Why are we here?

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  McMurdo, Antarctica
Wednesday, November 22, 2006

We are often reminded..."we're here to support science". Here's a couple of pics I found on the "I" drive, which is a shared folder where everyone can post their photos, then everyone else has access to them for a week, before they're deleted. Enjoy...maybe this will answer some questions as to what it is we're really doing here!

I'll add some info to these pics as soon as I figure out exactly what they are!? All I can tell is these people get to do a lot more exciting stuff than I do here!

So, the big question is "what are they actually researching down there?" Good question. Though I'm still not certain myself, what I can tell you is this: There are geologists, oceanographers, marine biologists, astronomers, even paleontologists here...yes, it's true

Door to the steps

! They've found dinosaur bones here, and tree stumps as well. Which means millions of years ago, this frozen over ice cap at the bottom of the world was carpeted with green plants and animals!

I visited the aquarium, where the scientists bring up different species of fish to study and observe. There's a spider fish, a big orange fish that looks like a spider with legs as long as my forearms.

I had breakfast with a man from the LDB site the other day. Exactly...I also was wondering if he was speaking English! The LDB site is the "Long duration balloon" site, where they launch three massive balloons throughout the season to record and test the air, clouds, temperatures, and gasses in the air. This is also how they research global warming and the ozone holes, the growth of the holes, the anticipated growth rate and damage expectancy.

Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

Drilling through the Ice Shelf	Long Duration Balloon testing equipment	Snow steps into the ground	The equipment sent up with the LDB(balloon)

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