The 2015-16 ANSMET team is stuck in McMurdo for at least another day. We’re really anxious to get out in the field, and as a substitute for actually being in the Miller Range we’ve been visualizing our future traverses by studying the maps of the area (see map- red arrow is close to where we hope to be very soon). It’s all about the geography – the blue ice fields, the margins along the mountains, the places that a plane can land.
A first step of a field operation is to find or construct a map that will be used for field context, planning and support. In Antarctica, the field and logistics maps which are based off remote sensing data are produced by GIS specialists from the Polar Geospatial Center (PGC) at the University of Minnesota (http://www.pgc.umn.edu/ ). The PGC is an NSF-funded research group that supports all of the field operations (both polar science and logistics operations) in both the Arctic and Antarctic. They provide custom map support for scientists and also supply remote sensing and satellite imagery expertise. Cole Kelleher, a 5-year Antarctic veteran and PGC Geographic Information System (GIS) specialist gave our team a tour of the PGC resources and geospatial services, and a little bit of insight into the process of producing updated, project-specific maps like those used by ANSMET. These maps can be used to identify key locations (for ANSMET, blue ice fields), field hazards (crevasses, steep slopes), and aid in accurately pinpointing our daily traverses to find meteorites. PGC has made available a wide variety of Antarctic maps that are available online at http://www.pgc.umn.edu/maps/antarctic .
Cole also talked about a fun side project and collaboration with Google: Street View of a few key places in Antarctica. You all can explore the historic huts, spots in the Dry Valleys, the Berg Field Center and the Crary Science Center here at McMurdo (where I sit writing this post). Check it out at http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/help/maps/streetview/gallery/antarctica/
In other news, Ellen and Cindy attempted to run to the field this morning. Not really, of course, but they did run in the Scott’s Hut 10K Race here at McMurdo. Representing Team ANSMET, they crossed the finish line in 31st and 32nd place. There were 32 entrants.
We look forward to getting out to the Miller Range…. maybe tomorrow?
-Cindy, at https://www.google.com/intl/en_us/maps/streetview/#antarctica/crary-science-center , December 13, 2015.
The Miller Range region- note SOUTH is up rather than north. Don’t blame me (caption added by rph).
