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Weekly Online LessonOnline Lesson ArchivesGrade Level: 6-12
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Antarctic Rescue
When a
rescue team from the New York Air National Guard’s
109th Airlift Wing landed at the Amundsen-Scott South
Pole Research Station on October 16, 1999, it took them
only 22 minutes to get Dr. Jerri Nielsen on board and
leave behind her replacement. Dr. Nielsen had been
working as the physician at the polar station, which
houses 41 researchers from the U.S. National Science
Foundation. Dr. Nielsen developed breast cancer many
months before, but no plane could reach her during in the
extreme cold of the Arctic winter months. With no chance
of leaving the station, Dr. Nielsen had no choice but to
treat herself until help arrived.
With October temperatures finally warming to
around -58°, the Airlift Wing was able to safely land
and fly her out. Once on the ground (actually, they
landed on snow), the four propeller engines of the LC-130
Hercules were kept turning to keep the aircraft from
cooling and being crippled by the extreme cold. At
temperatures below minus 58, aircraft hydraulics —
crucial for operating undercarriages and flaps used in
landing and taking off — become sluggish, making
flying risky. The rescue mission was the earliest ever
post-winter flight to the South Pole.
What is it like living in the world's coldest region, and what is there for researchers to study? You'll find out in this week's online lesson.
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station
If you'd
like to see some images of the Amundsen-Scott South Pole
Station where Dr. Nielsen was serving, browse to the
station Photo
Gallery. Click on any of the thumbnail
images to see a larger image.
Arctic Support Associates, an organization which provides support for polar research under the direction of the National Science Foundation, publishes a participant guide for prospective polar researchers. If you're interested in going there some day, you need to be prepared. Read Chapter 1- U.S. Role in Antarctica for some background information about Antarctic research, and then read any other topics that interest you.
The New South Polar Times
A newspaper at the bottom of the
world? Sure. The
New South Polar Times is written by the
staff of the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Scroll
down to the Contents list and click the New
South Polar Times index. You can read every
issue from the 1998-99 season.
For a list of general questions and answers about the South Pole, click the Questions and Answers link and go to Chris Bero's FAQ on Antarctica. You'll find some interesting questions, and a few weird ones. The answers Chris gives are a lot of fun to read.
Maybe your class won't take a field trip to Antarctica, but you can do a few polar-related experiments and class activities. Click Teaching about the South Pole and try some of the lesson plans listed.
TerraQuest
If you want to go on an trip but
can't find the time or the cash, TerraQuest
is the Web destination you definitely want to visit.
Instead of traveling in person, you can take virtual
expeditions to some of the most exotic places on earth.
TerraQuest maiden voyage in 1995 was an expedition in pursuit of the perfect penguin called Virtual Antarctica. This view from the bridge of the Livonia gives you navigation links to six topics. Begin by exploring the Expedition link. View a Map of Antarctic Continent, read about the Equipment you need to visit Antarctica, and learn about life aboard the Livonia.
Now go
to the History
link and study up on the past and present of Antarctica
as explorers and later researchers began journeying to
this harsh, remote land. Some of the best accounts are on
the Heroic
Era page. Who were Scott and Amundsen (the
two explorers for whom the polar station is named), and
what ultimately happened to them?
Move on to Science and Ecology to learn what scientists already know about Antarctica, and what they're still trying to find out. There are numerous topics to read about — explore at will.
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Learners Online, Inc.