Hello All!
1. Waste Management
class (garbage school)
2. Transportation in Antarctica: Ships!
3. Status
1. Waste Management class (garbage school)
Yesterday I attended
a required class here at McMurdo that all must attend: waste management
class or affectionately known as garbage school. Nearly all of the waste
is reused, or recycled much of it shipped back the states. In fact nearly
70% of the garbage here at McMurdo Station is recycled. The US average
is in the 20 to 30 percent range, I believe.
2. Transportation in Antarctica: Ships!
Ships are another great way to get around Antarctica. The US operates two research vessel - the R/V Palmer and the R/V Gould. The Gould works mostly in the Antarctic Peninsula area - with routine voyages for cargo and research taking place between Puenta Arenas Chile and Palmer Station (USA), Antarctica. The Palmer works a must larger area - from New Zealand to McMurdo Station, and larger areas of the Ross and Amundsen Seas. In fact it is on a cruise now with helocopters on board...a new item for just the trip it is on now so I'm told.
There of course is another ship - the US Coast Guard icebreaker that is currently out in front of the station breaking ice before the resupply ships arrive. This ship, the Polar Star, also has two helocopters. In fact today, they brought back cargo from the ship to McMurdo's helo pad that included the the old/broken parts of our weather stations. The icebreaker on its way from Hobart, Australia stopped and repaired 3 of our weather stations along the Adelie Coast this year.
3. Status
Just a quick note on status - I've started to slowly get things patched up with my computer weather system - but I have a way to go. Just letting you know in case you wondered. I have been busy working on that, when I'm not lugging weather station cargo from the helo pads to the lab.
I'll be in touch with everyone tomorrow!
Take care!
Matthew