Jeffrey Donenfeld

Tag: antarctica

Discussing life in Antarctica on REN TV Russia’s “The Riddles of Humanity”

This week, I appeared on REN TV Russia’s adventure show “The Riddles of Humanity”, Episode 255 to discuss life at the South Pole, Antarctica. Skip to minute 12 of the clip for my segment. My part of the segment covers (Google Translated from Russian: “Why is Antarctica called white Mars? How do people survive in super low temperatures? And how much is a ten-day tour to the South Pole?”

https://youtu.be/nQHX8lE8g6I?t=709

Edition 255 – 02/14/2019

The host of the program, Oleg Shishkin, is a traveler, historian, expert in secret societies, an internationally recognized expert in the field of Eastern religions, author of books on the history of occultism and intelligence. Connoisseur of the closed esoteric archives of the USSR, who proved that Nicholas Roerich and Grigory Rasputin had close ties with intelligence.

In “The Riddles of Humanity” on REN TV, Oleg Shishkin will find an explanation for all the shocking events. And confirm his version of the facts and documents. The program goes on REN TV 5 times a week, on weekdays. Spectators are waiting for travel to places that are not on the map, the mysteries of dangerous relics and ancient prophecies. Inexplicable facts and historical sensations of different eras will be studied – and they will find a convincing explanation.

2019-02-14
South Pole Rescue Mission Reported on NBC’s Today Show

There’s a rescue mission happening at the South Pole, Antarctica – and the NBC Today Show interviewed me for their report.

Learn more on my time in Antarctica

(On my YouTube Channel – Will be replaced with official Today Show YouTube Channel link when they get around to uploading it themselves)

2016-06-22
Frozen Money: The Economics of Antarctica
Science and Operations in Antarctica has been a keen interest of mine for many years. During the Austral Summers of 2012-13, 2014-15, I worked at a number of locations in Antarctica. In this paper, I take a closer look into the sources of funding for American operations in Antarctica, as well as explore a number of geopolitical issues.

Executive Summary

Antarctica is the world’s southernmost continent, and is a the last remaining unexplored and uncolonized frontier. It’s a haven for advanced scientific research, exploration, and international geopolitical cooperations. A massive amount of funding is necessary to support these various objectives in Antarctica – this includes funding of core logistics, facilities, as well as the essential research and development projects. The National Science Foundation is the Federal Government’s agency which is tasked with managing funds and overall management of all operations in Antarctica. Out of the NSF’s total FY2015 budget of $7.463 billion dollars, $67.52 million goes into direct funding in Antarctica. This paper breaks down analysis of operations in funding in Antarctica into these key categories:
- Funding sources and distribution to Antarctica initiatives
- Scientific and Geopolitical goals of America’s presence in Antarctica
- Historical trends and future outlook for operations in Antarctica
Introduction

Antarctica is the frozen frontier of humanity. It’s the world’s southernmost continent, is almost completely frozen, and remains one of the last pristine locations for conducting scientific research. Because of its unique location and circumstances, almost all of the research that happens in Antarctica can’t be done anyplace else.

This is a cold, hostile environment, and in order for scientists to work in the harsh conditions of the frozen continent, they require a large amount of support, supplies, and logistics. The management and support of science in antarctica is overseen by the National Science Foundation, who through the use of taxpayer dollars, funds almost all aspects of operations on Antarctica. In this paper, I’ll focus on defining and assessing the economic, governmental, scientific, and social implications of the US maintaining a consistent presence and producing useful research in the highest, coldest, windiest, driest, and highest desert on earth.

In researching this topic, I used the resources of the University of Denver Library, including various online publications, governmental databases, books, and journals. Additionally, I drew heavily on my own personal experience working in Antarctica, as well as interviews with a small subset of my peer group.

My personal experience in Antarctica covers two seasons on the ice. During my first season spanning the Austral Summer of 2012-2013, I worked for Gana a’Yoo Service Corporation, under contract from the Lockheed Martin Antarctic Support Contract. I was deployed to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, located at the geographic south pole of the earth. My primary job was as the station’s breakfast cook. However, during almost all of my available free time, I volunteered to work at an Emergency Medical Technician at the medical clinic, as the South Pole Press Correspondent for the National Science Foundation, and as a field science assistant for the Askaryan Radio Array, Ice Cube Neutrino Observatory, KECK Array Microwave Telescope, South Pole Telescope, and BICEP2 Microwave Telescope. I got the absolute most I could out of my season at the south pole.

My second deployment was during the Austral Summer of 2014-2015, to the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Field Camp. During this deployment, I worked as a field science manager for the University of Wisconsin Space Science and Engineering Center’s Ice Drill Design and Operations Division, under a science grant from the National Science Foundation. I spent the first month of my deployment at McMurdo station taking care of core expedition logistics and preparations, and the rest of my time on the ice at WAIS Divide Field Camp, working on servicing, disassembling, packing, and shipping the Deep Ice Sheet Coring Drill.

Throughout both of my seasons in Antarctica, I wrote an extensive account of my experience, which is available online at http://JeffreyDonenfeld.com/Antarctica .

This research paper aims to assess how the National Science Foundation accounts for and supports research and operations in Antarctica. This study is limited by the amount of accurate and timely information available at the time of writing. Antarctica has been a controversial topic for many years, managed piecemeal by a wide variety of governmental and nongovernmental organizations, and broadly overseen by the United States Antarctic Program, overseen by the Office of Polar Programs. As such, there’s somewhat little specific information readily available about the business and economic aspects.

The answers and issues that this paper aims to address are:
1. How does funding flow from American taxpayers, through the National Science Foundation, into both science grants as well as Antarctic support contracts?
2. How is a budget for Antarctic science and support spending developed, and how has the budget fluctuated in recent years? Is the current scope of operations appropriate, or should more/less funds be allocated? What are the top negative issues surrounding the historic allocation of funding for science in Antarctica?
3. Why does it make sense for the United States to support operations in Antarctica? Is “Basic” research economically important? Are there other reasons, including geopolitical reasons, to maintain a presence in Antarctica?
4. Do other government organizations who use Antarctic resources, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Department of Defense (DOD) contribute significantly to the overall project?
5. Does money come from sources other than tax payers?
This paper is organized into 5 main sections addressing each of the five main questions, as well as summaries and a bibliography.

Literature Review

The studies of this topic that were most relevant seemed to be the US Government’s “Blue Ribbon” Studies, as well as the NSF’s Congressional Budget Request documents. These studies contained a good amount of hard data, as well as worthwhile analysis of the issues they covered. Additionally, I made use of a number of excellent journal articles. Most of these sources tended to focus on budget issues and geopolitical issues of the presence of the United States in Antarctica, with a few also covering the value of science. Additionally, the most abundant and insightful research for this study came from my own expeditions to to the ice, where I learned firsthand what it takes to make the United States Antarctic Program run. The pieces of data that were the most useful for this study were the quantitative analyses of actual budgetary constraints.

Results and Analysis

General Funding Flow from US Government to Antarctic Projects

Signed into law December 18, 2015, the United States Consolidated Appropriations act of FY 2016 appropriated the National Science Foundation $7.463 billion dollars in funding. That amount was $119 Million (1.6 percent) above the previous years appropriation level, and $119 more than the Senate Appropriations Committee version of the act. It was $69 million more than the version passed by the house, as well. See Fig1 for the FY16 Omnibus breakdown. ^[1]

That $7.463 billion dollars that the NSF receives is subsequently distributed through a number of subcategories. These include Research and Related Activities ($6.033B), and Major Research Equipment ($200.31M). These funds are then broken down even further, and eventually flow to activities directly related to both Antarctic science and Antarctic operations support. ^[2] Fig 2 & 3 highlights the portions of the NSF Omnibus that goes to sectors supporting Antarctic activities. ^[3]

Further breaking down the flow, within the Research and Related Activities account, funding flows to Directorate for Geosciences (GEO), among other accounts. It’s within the GEO account that the Polar Programs division is housed (PLR), and within PLR, i sthe US Antarctic Logistical Support (USALS). GEO is the office that supports the fields of basic research into the earth’s global environment, including Water cycle, geologic interactions, and ice sheets. The USALS requested $67.52 million in funding for 2016. ^[4]

Within the Division of Polar Programs, there’s an additional breakdown of funds. The primary benefactors include The Ice Cube Neutrino Observatory (Which I’ve visited personally), US Antarctic Facilities and Logistics, US ANtarctic Logistical Support, and the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernization for Science initiative, which includes the “Master Plan” McMurdo redevelopment plan. ^[5] See fig4 for a complete breakdown of this section.

The McMurdo “Master Plan” is a phased plan to redevelop the entire McMurdo station area, including science, housing, logistics, and support facilities. It’s the subject of an ongoing Blue Ribbon Panel review chartered in 2011^[6], and is expected to cost a total of $300 million in all. ^[7]

Historical Budget Fluctuations

According to a presidential request to congress in 2014, and the subsequent House Appropriations Committee voice vote on the FY 2015 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, the NSF, and related R&D projects were one of the only categories to receive an increase in funding. This follows the historical trend of Science receiving more funding year over year since 2000. More specifically, the GEO office, which manages funding of Antarctic operations has seen a steady rise in its funding. In 2000 GEO was appropriated roughly $650 million, which has now increased to roughly $850 million in 2015. ^[8] Fig6 highlights this increase in funding.

Maintaining National Presence and Geopolitical Influence in Antarctica

In addition to supporting science and research in Antarctica, there’s a strong drive to maintain a powerful geopolitical influence in Antarctica. As of FY16, the Directorate of Geosciences is directly tasked via Presidential Memorandum 6646 with funding and supporting the US Department of State. ^[9] The Department of State acts as the primary steward of the Antarctic Treaty, which covers all territory of the continent of Antarctica, as well as the Southern Ocean. ^[10]

Despite America’s overwhelming geopolitical influence and power in Antarctica, there are still large, unrecognized territorial claims by various nations. The nations formally claiming (sometimes overlapping) sections of Antarctica are Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Notably absent from this list is the United States and Russia, who make no formal claims, yet reserve the right to do so if and when that time comes. ^[11]

Other Governmental Organizations Using Antarctic Resources

In addition to primary scientific grantee groups performing research and activities in Antarctica, there are a number of other intergovernmental agencies with interests there. These include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the US Geological Survey (USGS), the Smithsonian Institution, and the Department of Energy (DOE). These organizations are supported directly under the Directorate for Geosciences, as per Presidential Memorandum 6646, and receive a portion of the $67.52 million in funding for GEO in Antarctica.

In my personal experience working in Antarctica, I’ve interacted with representatives from NOAA, USGS, DOE, and NASA. For example, I was privileged to be given a tour of the NASA Satellite Downlink control room and witnessed the repositioning of the major downlink satellite dish. I’ve been given a personal tour of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Atmospheric Research Observatory at the Amundsen Scott South Pole Station. I’ve stood in the former location of the first and only nuclear power plant in Antarctica. I’ve used Antarctic maps created and maintained in part by the US Geological Survey. These supported organizations play a critical and necessary role in both completing their own missions, as well as supporting the missions of the various other scientific and logitical groups involved.

Sources of Funding for Antarctic Operations

Funding for operations in Antarctica comes primarily from the federal government. According to a 2009 NSF report , while overall R&D expenditures has been increasing from 2000 onward, the actual proportion of federal funding of academic R&D effort has been steadily dropping – from 64% in 2000 to 60% in 2008. See Fig7. Other sources of funding, besides the federal government include state and local governments, industry, institutional funds, and a small portion from other sources, which may include private funding. ^[12]

Conclusion

Out of the 7+ billion initial budget, a surprisingly small amount of money flows down to support for the complex logistics or operating in Antarctica – a mere $67.52 million. Since 2000, the budget for science and operations in Antarctica has been steadily increasing, from $650 Million in 200o to over $650 Million in 2015. The US supports and maintains operations in Antarctica not only for science and research, but also for geopolitical reasons, such as acting as the primary and most powerful steward of the Antarctic Treaty. The South Pole Station is a major symbol of America’s key role in Antarctic Geopolitics. A presidential memorandum directs the usage of Antarctica for other governmental organizations, and appropriates a portion of the overall Antarctic funding to them. These organizations include both scientific, logistical, and geopolitical players. In addition to federal funding, roughly 40% of the overall funding comes from other sources, which include both local governmental resources, academic institutions, and private organizations.

In this paper, I’ve aimed to explore the organizational and appropriation structure of broad R&D funding for operations in Antarctica. I’ve explored high level budgeting, geopolitical objectives, science breakdowns, as well as funding sources.

I found that the flow of funds from the US Taxpayer to projects in Antarctica is long and complex, and that in recent years the amount of overall funding has been steadily increasing. I’m a huge supporter of scientific researching and development, and am glad to see that the US is putting increasing dollars into supporting this R&D.

Further lines of research include a closer look at budgeting for the upcoming “Master Plan” McMurdo redevelopment and reconstruction plan, a deeper analysis of how funding translates to a tangible economic ROI, and further implications of geopolitical friction and economic interests on the ice.

Although this study take a good look at a few of the topline issues surrounding operations in Antarctica, there are a few caveats. Oftentimes details surrounding operations on the ice can be murky. It’s also notoriously difficult to trace the exact path of dollars, and harder still to track those dollars back around to the other side of economic ROI. Going forward I’m looking forward to being able to parse these aspects further.

The most important broad implications of this study are the scientific discoveries that come from research done in Antarctica. For example, recent work by Cornell University and the BICEP2 Microwave telescope could one day shed light on what happened at the very beginning of the universe. ^[13]

Figures

Fig 1^[14]

Fig 2 ^[15]

Fig 3 ^[16]

Fig4 ^[17]

Fig6 ^[18]

Fig7 ^[19]

Primary References
- (2016). Jan. 4th Congressional Highlight – NSF. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from https://www.nsf.gov/about/congress/114/highlights/cu16_0104.jsp.
- (2015). FY 2016 – NSF Budget Request to Congress | NSF – National. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/fy2016/.
- (2012). US NSF – OPP – U.S. Antarctic Program BLue Ribbon Panel … Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/usap_special_review/usap_brp/.
- (2013). The Antarctic Sun: News about Antarctica – Master Plan. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://antarcticsun.usap.gov/features/contenthandler.cfm?id=2947.
- (2014). NASA, NSF Continue R&D Budget Recovery in House, But … Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.aaas.org/news/nasa-nsf-continue-rd-budget-recovery-house-climate-research-cut.
- (2012). Antarctic Treaty – US Department of State. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.state.gov/t/avc/trty/193967.htm.
- (2007). The World Factbook – CIA. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ay.html.
- (2009). nsf.gov – NCSES Federal Government is Largest Source of … Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf09318/.
- (2015). Joint Analysis of BICEP2/$Keck Array$ and … – inSPIRE. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://inspirehep.net/record/1342425.
Additional Sources
- Mervis, J.. (1997). NSF Fits in New Projects Despite Squeeze on Funding. Science, 275(5300), 609–609. Retrieved from http://0-www.jstor.org.bianca.penlib.du.edu/stable/2891175
- AIBS news. (2009). Bioscience, 59(6), 530-531. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.bianca.penlib.du.edu/docview/216480990?accountid=1460
- Committee reviews logistics of U.S. antarctic program. (2012). (). Lanham: Federal Information & News Dispatch, Inc. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.bianca.penlib.du.edu/docview/1152171176?accountid=14608
- (2014). NASA, NSF Continue R&D Budget Recovery in House, But … Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.aaas.org/news/nasa-nsf-continue-rd-budget-recovery-house-climate-research-cut.
- NSF Congressional Highlight Consolidated Appropriations Act of FY 2016. (n.d.). (2016) Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://nsf.gov/about/congress/114/highlights/cu16_0104.jsp
- (2015). FY 2016 – NSF Budget Request to Congress | NSF – National. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/fy2016/.
The author standing at the Geographic South Pole, Antarctica, with the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in the background. 2012.

Author Note

Written as part of University of Denver Daniels College of Business Executive MBA Program Economics Class, Taught by Prof. Robert Melville, Spring 2016.

[2] (2016). Jan. 4th Congressional Highlight – NSF. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from https://www.nsf.gov/about/congress/114/highlights/cu16_0104.jsp.

[3] (2016). Jan. 4th Congressional Highlight – NSF. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from https://www.nsf.gov/about/congress/114/highlights/cu16_0104.jsp.

[4] (2015). FY 2016 – NSF Budget Request to Congress | NSF – National. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/fy2016/.

[5] (2015). FY 2016 – NSF Budget Request to Congress | NSF – National. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/fy2016/.

[6] (2012). US NSF – OPP – U.S. Antarctic Program BLue Ribbon Panel … Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/usap_special_review/usap_brp/.

[7] (2013). The Antarctic Sun: News about Antarctica – Master Plan. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://antarcticsun.usap.gov/features/contenthandler.cfm?id=2947.

[8] (2014). NASA, NSF Continue R&D Budget Recovery in House, But … Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.aaas.org/news/nasa-nsf-continue-rd-budget-recovery-house-climate-research-cut.

[9] (2015). FY 2016 – NSF Budget Request to Congress | NSF – National. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/fy2016/.

[10] (2012). Antarctic Treaty – US Department of State. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.state.gov/t/avc/trty/193967.htm.

[11] (2007). The World Factbook – CIA. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ay.html.

[12] (2009). nsf.gov – NCSES Federal Government is Largest Source of … Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf09318/.

[13] (2015). Joint Analysis of BICEP2/$Keck Array$ and … – inSPIRE. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://inspirehep.net/record/1342425.

[14] (2015). FY 2016 – NSF Budget Request to Congress | NSF – National. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/fy2016/.

[15] (2015). FY 2016 – NSF Budget Request to Congress | NSF – National. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/fy2016/.

[16] (2015). FY 2016 – NSF Budget Request to Congress | NSF – National. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/fy2016/.

[17] (2015). FY 2016 – NSF Budget Request to Congress | NSF – National. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/fy2016/.

[18] (2014). NASA, NSF Continue R&D Budget Recovery in House, But … Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.aaas.org/news/nasa-nsf-continue-rd-budget-recovery-house-climate-research-cut.

[19] (2009). Federal Government is Largest Source of University R&D … Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf09318/.

Written by Jeffrey Donenfeld, originally for the University of Denver Daniels College of Business Executive MBA Program Macro Economics Class, Spring 2016. I received an A on this assignment. (Original paper PDF)
2016-05-07
Speaking at Ignite Chanukah 2016 – “The Frozen Chosen: Jews in Antarctica”
This week, I had the opportunity to speak at the Boulder JCC’s Ignite Chanukah Event. I gave a 5-minute Ignite talk entitled “The Frozen Chosen : Jews in Antarctica”. The talk, and rest of the event went great, with about 100 people attending, and food/drinks aplenty. Thanks to Michael and the Boulder JCC staff for hosting, Boulder Jewish News for covering the event, and the rest of the sponsors.

Related, here are two blog posts about my Chanukah celebrations on the ice:
- Celebrating Chanukah at McMurdo Station, Antarctica
- Happy Chanukah From The World’s Southernmost Game of Dreidel
First up @Jeffzilla The Frozen Chosen: the Jews of Antarctica. pic.twitter.com/EDshzVPcmT
— IgniteChanukah (@IgniteChanukah) December 9, 2015
2015-12-10
Discussing Antarctica with Third-Graders

Jeffrey Donenfeld talks to third graders about Antarctica.
This past week in NYC, I had a great time speaking to my cousin’s 3rd grade class about life and work in Antarctica. As much as I like speaking with adult groups about the ice, I can truly say that kids absolutely ask the best questions. This class came prepared with lots of q’s about penguins and polar bears, ice cold temperatures, sunsets, icebergs, and food. Awesome!

2015-11-12
Talk: The Making of an Antarctic Science Expedition with Jeffrey Donenfeld

Thanks to everybody who made it to my talk “The Making of an Antarctic Science Expedition” this week at Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder, Colorado! We had a great time discussing Antarctic expeditions, science, and life!

Thanks to Miho Catering for providing delicious Japanese food, Sanitas Brewing Co. for providing refreshing beer, Voltaic Systems for sponsoring an 8w Solar Panel giveaway, the Alpine Club of CU for marketing support, thanks to Katrin Bell for snapping photos, and of course to Neptune Mountaineering for hosting the event.

Here’s a replay of the talk:

The talk was broadcast on Google Hangouts and YouTube for a little bit. Here’s the recording:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUhpoJ_D7Is

A few event photos:

Description:

Join Antarctic Field Technician Jeffrey Donenfeld for a look inside life in the middle of the highest, coldest, windiest, and driest deserts in the world: Antarctica. Jeffrey, who currently works for Four North, a field and expedition consulting agency in Boulder, will share his process of beginning a career working in Antarctica, joining the United States Antarctic Program, and living and working at both the South Pole Station and West Antarctic Ice Sheet Field Camp.

He’ll discuss in depth the logistics, equipment, preparation, and planning that goes into working and living at some of the coldest and remote places on the planet. See candid photos and videos from across breathtaking Antarctica.

There will be a Q&A Session following the presentation. Plus enjoy delicious Japanese food from Miho Catering, drinks, and a giveaway of a genuine United States Antarctic Program patch, as worn by Antarctic Scientists on the iconic “Big Red” parkas.

Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to hear about my next speaking engagement, and the upcoming release of the short documentary covering my trip to North Korea.

2015-08-31
IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica Confirms Existence of Cosmic Neutrinos
In the news today, the existence of cosmic neutrinos was confirmed by Antarctic scientists. I had the opportunity to work at the South Pole Station during the operation of the Ice Cube Neutrino Observatory, and feel lucky to have become friends with PI Albrecht Karle and his team.

A few articles about Ice Cube and related projects I helped out with there:
- Exploring the Ice Cube Neutrino Observatory
- Building The Askaryan Radio Array At The South Pole
Our transport from the station to Ice Cube Lab was in a van, but not any ordinary van

The main control center for the Ice Cube Observatory

This is where raw data from each photomultiplier tube frozen in the ice comes into the racks of electronics.

Beginning to setup the shop tent. The sun in Antarctica is intens, as is the cold and wind. All skin must be covered.

From The Guardian: “Existence of cosmic neutrinos confirmed by Antarctic scientists”

Antarctic scientists have confirmed the existence of cosmic neutrinos – ghostly particles that have traveled from the Milky Way and beyond. These particles carry messages from distant galaxies, and could potentially help solve several cosmic puzzles.
A good week for neutrinos: highest-power beam delivers oscillations, space delivers highest energy

Neutrinos are subatomic particles created by some of nature’s most energetic and violent phenomena, such as black holes and massive exploding stars. Spotting them is difficult, however, because they have very high energy and nearly no mass. If you can catch a glimpse of them they make the ideal long-distance messenger because the information they hold is pristine, unchanged as the particles travel millions of light years through space.

Now, Albrecht Karle at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his colleagues working at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica have sorted through billions of particles that bombarded their detectors between 2010 and 2012 and identified 21 ultra high-energy muons – secondary particles created on the rare occasions that neutrinos interact with other particles.
2015-08-20
I’ll Be Speaking at Neptune Mountaineering about Antarctica on August 27th 2015

Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder, Colorado is hosting this event on August 27th 2015.

Upcoming on August 27th, 2015 at 20:00 MDT, I’ll be giving a talk at Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder, Colorado, USA titled “The Making of an Antarctic Science Expedition”. I’ll be covering the details of putting together an Antarctic Science Expedition, including pre-departure preparations, personal gear and packing considerations, specialized Antarctic expedition equipment, logistics, and teamwork.

Visit the event page on Facebook for more information and to RSVP.

Event: (Add to Calendar) The Making of an Antarctic Science Expedition
Time: August 27th 2015, 20:00 MDT
Location: Neptune Mountaineering, 633 S Broadway St, Suite A
Boulder, Colorado, USA

Description:

Join Antarctic Field Technician Jeffrey Donenfeld for a look inside life in the middle of the highest, coldest, windiest, and driest deserts in the world: Antarctica. Jeffrey, who currently works for Four North, a field and expedition consulting agency in Boulder, will share his process of beginning a career working in Antarctica, joining the United States Antarctic Program, and living and working at both the South Pole Station and West Antarctic Ice Sheet Field Camp.

He’ll discuss in depth the logistics, equipment, preparation, and planning that goes into working and living at some of the coldest and remote places on the planet. See candid photos and videos from across breathtaking Antarctica.

There will be a Q&A Session following the presentation. Plus enjoy delicious Japanese food from Miho Catering, drinks, and a giveaway of a genuine United States Antarctic Program patch, as worn by Antarctic Scientists on the iconic “Big Red” parkas.

Giveaway also includes solar charging gear from Voltaic Systems. Thanks Voltaic!

Event Sponsors:

Boulder Catering Company Miho Catering will be providing fresh sushi and other Japanese delights at the event.

Voltaic Systems are makers of portable solar power technology in Brooklyn, NY.

Drinks provided by Sanitas Brewing Co.

2015-08-04
Living and Working at the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide Field Camp, Antarctica – Summer 2014-2015
My name tag and program patch on my “Big Red” parka. Note I also added my Explorer’s Club members pin.

After a very successful 2014-15 summer season working at WAIS Divide, Antarctica, we’ve wrapped up our operations and redeployed. Here’s a quick summary of the season:

This year in Antarctica, I worked at the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide Ice Core Field Camp for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) Ice Drill Design and Operations (IDDO) Group as a Field and Drill Specialist. I was on a team of four, with our primary mission being to disassemble, catalog, and package the Deep Ice Sheet Coring (DISC) drill and related equipment. The drill had operated for the past 7 or so years, and had completed its job and been decommissioned, so that we could pack it up and ship it back to Wisconsin for refurbishment and redeployment to a new site at some point in the future. Everybody had responsibility for multiple aspects of the mission. My specific responsibility, in addition to general mechanical and team duties, photographing and cataloging all gear and equipment that was disassembled and packed, as well as generally documenting our entire season – as catalogued in this blog.

This year’s primary mission: Disassembling the Deep Ice Sheet Coring (DISC) Drill at WAIS Divide, Antarctica

Blog posts:
Video clips:
Photos:
2015-02-05
Disassembling the Deep Ice Sheet Coring (DISC) Drill at WAIS Divide, Antarctica

This year in Antarctica, I worked at the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide Ice Core Field Camp for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) Ice Drill Design and Operations (IDDO) Group as a Field and Drill Specialist. I was on a team of four, with our primary mission being to disassemble, catalog, and package the Deep Ice Sheet Coring (DISC) drill and related equipment. The drill had operated for the past 7 or so years, and had completed its job and been decommissioned, so that we could pack it up and ship it back to Wisconsin for refurbishment and redeployment to a new site at some point in the future. Everybody had responsibility for multiple aspects of the mission. My specific responsibility, in addition to general mechanical and team duties, photographing and cataloging all gear and equipment that was disassembled and packed, as well as generally documenting our entire season – as catalogued in this blog.

In addition to the four of us, we were joined by two master carpenters from McMurdo, who constructed custom crates and shipping containers for us, as well as organized and packed much of the equiptment in the National Ice Core Laboratory’s (NICL) ice core processing arch, adjacent to the DISC Drill Arch.

We were at WAIS Divide for a little over two weeks, and during that (shortened) timeframe, we accomplished a huge amount of work. Here’s a brief timelapse video of the drill equiptment being disassembled and packaged.

Below is a short collection of photos, focusing specifically on DISC Drill disassembly and packing operations.

Walking back to WAIS Divide Field Camp after a day working in the drill arch. On days of low visibility, flags are the only way to tell which way to walk – and where the ground is.

Walking to work every day through the snow was an experience in itself. We got along great as a team, and always had fun down-time hanging out.

Walking down the ramp to our drill arch during stormy ways was a bit like entering a frozen polar base. The ramp leading from the surface down to the arch door frequently got drifted in, requiring digging out by our bulldozer support crew.

The inside of the main drill arch. Overhead you can see the blue heavy crane. The yellow safety fences are surrounding the Winch Pit, which housed the main winch, level wind, and related machinery. This winch pit leads into the borehole slot, which is about 40 feet deep, 40 feet long, 5 feet wide. Although the borehole is only a few inches in diameter, the slot must be long and wide to accomodate the swing room for the drill tower – it must pivot from vertical to horizontal in one motion.

Looking from the back of the drill arch to the front, the optical table, yellow “light” crane, and heated control room are visible. Also notable is the heaving of the floor. As the ice shifts, the floor and overall structure of the arch shifts, buckling everything.

The WAIS Divide, Antarctica DISC Drill crew in January, 2015. From left Rick Smouse (ASC), Otto Neumuth (ASC), Jim Koehler (IDDO), Mike Waszkiewics (IDDO), Jeffrey Donenfeld (IDDO), and Don Kirkpatrick (IDDO).

This is the core handling arch, connected to the drill arch. Notably, this arch is heavily insulated, to keep it extra cold.

Reverse angle of the core handling arch.

The storage space beneath the ice core processing arch, showing buckled floorboards.

Extreme cold for long periods of time causes frost to grow everywhere. These large ice crystals had grown on the window separating the drill arch from the core handling arch.

I did a bit of chainsawing too!

Lots of coordination and teamwork go into each move of the heavy equiptment.

Rigging the levelwind for extraction from the winch pit. Each piece of gear was meticulously secured to be moved carefully.

Finally, the large winch reel is hoisted out of the pit – next step is to drag it up the ramp to the surface, where it gets staged for air transport.

It takes two tractors to drag the massive winch reel up the ramp. Although the reel looks small, it’s wound with over 10,000 feet of heavy steel-encased fiberoptic and power cable.

The shipping container was located on the surface a short ways from the drill arch, and was packed with a variety of loose gear.

Every piece of gear we disassembled and packed up was carefully labeled and catalogued.

I used a dry erase slate to note technical information about each container of gear we packed up. This custom-built palate is for the sections of the drill tower, and is designated Palate 05, Crate 04.

Another one of the crates, as it’s being packed and inventoried.

The tower base starting to come out of the ice.

Jim staying safe while chainsawing ice to extract venting.

Moving large blocks of ice out of the way, in order to extract the heavy tower base feet, which were embedded in the ice under the floor.

Now that the winch pit has been emptied, it’s filled in with snow and compacted down.

Filling in the winch pit. Blocks cut to extract the tower base feet are re-used to construct a protective wall around the borehole slot, so snow only fills the winch pit, and leaves the slot clear.

Mike descending into the borehole slot, tethered by a steel cable.

Don took this pick lying on his back, looking up from the bottom of the slot.

The top of the borehole – with protective foam cap in place, and plastic cover lifted up. It’s over 4000m down.

To get around WAIS, we used a number of snow mobiles, with attached sleds.

This is the improvised mount I used for my GoPro to take the timelapse video. The’s a slot cutout for the camera, as well as holster for the power cable. Since the camera cooled down to sub-freezing levels while in operation, it had to be supplied externally – the battery just doesn’t work in those temperatures.

Representing UW!

Smouse posing on one of our snowmobiles.

Although it’s cold at WAIS, we try to keep a warm, tropical attitude. Don does a great job!

2015-02-04
Keeping Warm in Western Antarctica with Darn Tough

Darn Tough was a great partner to have while on my recent expedition to the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Field Camp. I wore Darn Tough socks every day under my extreme cold weather boots, and was comfy and warm the entire time. Full report soon. Thanks DT!

Walking down the ramp to our drill arch during stormy ways was a bit like entering a frozen polar base. The ramp leading from the surface down to the arch door frequently got drifted in, requiring digging out by our bulldozer support crew.

2015-02-01
Tour The West Antarctic Ice Sheet Field Camp, Antarctica

This season working at WAIS Divide Field Camp, Antarctica was busy, with days of hard work and rough weather. However, there were a few moments of free time and good weather, and during those moments I shot a few short clips.

In this 40-minute video, I take you on a personal tour of most of the facilities of WAIS Divide Field Camp, including a camp overview, full tour of the DISC Drill Arch, Tent City, the inside of my personal tent, and the center of camp. I also take you inside an Antarctic ski plane, and show you our medical, dining, recreation, comms, and mechanical facilities.

Enjoy!

For more tours of Antarctica, be sure to click over to my tour of the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.

2015-01-31
Exploring the World’s Most Powerful Icebreaker – The Jet Engine-Powered US Coast Guard Cutter “Polar Star”

After an excellent season working at WAIS Divide, my team and I returned to McMurdo to wrap up a bit of administrative items, finalizing this season’s shipping, and pack everything up for redeployment to New Zealand. Luckily, during those few days at McMurdo the US Coast Guard Cutter “Polar Star” came into port, cutting the way for the resupply and refueling ships to come.

From US Coast Guard:

USCGC POLAR STAR (WAGB-10) is a United States Coast Guard Heavy Icebreaker. Commissioned in 1976, the ship was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle, Washington along with her sister ship, POLAR SEA (WAGB-11).POLAR STAR is one of the largest ships in the US Coast Guard and one of the world’s most powerful non-nuclear ships. The POLAR STAR is home ported in Seattle, Washington.

A few snippets from Wikipedia:

Polar Star uses four different methods of electronic navigation to overcome the difficulties of high-latitude operations, and a computerized propulsion control system to effectively manage six diesel-powered propulsion generators, three diesel-powered ship’s service generators, three propulsion gas turbines, and other equipment vital to the smooth operation of the ship.

…

Polar Star’s three shafts are turned by either a diesel-electric or gas turbine power plant.[disambiguation needed] Each shaft is connected to a 16-foot (4.9 m) diameter, four-bladed, controllable-pitch propeller. The diesel-electric plant can produce 18,000 shaft horsepower (13 MW), and the gas turbine plant a total of 75,000 shaft horsepower (56 MW).

…

With such a sturdy hull and high power to back it up, the 13,000-ton (13,200 metric ton) Polar Star is able to break through ice up to 21 feet (6.4 m) thick by backing and ramming, and can steam continuously through 6 feet (1.8 m) of ice at 3 knots (6 km/h).

…

Polar Star has a variety of missions while operating in polar regions. During Antarctic deployments, the primary missions include breaking a channel through the sea ice to resupply the McMurdo Research Station in the Ross Sea. Resupply ships use the channel to bring food, fuel, and other goods to make it through another winter. In addition to these duties, Polar Star also serves as a scientific research platform with five laboratories and accommodations for up to 20 scientists. The “J”-shaped cranes and work areas near the stern and port side of ship give scientists the capability to do at-sea studies in the fields of geology, vulcanology, oceanography, sea-ice physics, and other disciplines.

Here’s a compilation of time lapse videos I made of the Polar Star cutting its channel to allow the “Ocean Giant” cargo ship in.

I was fortunate enough to be able to take a few tours of the ship:

At the end of January, once I had returned back to McMurdo after a few weeks at WAIS, I notice the US Coast Guard Ice Breaker “Polar Star” cutting its way through the ice to McMurdo.

The Polar Star was in port for a few days, and designated an afternoon to give tours to USAP members. What a great opportunity! I was on the first tour, and ended up going through the ship a few times.

Walking across the McMurdo Ice Pier to the gangway, you get a sense of the scale of the ship.

Requisite shot on the stern, with the flag.

The aircraft deck and hangar. There are no aircraft on the Polar Star anymore, and the hangar is used for storage, staging, and recreation.

Looking aft off the starboard side, the ice slowly refreezes.

Looking aft from the bow.

On the brige.

Me at the helm. Since all steering is electronically controlled, and can be done from various points on the ship, the main helm is strangely small! I swear, the size of the helm is not proportional to the might of the ship.

Looking aft from the bridge deck.

The modern electronic Engine Order Telegraph. Since the ship was docked and the controls were locked out, it was fun to move the lever and watch them automatically reset to zero.

Dining on the Polar Star

After my second tour, I started talking with one of the engineers, and was invited below deck for a tour of the three jet turbines which provide the incredible thrust to break through ice.

One of the three massive jet turbines.

Making our way throuhg the engine room. Here you can see the thermal blankets surrounding the intakes of two of the turbines. This is the true heart of the ship.

Looking forward to the air intake ducting for two of the turbines.

The modern engine control center, with digital displays and computer control.

On the other side of the engine control room, the backup engine control system is the original Westinghouse system. Here, we’re opening the original cabinet to inspect the original engine control, rheostats, etc.

The USCGC Polar Star Icebreaker ship commissioning plaque.

2015-01-26
Ship Operations at the World’s Southernmost Seaport

McMurdo Station, Antarctic survives on the food, supplies, and fuel brought in via the air and sea. By far the most cargo comes in every year by sea, and McMurdo’s Seaport is the southernmost in the world. The port operates with an Ice Pier, and handles a variety of ships.

Here’s a few timelapse videos of the USCGC Polar Star and the Ocean Giant shipping vessel operating out of McMurdo. The US Coast Guard Icebreaker Polar Star (WAGB-10) leaves McMurdo Station, Antarctica, breaking way for the shipping vessel Ocean Giant. Filmed on January 25-26, 2015 by Jeffrey Donenfeld at McMurdo Station, Antarctica

More on McMurdo’s port and Ice Pier from wikipedia:

An ice pier is a man-made structure used to assist the unloading of ships in Antarctica. It is constructed by pumping seawater into a contained area and allowing the water to freeze. By repeating this procedure several times, additional layers are built up. The final structure is many metres in thickness, and strong enough to support container trucks. Operation Deep Freeze personnel constructed the first floating ice pier at Antarctica’s southernmost sea port[1] at McMurdo Station in 1973.[2] Ice piers have been in use each summer season since, at McMurdo’s natural harbor at Winter Quarters Bay located at 77°50?S 166°40?E. The harbor is positioned on the southern tip of Ross Island.

…

Ships docking at the McMurdo Station ice pier rely upon icebreakers opening a ship channel from Upper McMurdo Sound to Winter Quarters Bay. One or more icebreakers, depending upon seasonal conditions, will typically open a channel from eight to 50 miles (80 km) long.[3]

However, in 2005 icebreakers encountered more than 90 miles (140 km) of pack ice blocking entry to McMurdo Sound.[4] The ice buildup occurred when a 100-mile-long iceberg (B15A) ran aground near Upper McMurdo Sound. Two icebreakers eventually broke a ship channel through to Winter Quarters Bay.

The ship channel provides a seaway for the few annual re-supply vessels and research ships which call upon the extraordinarily remote seaport at McMurdo Station. Preparation for the supply ships’ arrival includes icebreakers maintaining a uniform edge on the seaward side of the pier. The ship’s skipper maneuvers the icebreaker to use its bow as a giant battering ram to scarf or shave jagged edges from the pier to facilitate ships tying up at the dock.[2]

2015-01-23
Launching the WAIS AERIAL CAMP PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY INSTRUMENT (WACPSI)
During a down moment at WAIS, I built and aereal vehicle for my GoPro, with the hopes of getting aerial video of field camp. The WAIS Aerial Camp Photographic Survey Instrument (WACPSI) was made out of foam. Some of its design features:
- Lightweight, protective, and insulating foam body.
- Integrated aero-wedge frontal shock-absorbing nosecone.
- Vertical stabilizer with integrated trim tab and safety tear-away mechanism. The stabilizer counteracted torque from the ground tether and balloon, automatically keeping the vehicle oriented facing into the airflow.
- Protective and secure instrument bay, including a friction mount gopro attachment, with redundant parachute cord synching.
- Waterproof, shock resistant camera housing, with emergency pressure release membrane, and visual activity indication lighting.
- 2.4GHz air-ground command, control, telemetry and TV link, with wireless, battery operated, solar charged handheld ground station.
- Exothermic Fe-oxidative thermal control system located directly above instrument bay. Provided base thermal management to support battery and camera sensor performance.
- Interlocking ground tether and balloon tethers, ensuring payload is optimally and ideally positioned along lifting and recovery lines.
- 300G dual-balloon helium lifting package, including 1 100g and 1 2oog weather balloons. Pre-warmed before filling to ensure structural integrity, filled with gaseous helium-4.
- UV-stabilized nylon ziptie attachment for balloons, with freeze-proof, wax coated sisal line backup.
- Hybrid flat-webbing and mil-spec parachute cord recovery and lift line, with backup ground tether and radial-winding recovery winch
- LMR-based VHF radio system for launch-site personnel communication and safety/launch announcements.
2015-01-19
Making a Crater in Antarctica

In order to dispose of a few pounds of PETN explosives at WAIS Divide Field Camp, the decision was made to simple blow them up under the snow. The alternative was to go through the certification process for transporting by air back to McMurdo, which would have been a bit overkill, given the small amount of explosives remaining. I believe this was about 15lbs of explosives, buried a few feet under the snow. Everybody stood a long ways back, and the resulting explosion made a huge plume of burnt snow, and left a nice sized crater. Never a dull moment at WAIS!

Blowing up 15lbs of PETN in Antarctica

The crater left behind.

2015-01-18
Disassembling the WAIS DISC Ice Drill – Timelapse Video

This season at WAIS, we did a lot of work in disassembling and packaging the DISC Drill. As work proceeded, I setup my GoPro camera to record a frame every 30 seconds. Here’s the compressed timelapse of our full season of work at WAIS.

For more videos of the drill’s operation, check out my employer University of Wisconsin Space Science and Engineering Center’s YouTube Channel.

Here’s a view down the borehole.

2015-01-17
Communication and Control at WAIS Divide, Antarctica

At the WAIS Divide Field Camp, communications and overall administration of the camp happens in the comms tent. A few photos:

Outside of the comms tents, various antennas are setup, including VHF, HF, and Satellite.

The HF Radio set is a standard military model – it looks bulky, but it works!

The comms, weather, and administrative tent at WAIS.

Weather observer Heather at her desk, logging observations.

2015-01-12
The WAIS Snow Pit

WAIS Divide sits on top of the antarctic ice sheet. Every season, a new layer of snow is deposited on the surface, which eventually gets added to the many, many layers of snow. Erin Pettit and her teammates this year dug a snow pit, showing the various layers of snow over the last few seasons.

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide Field Camp Snow Pit, 2015

2015-01-10
Merlin Mah Assembles Deep Fish

The optical fabric logger, a brand-new instrument from the University of Minnesota’s Optical MEMS Group, shows off its internal mechanisms. The tool uses three remotely-controlled cameras and lenses, three embedded computers, and motorized rotating polarizers to take images of the ice crystals in the borehole wall in order to calculate the ice fabric

Neatening up the wiring for another test.

The main WAIS Divide borehole is 3.3 km deep and filled with fluid, resulting in pressures of nearly 5000 PSI

Troubleshooting issues in the field can be hard work. Luckily, the prep tent came thoughtfully equipped with a cot for taking quick breaks.

Merlin troubleshoots a problem with the logger

Drilling and winching expert Mike and logger engineer Merlin move the fabric logger from the prep tent into the logging arch.

2015-01-10
WAIS Divide’s Recreation Tent – Warmth and Comfort on the Polar Ice

Living and working at WAIS Divide Field Camp is rough – long hours of work, harsh environment, and living in a frozen tent for weeks, sometimes months on end. To get a bit of a break from the grind, an extremely important feature of camp is the Rec Tent. This tent is one of the hubs of social life and relaxation life, and offers basic comforts of home. A few photos.

Layout of the entire rec tent. At the back of the tent is the entrance to the wash module, with sinks, showers, washeing machines, snow melter, and satellite phone booth.

In the front of the Rec Tent, there’s a small workout area with a spinning bikes, and various yoga mats and weights. Additionally, there are two computer terminals, a keyboard, and other reconfigurable space. This small space plays host to so many activities, and it’s constantly busy. On the left, individual cubbies store personal good.

Movie nights happen almost every night at WAIS. We have a projector and screen setup, as well as a dedicated laptop. Everybody has hard drives full of movies and TV. Watching movies in relative darkness, warmth, and quiet is an essential respite from the harsh environment outside.

For video of the inside of the rec tent, be sure to click over to my full video tour of WAIS.

2015-01-09
The WAIS Galley Tent – Community and Food

At WAIS Divide Field Camp, almost all of the buildings are various kinds of tents and compact structures. The galley is made out of the combination of a RAC Tent, and the “Galley Module”, a hard-sided module attached to one end of the tent. The galley is not only used for food, but also as a communal space for announcements, stretching, and lectures. It’s also the designated primary muster point for the camp, and very much serves as a central social hub of the camp.

Food at WAIS, given the extreme remoteness of the camp, is pretty great! Fresh, hot meals are served for all 3 meals of the day, with a pretty decent variety. The lack of fresh food is a bit of a pain, but given the supplies, everything tastes pretty good. In addition to the prepared meals, there’s also lots of snacks, and 24/7 coffee, tea, and other drinks.

Also in the galley, there’s a projector screen, which is used for weekly science lectures and presentations. The stereo plays almost all the time, and between meals, people hang out at the tables and relax. For a camp in such a harsh environment, the galley is really an “Owaisis” of comfort and community.

2015-01-08
DISC Drill Arch, Condition 2

Here’s the exterior view of the DISC Drill Arch, where I’ll be working for the next few weeks. On the first day of work, camp was hit with a massive Condition 2 Storm. The drill arch was originally on the surface of the ice, but during the 7 or so years it’s been there, snowdrifts have slowly buried it to the point where it’s completely under the ice. There’s a long ramp carved down to the entrance, which we’ll be using the haul gear out.

(Cheers from WAIS Divide Field Camp, Antarctica. Posted using email via satellite – I’ll post larger/more photos as soon as I’m off the ice.)

Updated – a few additional pics and video clips:

2015-01-07
Entering Tent City, WAIS Divide, Antarctica

After a successful landing at field camp and quick briefing in the galley, first order of business was to get our tents and gear setup. In this picture, I’m sitting in our gear sled as we snowmobile to “Tent City”, on the edge of camp. Everybody has their own tent, and it’s a blend of 4-season mountaineering tents, pointy “Scott” tents, and dome-shaped “Arctic Oven” tents.

(Cheers from WAIS Divide Field Camp, Antarctica! Posted using email via satellite – I’ll post larger/more photos as soon as I’m off the ice)

Update – Now that I’ve returned from WAIS, here are a few more high res photos of WAIS Tent City. Additionally, see a video tour of the inside and outside of my own tent in my video tour of WAIS Divide Field Camp.

2015-01-06