We are very happy to report that our team has made it to South Pole.
Whoever can identify Chris and Geoff, is up for a price, but these are all neutrino researchers currently at South Pole. Pretty impressive number, right? They are standing around the glass globe that marks South Pole, which is probably the most photographed object down there.
Our team has been very productive up until now. They have installed/upgraded three new stations, have installed a wind generator, and have started to prepare for their ice studies. On top of that, they have been feeding us with nice images from Antarctica.
So, what is stopping them now? Well, see for yourself:
The team is in the field and the most important tools have been distributed. The shovels. Why shovels for science team?
Yes, it is neutrino season again. Meaning that everyone at UCI is gearing up to send our team "down to the Ice".
Who can we expect on the team this year and who will report on their impressions, thoughts, the progress that has been made and the funny anecdotes?
After doing a lot of analysis that was presented in our papers and at conferences like the ICRC or at TeVPa, we are gearing up for the new season. Nothing is final yet, but it looks like we have been approved to go to Antarctica again and very likely also to South Pole. South Pole?? Yes, we will be exploring the possibility of moving ARIANNA to South Pole. Sounds interesting?
Well yes, what happened since November?
After we all had been wondering, how the two newcomers to Antarctica could possibly enjoy it so much, there is finally evidence that they are human.
... the team gets snowed in.
It is so foreseeable that we already plan with it, when we make the schedule for our time in the field. At least two days will be spent sitting in the tent, catching up on writing down logs and documentation and watching movies preferably about people dying on cold mountains or in the snow. The correct amount of irony for such a weather.
This year, Antarctica seems to be on its best behavior! After our team had been boomeranged (when a flight turns around in mid-air and goes home) due to fog, which you might spot at the far horizon, the weather in the filed has been marvelous.
So, this season, we are at the other end of the information flow. Namely on the low priority end, well almost. We are in touch regularly about station performance, wifi-network status, training needs and logistics. However, the "so, what happened outside of scientific routine"-part is clearly not as exciting as it is when you are down on the ice yourself. Anyway, we can make the best of it and let you know that also this year, things are exciting and never the same on the Ross ice-shelf.