10 January, 2000

Hi all!

First let me say, if you have already read 09Jan journal entry, please reread it as I had some...shall we say...typos and I had to resend it to fix them. Those of you who already saw my mistakes, ha-ha! I am going to have to quit writing at 1 and 2 in the morning!! Well, today was another great day with lots of new and interesting stuff. I was able to spend all morning working on stuff I came down here to do. I have started to run water samples on dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, water temperature, and ambient temperature. I am not sure where exactly I will collect the samples. Right now, I am using the pump house which has a spout with a hose that pumps in fresh ocean water. This makes collection really easy, but I am thinking I may want to look at the same tests at different water depths. Would be interesting to compare the results I think. Right now, easy is OK with me...the water is a cool 5 degrees Celcius. I also am getting lined up to run the solid standard tests on the station field flourometer. Another unit just arrive to be included in the tests. It will be pretty cut and dry; I just need time allotted to run the tests. Right now there are too many interruptions with meetings and training sessions. Speaking of training sessions, this afternoon we had to attend Boating Class I. We have to pass a written test and receive training in order to use the zodiacs. Initially, we watched a really interesting film about the do's and don'ts of boating in this area. The weather can change on you very quickly and there are many of safety rules. They taught us how to survive at any one of the neighboring islands if weather or other event prohibits you from returning to station. Events like equipment failure, stormy winds, ice drifts that trap you, etc. are some of the things that can happen. This sounded pretty serious so I was front and center, paying close attention. There is also survival caches clearly mapped out on the islands. Boaters can easily find these series of barrels that contain a tent, sleeping bags, stove, food, water, and other necessary items useful for hunkering down and waiting out a storm. You also never travel anywhere without a radio and before telling communications where you are going and what time you plan to return. We had to practice lighting the stove and constructing the tent. It is real easy to do in a big garage. The trick is doing it out in high wind and freezing temperatures. Tomorrow is Boating Class II. This session takes us out in the boat and we have to actually steer it and properly operate it in ice patches, properly land it, etc. I am sure I will have something "interesting" to tell you tomorrow. Later tonight we are all going to watch a slide show presentation by our visiting media guys. They brought a collection of their photographs from very interesting and exotic places. I am attaching their photo for you to see. They have been a fun group of guys to explore this place with.

More details tomorrow!

-Mimi

Here I am in a typical survival tent we had to construct. These are stored in caches at most of the neighboring islands. There is lots of room inside!!

Jim LoScalzo is a photographer for U.S. News and World Report. Charles Petit, also with U.S. News and World Report, will write an story to compliment Jim's photos. Gary Braasch is in Antarctica on a media travel grant and support from the International Wildlife magazine.