August 23, 2010
Five Weeks Of Learning Unconventionally
An untrained eye would see the contents of the bags and plastic vials as useless waste or everyday mud and rocks even. The items came from the Larsen Ice Shelf in Antarctica and the scientists will have their hands full for a long time. Mud can be the source for a lot of information, as mentioned by a college senior. A group of people from a college and university was selected for the one month expedition in Antarctica that was funded by the National Science Foundation and this college senior was able to participate in it. Schools like these have been involved in research travels for some time now. As a person looking for antarctic cruise you should visit that site.
For the group, a research vessel was used and they departed from Punta Arenas Chile in early February. The unchartered territory of the Larsen Ice Shelf was their first destination located on the east of the Antarctic Peninsula. There has not been a single explorer there before them. The ocean’s depth was measured using sonar while the boat moved at a slow pace. Every part of their exploits was videotaped by the students and researchers who also collected water and sediment samples from the deck. When it comes to the analysis of these samples, a decade is a short time.
They will analyze the mud from its water content to its composition and from this they will be able to determine its association with global warming. Students said the trip was the opportunity of a lifetime. Seeing things for what they really are, according to a student, is made possible by this. When the time for graduate school arrives, this student who is a native of Scotland will take up global warming. There is a student who will be studying at the school of Oceanography in a university next year who said that it would be alright if she had to spend the rest of her life on a ship.
They fared well in the extreme weather conditions they encountered in the Southern Hemisphere. In Upstate New York, it is the same way. Bizarre were not the cold days but the sun that rose and set at 430 am and 930 pm at night. Some pain may be encountered from the brightness when you look out the window. Civilization may be lacking but that did not prevent science 24 seven. From midnight to noon or vice versa were the shifts given to the students. From sleeping on the bunk beds to movie marathons in the group lounge, students on off days had something to do. As a person looking for antarctica vacations you should visit that site.
But there was an unspoken rule among the student crew. Should something serious occur, a senior must be told. One senior student was roused to check out a newly discovered surface volcano and to visit with an emperor penguin. Sleeping was obsolete when these things happen, said the Dryden native. In this case, you snooze you lose. Exploring Vega Island was the best day of her life in this place. Sharing a rare travel experience with a limited few, say 10, was rather exhilarating for her.
For the students, five weeks of classes were missed. Schoolwork was not given much priority for they had busy schedules all throughout the trip and there were environmental hazards associated with their vessel. When their ship is always on the go they face more difficulty. Another issue pertains to the limited contact with home. The students and faculty grew close to one another because of the common living spaces and the lack of distractions. A student saw it as the lack of an escape. Bringing people together is a mix of a desolate location plus a bleak environment.
They used coolers to transport the samples of mud and rocks back to the United States with each one carrying the necessary documents for the customs officials. One student also brought back 323 digital pictures and five rolls of film. For another student who was part of the expedition last year, she decided on embracing the environment. Capturing things is better done live. On occasion, it is a better option to understand your environment.
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