Snow, Ice and Sea Urchins; Antarctica

The South Pole

The National Science Foundation (USA) maintains a permanent research station at the geographic south pole and it is called the Amundsen-Scott Station, in honor of the heroic efforts of these early explorers. The polar plateau of the Antarctic continent consists of a 3 mile thick sheet of ice. The station is at an elevation of 9,300 feet above sea level, which is very high considering that there are no mountains around, just a frozen ocean of solid ice. Travel to and from the south pole is primarily accomplished with the LC-130 Hercules

The core of the station consists of a large geodesic dome, half of which penetrates above the surface of the ice. Inside the dome are several small buildings for living quarters, communications, food galley and communications. Tunnels radiate from the dome to connect to other underground areas where the mechanical (power, water, sewage and heat) facilities operate, as well as to other barns and silos that house telescopes and other astrophysical experiments. The clear, cold, 0% humidity of the south pole air makes it one of the most ideal places for land based astronomical observations.
The main tunnel to the station is about 20 feet below the level of the ice. Under the dome, there is another tunnel level below this one. There is a long major tunnel runnning perpendicular to the dome where most of the heavy vehicles and equipment are located. The walls of the tunnel are corrugated metal encrusted with several inches of frost (primarily from years of people exhaling in the tunnel). The appearance of the walls is very strange and makes you feel like you are walking through a series of large refrigerator coils. The ambient temperatures inside the dome and tunnels is -20 F; the freezer feel is real.
The whole structure of the south pole station seems to have been built as a trial design for a colony space ship. The interior organization of a small, self-contained (well sort-of) cluster of buildings and machines is like nothing on earth I have ever seen.
There are two "poles" located here at 90 degrees south: The first is the GEOGRAPHIC pole which represents the dead-center, spot-on pivot point of the earth. The site is marked by a 'spike' in the ice that bears a small brass disk declaring this point to be 90 degrees south. In the photo you can see a line of these spikes leading off from where I am standing. Because the ice sheet is slowly moving (10 meters per year), the position of the geographic pole has to be re-located periodically on the surface. The spikes represent the past pole positions at about 1 year intervals. At this location, you can walk around the world in four steps.

The second "pole" located here is the CEREMONIAL south pole. The spot is marked with a polished metal ball resting on a white-and-red pole surrounded by a circle of flags. Look at the reflections in the metal ball.

Not only is the sphere a good place for photos, but it is also the best place for the ceremonial dance around the world. Every visitor has their own style of how to approach, pose and then exit from the sphere. I chose simple stutter-step spins with Michael Jackson hand-gyve combos as I ceremonially marked my 'arrival' at the bottom of the world. The flags represent the countries that recognize the Antarctic Conservation Treaty. The Herc in the background is refueling for the return flight; the runway stops right at the entrance to the station.

Although I've now been to the south pole, I did it 85 years after Amundsen and Scott made their expeditions. This is a photo of Scott's men at the south pole in which I do not belong at all. My journey was a simple flight, a bag lunch, and a nice warm parka. Their journey was one of extreme endurance, courage and ultimately sacrifice. Pop the link to jump to a history page of Scott's Antarctic explorations.

marsh@mcmsun5.mcmurdo.gov

	The core of the station consists of a large geodesic dome, half of which penetrates above the surface of the ice. Inside the dome are several small buildings for living quarters, communications, food galley and communications. Tunnels radiate from the dome to connect to other underground areas where the mechanical (power, water, sewage and heat) facilities operate, as well as to other barns and silos that house telescopes and other astrophysical experiments. The clear, cold, 0% humidity of the south pole air makes it one of the most ideal places for land based astronomical observations.
	The main tunnel to the station is about 20 feet below the level of the ice. Under the dome, there is another tunnel level below this one. There is a long major tunnel runnning perpendicular to the dome where most of the heavy vehicles and equipment are located. The walls of the tunnel are corrugated metal encrusted with several inches of frost (primarily from years of people exhaling in the tunnel). The appearance of the walls is very strange and makes you feel like you are walking through a series of large refrigerator coils. The ambient temperatures inside the dome and tunnels is -20 F; the freezer feel is real.
The whole structure of the south pole station seems to have been built as a trial design for a colony space ship. The interior organization of a small, self-contained (well sort-of) cluster of buildings and machines is like nothing on earth I have ever seen.
	There are two "poles" located here at 90 degrees south: The first is the GEOGRAPHIC pole which represents the dead-center, spot-on pivot point of the earth. The site is marked by a 'spike' in the ice that bears a small brass disk declaring this point to be 90 degrees south. In the photo you can see a line of these spikes leading off from where I am standing. Because the ice sheet is slowly moving (10 meters per year), the position of the geographic pole has to be re-located periodically on the surface. The spikes represent the past pole positions at about 1 year intervals. At this location, you can walk around the world in four steps.