Monday, September 27, 2010

Giant Laser to be Used in Antarctica to Research Climate Change

The Australian Antarctic Division researchers are using a giant laser in Antarctica to research climate change in the atmosphere. The laser is being used to measure temperature of clouds in the mesophere level of the atmosphere (1,000km above the earth's surface). They think that the brighter and colder the clouds at this level hotter the temperature on earth's surface. Interesting to think that atmosphere cooling means warming on the surface. This type of research has already been done in the northern hemisphere and the research in Antarctica will help give a wider look at the atmosphere's temperature globally.

Read more about this research in this article.

China to Build 4th Antarctic Base

Last year the Chinese finished their third Antarctic base. China is planning to add a fourth base in the Antarctic sometime in the next 5 to 15 years. Part of their Antarctic research plans also includes a five year plan for constructing a new ship.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Second Orion Med Evac Successfully Gets Patient

The second attempt for the Orion to reach the Antarctic base, McMurdo, was successful and the plane has taken off to return to Christchurch, New Zealand, with the American in serious, but stable condition from an illness.

Source

Monday, September 13, 2010

Medical Evacuation Second Attempt Underway

The Orion plane has again left New Zealand to try to reach McMurdo and evacuate the American. There weather appears to be okay for now, although of course as happened with the first failed attempt it can change quickly.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Orion Medical Evacuation Turns Back Due to Blizzard

I recently posted about an Orion making a medical evacuation from Antarctica today (September 12, 2010). The medical evac did not happen, though, as the Orion was forced to turn back due to blizzard conditions at McMurdo. They will try again tomorrow if the weather conditions improve. The American waiting for evac is said to be in serious, but stable condition.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

New Zealand Orion Making First Medical Evacuation

On September 12, 2010, the New Zealand Orion is making its first Orion P3 medical evacuation from Antartica. They usually use the larger Hercules aircraft. The Antarctic temperatures of minus 35 degrees Celcius is also the coldest conditions an Orion has landed in. The Orion P3 is already en route and expected to bring the critically ill American back to New Zealand by the end of the day.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Christie's Exploration and Travel with the Polar Sale Lot 56: Erich Dagobert Von Drygalski


Lot 56: Erich Dagobert Von Drygalski
is the complete series of official reports from Drygalski's German Antarctic expedition of 1901-1903. This is a very rare complete set. The volumes about the expedition were put together and published by Drygalski between the years of 1905 and 1931.

The expedition the volumes discuss is often referred to as the Gauss Expedition, which is the name of the expedition's ship. This was the first German expedition to the Antarctic. The expedition's goal was to explore the Antarctic south of the Kerguelen Islands. The expedition discovered Kaiser Wilhelm II Land and a volcano they called Gaussberg. The expedition is also credited with being the first to use a gas balloon in Antarctica.

This lot is being auction off on September 22, 2010 as part of Christie's Exploration and Travel with the Polar Sale. The estimated value is £5,000 - £8,000 ($7,715 - $12,344).