SummerAtSummit

Been a few days of coping for me, just trying to keep things running for another week or so before shutdown.  I’ve remarked to a couple people that the data coming out isn’t looking that great in my opinion, but I have to remember that it’s important that there is still some being generated.  Speaking of generated, the main power supply for camp has been an unwelcome contributor to all the air measurements going on for much of the last week.  Sat Camp is located to the south of the working portion of Summit, where there is a diesel generator and some heavy equipment that put off a lot of exhaust and fine particles.  In a typical year (whatever that is), winds around this part of the globe tend to be from the south…you may have correctly supposed that it is not so in 2008.  In fact, we had had north-northeast winds most often and that means camp air drifts right over the “clean sector”.  The forecast is for winds to slowly shift to the east and then southeast over the next 30 hours, so hopefully that will come to pass.

I have set up a time to go dig a snow pit (about 5 hours from now), but I had to stay up late and try to get the Gray Box running smoothly so now I’m in a bind of 2am sunshine and fatigue.  It seems that the best thing for me to do is post a few things that I’ve learned during the past month since I need to do something while having a snack.

–>First off, I’m a little disappointed in myself that I didn’t notice that one usually can’t see one’s breath when exhaling.  I just didn’t think much about it and there are times when it’s visible, but in most cases there aren’t enough particles for the water vapor to condense on…as one who has spent his winters in northern climes, I think that it is “cool” to experience this.  Luke, a particle guy from UNH, mentioned it to me…I’ve found it to be a way to see how much camp air is drifting over the science area at Sat Camp.

–>An odd thing about the science people that I’ve met while up here is that most are from the southern half of the country.  There are researchers/students from Georgia Tech, the University of Houston, University of California-Irvine, and San Jose State (CA)…in fact, the only other northerner I can think of is Craig, the teacher from Montana.  I suppose that more pollution and worse air quality is a good reason for atmospheric chemistry to be focused in those areas.  I do enjoy seeing some of them experience a little cold.  One student really enjoyed shoveling, a couple others have the heaters turned up way too high, and the gear that some of them are sporting is quite intense.  There’s a lot of North Face and Patagonia gear that won’t see much use after next week…then there’s me, who is probably the only person up here with a winter coat that has a busted zipper and a hiking boot that broke a hook (now being held on by a zip tie):

No hardship though, since they still serve their purpose.  If my grandpa were around, I know he’d get a kick out of it.

–>I’ve had an appreciation for the difficulty that asthma brings to a person’s daily life, especially during those times when my mom is really suffering.  Still, it is quite another thing to feel similar discomfort myself.  I didn’t have it too rough at first and managed to avoid getting a headache or other altitude-related symptom, but the diminished oxygen is something one can’t avoid.  It’s been a month now and I feel pretty good, but there are still times when I slow my breathing down too much and have to work to get O2 back into my system.  This is particularly true when trying to fall asleep at night, but even walking out to Sat Camp can lead to a couple gasps if my breathing’s off.  I have worked myself up to jogging the path…slowly improving from a gasping 4:30 for the 1/2 mile distance to under 4 minutes.  May not seem like it, but that’s pretty good given the conditions and that I’m wearing hiking boots and a winter coat.  (yes, it did cross my mind that I might be a little too active for the type of footwear I have and that may have been a big part in the rivet failure).

–>It’s late, even for me, so I’ll wrap up by saying that there’s a lot more for me to learn during the next week.  I was planning on making this longer, but I still haven’t gotten around to all the little places in camp because I’ve been busy with my own stuff.  I’ll fix that in the next few days.  I’ll throw out a couple pics from the pit and some shots of the other instruments that are toiling away in this extreme environment.  In the meantime, here are a couple recent photos as I bid you good night.  -Jeff

Bonnie and Katrine, a couple of those wacky southerners really getting into the snow/ice removal from the Sat Camp doorway

The closest thing I’ve seen to a sunset in the past month

The logistics for this beer run would probably make any story you have pale in comparison.  Needless to say, Craig’s a happy guy that it worked out.

Lastly, a different Craig prepping a radiosonde for launch.  He was kind enough to let me have the honors, but unfortunately my camera’s video file is not a type that I can post here.  You’ll either have to ask to see it in person or just take my word for it  : )