlogs (Reporter)
Contributor profile | More stories
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Antarctica: Dry Valleys [World's Fair]

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


On the next leg of our NSF Antarctic Artists & Writers project we flew to the Antarctic Dry Valleys from McMurdo. It is almost an hour helicopter ride across the ice shelf, and we hopped from site to site all day: landing at Lake Hoare for a moment to drop off someone and pick up Zach Sudman, a stream hydrologist who we spent most of the day with. We flew with Zach another 10 minutes to Lawson Stream – yes a flowing stream (from summer glacier melt) in the Taylor Valley. We video photographed Zach Sudman using surveying equipment to measure the height of the lake and the stream.
Here is a photo of Mike Johnson from the Stream Team research group at Lake Bonny camp checking a weather station.

The helicopter in the background took us back to Lake Hoare camp after spending about an hour at Lake Bonny so Mike and Zach could get their lake level measurements. Here is a picture of Mike and Zach at their Lawson Stream equipment box.

The box is located about 100-200 yards from where the helicopter lands and contains monitoring equipment that is connected to probes in the stream that measure stream temperature, flow, and depth. The box has been anchored in place there and working for about a decade as part of the gigantic LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) project in Antarctica, which involves many different researchers studying Antarctic ecology across the spectrum. Lawson Stream is not really visible in the above photo, but is about 3 yards to the other side of the box. The landscape shown is typical for the Dry Valleys – lots of “dry valley” punctuated by glaciers (small glaciers, but each has their own name – and a small glacier is still often bigger than an airport).
Here is a photo of me taking a photo near Bohner Stream.

This photo really shows the Martian like landscape of the Dry Valleys. While the Atacama desert in Chile has also long been used as an Earth-analog for Mars, now it’s seem more the Antarctic Dry Valleys, as the cold makes it more analogous to Mars. If it looks isolated and lonely in this picture, it feels 10 times more isolated while there.  Oddly, it doesn’t feel lonely, but that seems to be because your mind makes an instantaneous strong connection to the people you are with on site.  This is made easier by the fact that nearly everyone working at McMurdo is extraordinarily nice and interactive.  At this site, the Stream Team finished their work early and called for a helicopter pickup. Trish had already headed up the hill to take some pictures when we got a call on the radio that the helicopter was landing immediately. Zach, Mike, me and Forrest (another Stream Team member) had to run full speed up a 100 yard sand hill to get to the helicopter. If you’ve ever run up a sand dune you know how fun that is – especially in big boots and with each of us carrying about 30 pounds of equipment. The helicopter pilots do not like waiting and want you to be in the landing area and waiting when they are still several minutes out. Helicopter landings in the Dry Valleys also consist of taking a sand and dirt shower. Zach and his colleagues showed us their technique for kneeling facing away from the helicopter as it lands (or as it leaves after making a drop off) with your jacket hood up as a good way to avoid a rock blasted face. More soon…


Source: http://scienceblogs.com/worldsfair/2016/01/30/antarctica-dry-valleys/


Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.


LION'S MANE PRODUCT


Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules


Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.



Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.


Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.