South Pole 2015 – Questions and Answers
Mahtomedi High School and all other followers are welcome to comment on this page with their questions. T.J. and I will do our best to answer questions once per week.
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- Hercules Dome 2022 Questions and Answers
- 21. How can 2.5 million-year-old ice have younger ice above and below it. Are there tectonic-like motions inside the glacier that create subduction and obduction between different layers of ice?
- 20. Are you studying with anyone there?
- 19. What is the longest living glacier he has found?
- 18. What’s the biggest glacier you’ve seen? What’s the coldest temperature you’ve ever looked at/for glaciers in?
- 17. When there is a glacier and there is an ice bridge how do you navigate the glacier?
- 16. Can you drive on the water and has a bird ever been frozen onto the glacier ?
- 15. What is the average temperature in Antarctica, and does it snow every day? Is it cold there?
- 14. I like sharing information with students that helps them see that knowledge is a latticework constructed with sticks from different disciplines. Recently I saw how dendrochronologists were able to determine the precise year that the trees were cut down by the Vikings and used to construct a building at L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland. Are there similar examples from ice cores that corroborate evidence of events from the historical record – such as volcanoes?
- 13. How long will you stay in Antarctica to study the glaciers?
- 12. I’d like to visit. What are the logistics in getting there?
- 11. How many penguins have you met? How many do you see on your trips? Do Penguins Fly?
- 10. What Kind of Animal have you seen out there?
- 9. Polar Animals – Arctic vs. Antarctic
- 8. What color is [the glacier] on the inside?
- 7. Under what national jurisdiction is Antarctica? Who can/cannot go there?
- 6. Do any of your core samples ever contain pollen, and if so, what can be learned from this?
- 5. Really weird question, but why is snow white? I mean why isn’t it a different color because when water freezes its clear and still kind of the color of water so why isn’t snow like that?
- 4. Does Antarctica or any parts of the ice caps look different than the last time you were there years ago? Due to global warming and rising temperatures. Is it like a noticeable difference if you are in areas you visited in the past? Thank you.
- 3. Do you do Chemistry? Are you a Chemist? Why do you like science? Do you love it there?
- 2. What food do you eat? (especially at Herc Dome, do you get food drops? -Jim)
- 1. How many years does it take for a glacier to form? Also, how much of the glacier is actually ice and how much would be other molecules/debris?
- South Pole 2015 – Questions and Answers
- 9. How many people actually work at the station (not scientists, or other visitors)?
- 8. Where does the poop and pee go?
- 7. What direction does the toilet water spin when you flush?
- 6. What kinds of vehicles, or other modes of transportation, are used to get around at the South Pole?
- 5. How much does it cost to support an expedition like yours, or a similar investigation.
- 4. Why did you want to be a glaciologist. How did you figure out that glaciology was what you wanted to do?
- 3. What is T.J. testing or looking for in the ice and why?
- 2. When glaciers move, can it ruin the integrity of your headquarters?
- 1. Where do you sleep and what are the overall living conditions at the South Pole?
- McMurdo 2010/11 Questions
- 50. What are the requirements to work in Antarctica. Who do you have to talk to?
- 49. Where do you get your drinking water? Do you melt ice?
- 48. How does the ocean freezes if it has salt in it?
- 47. How does the ice core drill work. How do they drill a hole and get the core out?
- 46. How is the drilling going? 1/15/2011
- 45. Is Mt. Erebus active. What kind of volcano is it? When will it erupt next? What do you guys have to do if it does erupt? When did it last erupt?
- 44. Has anyone been born in Antarctica?
- 43. What is underneath all that ice. Is there water? Land? or maybe even an ancient world full of dinosaurs and palm trees?
- 42. How much exposed land is available on the continent and how much is covered in ice?
- 41. What is the population of McMurdo this time of year. What does the population demographic look like? Is it all scientists?
- 40. How thick is the ice in the summer.
- 39. How many other bases are on the continent?
- 38. Are there radio stations, and if so what is the most popular genre of music?
- 37. Are there are any sports teams at McMurdo (maybe a hockey team)?
- 36. What has been your most favorite experience thus far?
- 35. What is the most dangerous thing that has happened to you. When were you most scared? What was your least favorite experience?
- 34. How long does it take to drill a core to the bottom?
- 33. Why do you have to work on the ice core in a freezer when it’s already below freezing?
- 32. What do we know about global climate change? What does the ice tell us?
- 31. Did you miss being away from Antarctica despite the terms you had to leave.
- 30. Is there a library at McMurdo? Do you have to bring your own or what do you use for reference?
- 29. Has there ever been any catastrophes in Antarctica (maybe not while you were there but in the past)?
- 28. What is the food is like? Is it cafeteria food or do you have an opportunity to make your own food?
- 27. What kind of currency is used? Is there a bank? How do you pay for stuff?
- 26. What happens if someone falls through the ice? What happens to trauma patients?
- 24. What is the most common illness or condition that you see at the clinic?
- 25. Can you can go fishing? Are there any edible fish available to catch?
- 23. What kind of seals live around McMurdo?
- 22. Have they have found fossils in Antarctica?
- 21. Why did you want to be a doctor in Antarctica, why not just stay in Seattle?
- 20. Have your sleeping patterns changed since the sun doesn’t set anymore? How does that affect your daily routine?
- 19. What is the most extreme weather down there. Hot and cold. Windy? (Eric also says ‘hi’)
- 18. Are there any ‘urban legends’ that are associated with the base? Ghost stories or other legends?
- 17. Are you going Trick or Treating?
- 16. What happens if the power goes out? How do you get electricity?
- 15. How cumbersome is all that cold weather gear? Do you feel like the kid from the hit movie The Christmas Story?
- 14. What do you miss most about being away from home?
- 13. What is your dorm is like?
- 12. Can you go skiing or snowboarding, or maybe even go kite flying?
- 11. Who is running the show? Who is in charge? Is there a government?
- 10. What does the town sounds like? Is it normal or totally weird?
- 9. What is the food is like? Do you eat astronaut food?
- 8. Are there ANY animals?
- 7. What are some medical concerns for extremely cold weather?
- 6. What is your normal day like?
- 5. How good is the Extreme Cold Weather Gear?
- 4. How long does it take to get frostbite?
- 3. Are there penguins running around like deer do in Minnesota?
- 2. What kind of TV stations do you get?
- 1. What is your Antarctic Question?
ADVENTURES IN ANTARCTICA 
Kiara would like to know where you sleep and what the overall living conditions are like.
January 5, 2015 at 11:55 AM
When glaciers move, can it ruin the integrity of your headquarters
January 6, 2015 at 9:54 AM
The answer to your question has been posted! Thanks for following along.
Jessie
January 8, 2015 at 7:46 PM
Tyler would like to know why TJ wanted to be a glaciologist. How did he figure out that glaciology was what he wanted to do.
Cheyanne would like to know what is TJ testing or looking for in the ice and why.
January 6, 2015 at 9:56 AM
Graham would like to know how much it costs to support an expedition like yours, or a similar investigation.
January 6, 2015 at 10:53 AM
Tim would like to know what kinds of vehicles, or other modes of transportation, are used to get around at the South Pole?
January 12, 2015 at 6:15 AM
Grant would like to know what direction the toilet water spins when you flush. (Actually a very good question with a lot of misconception to address!)
January 12, 2015 at 6:16 AM
Also getting a lot of questions about the septic system. “Where does the poop and pee go??”
January 12, 2015 at 10:53 AM
Rachel would like to know how many people actually work at the station (not scientists, or other visitors).
January 12, 2015 at 7:19 AM