Antarctic Lifestyles And Employment Opportunities

You may be surprised to know that both Dallas, Texas and the South Pole reach temperatures of 100 degree each July. But that will be 100 degrees below zero at the South Pole. If you were to stand outside naked, you'd be frozen in a single moment.

There are 28 people stationed at the South Pole for six months knowing that they will have no sunlight, virtually no contact with the outside world and no way to get away. They are meant to keep the American polar base in good condition, as well as observe and record scientific data. However, even in this frozen area so far from civilization, modern technology is leaving its mark.

Recently, North American astronomers used satellite communications to be able to control the telescope at the South Pole's observatory. At no time beforehand had the South Pole telescopes been operated from so great a distance. Eventually, it is hoped by astronomers that it will become unnecessary for people to have to man the South Pole stations at all, operating everything remotely instead.

The people who stay at the South Pole have to contend with the coldest, driest and windiest climates in the world. It can be hard to breathe when you're living at the elevation Antarctica maintaines. The high elevations make it impossible for anything but cold-adapted plants and animals to survive. Some common plants and animals include penguins, seals, and various forms of algae and tundra vegetation.

"Winter-over" is the moniker given to people who spend their winter working in Antarctica for whatever reason. To make the experience better, they are given excellent food, some exercise equipment, computers, a pool table, and a variety of videos to watch. Normally, winter-overs do not speak much about what occurs during their winter months of isolation at the South Pole, from February to October.

Since the number and complexity of the South Pole facilities have expanded so greatly, electrical power can often be fairly dogdy there. There are only three oil-burning generators which are not able to produce enough power for all the computers, telescopes, lasers, and other electrical powered equipment. However, they are not able to keep up, which causes the winter-overs to have to deal with insufficient power, as well as confined living arrangements, and cold buildings.

Traditions are fun ways to while away the hours while in Antarctica. Induction into the "300 Club" requires a day when the outside temperature has fallen to at least 100 degrees below zero. The members heat the sauna up to 200 degrees. Then the winter-overs in the "300 Club" race out into the minus 100 degree temperatures and then back inside.

Winter-overs also look forward to the airdrop. This occurs in June. It is the drop of pallets of food, mail, and supplies by a U.S. Air National Guard military transport plane. The winter-overs must then run outside and use heavy equipment to quickly get the vital and highly anticipated deliveries back into the station. This is the closest winter-overs come to contact with the outside world for the entire six month winter.

Winter-overs spend their six months without a single tree or without traveling very far from their camp at all. Each crew member gets a one week vacation to the United States' main Antarctic base, McMurdo Station. While on this vacation the winter-overs typically camp out in the wonderful 25-degree weather, sun bake on rocky beaches, and wear t-shirts and jeans.

By: coletma ugham

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

You can get the best adventure antarctica tours information by visiting this website.When you would like to get more information on antarctica holiday check out this site.