Get Ready for Jeopardy!

Christmas in Antarctica originally posted by Linda Lou Burton December 23, 2005 from Southern Ocean, Antarctica – When I told people I was going to visit Antarctica, responses varied from “Where is that?” to “Why would you want to do something like that?” to “What will you DO there?” to “It will be mighty cold there.” It’s like humor, I guess, if you have to explain it to someone, you know they will never get it anyhow! The people I’m traveling with on this ship are of one mind about Antarctica – they love it, are awed with it, and would come back in a minute.

Now you, take a peek at the bottom end of your World Globe, and get your gourd ready for a game of Jeopardy.

Some things to know about Antarctica, AKA, The Ice, gleaned from Alan Parker’s lecture on Antarctica, and my Lonely Planet book. (2020 update: Alan Parker died July 26, 2020. I am pleased I was privileged to hear him speak in 2005.)

• Antarctica has no wars.
• Antarctica’s environment is fully protected.
• Antarctica is a nature reserve devoted to peace and science.
• Antarctica has no native population.
• Antarctica has no native government; no country holds title over any part of it.
• Antarctica is governed by the Antarctic Treaty, with 45 member nations, who meet annually to discuss scientific cooperation, environmental protection, management of tourism, and preservation of historic sites.
• Antarctic residents are temporary; people come to work in Antarctica from dozens of countries.
• Antarctica’s winter population is about 1,200 – one-third scientists and the rest support personnel; summer population is about 7,200.
• Antarctica was visited by over 13,000 tourists in 2003 – 40% from the US, 15% each from Germany and the U. K., 6% from Australia, and 3% each from Japan, Canada and Switzerland.
• Antarctic tourism is controlled by IAATO, International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, and limits visitors to 100 at any place at any one time.
• Antarctica is the world’s most arid continent.
• Antarctica is the world’s highest continent.
• Antarctica is 99.6% covered by ice.
• Antarctica’s Lambert Glacier is the largest glacier in the world.
• Antarctica’s Ice Sheet is 1.4 times the size of the United States.
• Antarctica’s Ice Sheet contains 70% of the world’s fresh water.
• Antarctica’s ice is so thick, accumulating over millions of years, that its weight pushes the land mass underneath below sea level.
• Antarctica’s Ice Sheet melts very little, even though it has constant sunrays during summer months, because the sun’s heat is reflected back by the ice.

Question please?

From the Bridge

Christmas in Antarctica originally posted by Linda Lou Burton December 23, 2005 from Drake Passage, Antarctica – We entered the Southern Ocean a few hours ago. AKA the Convergence Zone. The Drake Passage is the Drake Lake today. Sometimes, I’m told, it is the Drake Shake. When that happens, you pay your Drake Tax. I’m wearing my acupressure wristbands to avoid seasickness, even though the roll is gentle. Like the man waving the stick to keep the elephants away, it’s working!

Since there is nothing to look at today but water, water, everywhere, our leader has planned events to keep us busy. Morning, a trip to the Bridge. Then, lectures.

• Penguins: The brush-tailed – Life and Death Part II, by Dr Manuel Marin
• The Antarctic Frigid Zone – Why is it so?, by Alan Parker
• Heroic Hearts: Amundsen and Scott, by Ian Shaw

And of course, our Pre-landing briefing at 6 PM.

The Happy Hour drink today is Planter’s Punch, and the phrase of the day is “Are you cold? Er du kald? Ist Dir kalt? Tienes frio?”

I want to hear Alan Parker’s lecture today. Alan has made 56 trips to Antarctica, been awarded a Polar Medal for his contributions to science in Antarctica, and even has a mountain named for him! Parker Peak. A native of Australia, he has lived on Macquarrie Island for a 12-month stint, and worked at Davis Station for fifteen. Who better to listen to for learning more about Antarctica?

But about the water now: according to my handout, the Antarctic Convergence is where the warmer waters of the north meet the colder, denser, less saline waters of the south. Colder water sinks, of course, causing an up-welling that brings nutrients to the surface. This point, which is ever-changing, is the biological limit of the Antarctic ecosystem. There is no way to know when you cross it except by thermometer. But, I am assured by the second-in-command on the Bridge, we have passed it now. Our Captain is busy shaking hands, greeting visitors, smiling at us all.

More facts. The Convergence Zone, this Polar Front, is a function of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The waters of Antarctica circle the continent in the world’s biggest ocean current at an estimated rate of 150 million cubic meters per second! That’s equivalent to FOUR GULF STREAMS or ONE THOUSAND AMAZON RIVERS! As this dense water begins to move north, it has tremendous impact on global weather systems. Carried into the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, it has a cooling effect on tropical and temperate waters, very important to the oceans’ balance.

I’m impressed! “Exactly where is it considered the point where the Atlantic and Pacific meet?” I asked. A shrug. “I don’t know,” was the reply, “perhaps at Cape Horn?”

This is humorous to me. I picture the ship pointed south from Cabos de Hornos, riding a fine dotted line with Atlantic left, Pacific right, then, blip, another hop into Southern Ocean waters.

But, from the Bridge, it looks the same.