Recent activities in Antarctica

Dr. Passchier is now weeks away from deployment to Antarctica to participate in the Antarctic Drilling Program as an on-ice sedimentologist.
Last week good news was received from the co-chiefs:
"A team of 9 individuals is working now to prepare the SMS drillsite, drilling rig, and camp. This team deployed to Antarctica on the 20th and 25th of August. All of the expected freight was delivered. The drilling equipment and camp structures were successfully broken free of the winter snow build-up. The sea-ice route to the drillsite was first traversed 24th August and found to be in good and safe condition. The sea-ice at the drillsite has a good, solid surface, with minimal snow cover, and is more than 7 meters thick. The first delivery of buildings to the site occurred on 27th August. "

Image: Drillrig used 1997-1999. Credit: Sandra Passchier courtesy NSF

MSU at the International Symposium of Antarctic Earth Sciences

Last week two faculty members of Montclair State University, Stefanie Brachfeld and Sandra Passchier, presented their research in posters and as oral presentations at the International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences in Santa Barbara CA. Montclair State has made its mark on the map in Antarctic Geociences and we can look forward to more research in years to come. More information on the Symposium can be found here.

Via New Zealand to Antarctica

Dr. Sandra Passchier of Montclair State University's Department of Earth and Environmental studies will join the science team of the Antarctic Drilling Program for a 2-month field season in Antarctica this Fall.
This week the deployment dates for science party members were listed. Dr. Passchier is on the list for October 5th and will fly by military plane from Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. On the image the green islands of New Zealand are visible in the upper left corner and Antarctica in the center (click the image for a larger version). Note all the depressions: the atmosphere is very active here. It is currently winter in McMurdo, -45 F (-43 C) and dark most of the time, but by the time we get there it will be Spring and much warmer (or less cold is probably more accurate).