Weather plays a very important part of our lives in Antarctica, and many operations live by the daily weather forecasts. Although there’s a distinct lack of the latest and greatest weather gear on the ice, met balloons are launched twice a day to help build up the daily weather forecasts. I had the opportunity to assist in inflating and launching one of the balloons.

In addition to my experience doing this at McMurdo, I also had a great time launching a balloon at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in 2013.