10 December, 1999

McMurdo Station, Ross Island Antarctica

Friday

Today was much the same as the other work days. I continued to work on the gas chromatograph generating the data that Bess and Mark will later analyze. We are beginning to think about our return to the States. The team is returning next year to continue their study of Lake Bonney. Much of the gear that we have used will be kept in storage here at McMurdo. It's important, also, to check the permits that will allow us to travel with hazardous and restricted materials. Travel arrangements are being made as well. I have decided to amend my original plans and will spend next weekend in Auckland on the North Island. This is, of course, assuming that our plane departs as scheduled! Do you remember Christchurch? I believe that all of us share the same sentiment about leaving Antarctica. We miss our families and want to see them terribly, but we just aren't ready to leave!

ANSWER TO YESTERDAY'S QUESTION: There are 8 kinds of penguins found on Antarctica and on subantarctic islands. They are Emperor, King, Adelie, Gentoo, Chinstrap, Rockhopper, Macaroni, and Royal. The Emperor is the largest penguin standing over a meter high! The male Emperor incubates a single egg through the cold, dark Antarctic winter. In the Spring, the female returns from feasting in warmer waters and takes over the rearing of the chick. Penguins are found on islands such as South Georgia and the Falklands. My favorite penguin is the Adelie with its bright white eyes! I haven't seen any penguins because the ice edge is still 30 miles away! A few have wandered near the ice runway. They have gotten no closer! The photos that I include here were taken by others fortunate to have seen them near the Antarctic Peninsula.

TODAY'S QUESTION: It's 2:45 p.m. in Antarctica. What time is it in your time zone? In what time zone does Antarctica operate?

Sharon

JUST FOR KIDS!!!!!

We are beginning to plan our departure from Antarctica. Some of our equipment will stay here. We will use it next year. The rest of our gear is being packed into boxes. We leave next week. It's exciting to know that soon we will see our loved ones, but it's sad to be leaving Antarctica.

I am still working on the gas samples. I will continue to do this until the day before we fly home!

ANSWER TO YESTERDAY'S QUESTION: There are 8 kinds of penguins found on Antarctica and on subantarctic islands. They are Emperor, King, Adelie, Gentoo, Chinstrap, Rockhopper, Macaroni, and Royal. The Emperor is the largest penguin. It stands over a meter high! The male Emperor incubates a single egg through the cold, dark Antarctic winter. In the Spring, the female returns from feasting in warmer waters and takes over the rearing of the chick. Penguins are found on islands such as South Georgia and the Falklands. My favorite penguin is the Adelie with its bright white eyes! I haven't seen any penguins because the ice edge is still 30 miles away! A few have wandered near the ice runway. They have gotten no closer! The photos that I include here were taken by others fortunate to have seen them near the Antarctic Peninsula.

TODAY'S QUESTION: It's 7:00 p.m. in Antarctica. What time is it in your time zone? In what time zone does Antarctica operate?

Sharon

Rockhopper penguins are subantarctic. The largest population can be found in the Falkland Islands.

Gentoo penguins can be found on the Antarctic Peninsula and subantarctic islands.

The King penguin is the second largest penguin.

Adelie penguins were named after the wife of French explorer Dumont D'Urville. They can be found on the continent and some of the more southerly subantarctic islands. Adelie penguins have been spotted in recent days near Cape Evans, not far from McMurdo.

The Emperor penguin is the largest of all penguins. During the late summer, Emperors make preparations for incubating their egg through the cold, dark winter.