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Snow Photochemistry Experiment at
Summit, Greenland, March-May 2004
Question
and Answer page
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The photochemistry team at Summit in Summer
2003
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What would you like
to ask the Summit science team??
Email your questions
to: Nicola (nblake@uci.edu)
Questions
from Martha Quenon's 9th grade science classHolmes Junior
High, Davis, CA:
Scientific:
1. How is your data look this year compared to last
year? Winter vs. summer?
Answer: We are testing for formaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide in the snow,in
the firnair (air in the snow) and just above the snow. Our signals are
significantly smaller then last year. This shows that there is a temperature
and photon dependance on the chemistry of the snow. -
Donna Friel, University of
Arizona - writing from Summit.
Good question. We came up this Spring to see if the chemistry was much
different from last summer. The answer is yes! When we first
got here in March it was very cold and relatively dark and the reactions
in the snow were very slow. For our experiments, it took us about a
week to be able to see anything going on in the snow. But in
the next 6 weeks the reactions got faster each week and easier to see.
If you look on the web site you can see some examples of the increase in
temperature, light, and chemical reactivity in the first month we were here
(see the 4/14 update).
-
Cort Anastasio, University of California
at Davis - writing from Summit.
2. When a particle hits the snow, how much time does
it take for a photochemical reaction to occur?
It depends on the chemical, how much light there is, and
what the temperature is. Some chemicals are broken up by light in a
few minutes or less, while others can last for many years. Most of
the chemicals we're looking at survive in the snow for hours to weeks.
- Cort Anastasio,
University
of California at Davis - writing from Summit.
3. Would your research have an effect on peoples' everyday
lives?
Like most environmental research, our work is more 'behind
the scenes' and you won't see any difference in your life because of us.
We hope that our research will help scientists interpret ice cores and use
them to understand the composition of the atmosphere and how it's changing
because of humans. This is an issue that is more and more important
because of all of the pollutants that we (all of us!) put into the atmosphere.
We also hope to take the knowledge of snow chemistry that we get in Greenland
and use it to understand how snow in the United States might affect the quality
of our air.-
Cort Anastasio, University of California
at Davis - writing from Summit.
4. Do you find fossils or dead animals in your ice
core?
Dinosaur remains have been found in Greenland (see e.g. http://museum.gov.ns.ca/fgm/lab/dinosaurinfo.html),
but I'm not aware of a recent discovery. However, on my way to South Pole
Station last November, I shared a room with the group of Dr. Bill Hammer,
a dinosaur scientist. They likely found a new species
of Sauropod - Manuel Hutterli
University of
Arizona - writing from Summit.
We're not doing ice cores, but we do dig shallow snow pits (6 feet or less).
But no evidence of life in our samples.-
Cort Anastasio, University of California
at Davis - writing from Summit.
Personal:
1. If the stalls are outside where the wind and snow
is, how do you go to the bathroom in below 30 degree temperatures?
Very quickly. (heheheh - a little Arctic humor). There are a
few bathrooms indoors and I think we were all trying to use those instead
of the outhouses as much as we could when we first got here. But after
a few weeks of acclimatizing I used the outhouse more. Planning and
efficient use of one's time are key in really cold weather.- Cort Anastasio, University of California
at Davis - writing from Summit.
2. Is breathing difficult in the cold? How much work
do you do before you take a break?
It can be difficult breathing in the cold especially if you are pulling
a sled or running. And you should take a break when ever you need one.
Since there is less oxygen up here you find that you get tired more easily.
Generally you get cold before you get tired. Most people try to press
the limits on how long you stay out side; meaning that if you stay out for
a long time and get a much done as possible the less time you have to spend
outside on your next trip. This is how people get frost nip, frost bite
and wind burn. - Donna
Friel, University of
Arizona - writing from Summit.
When it's really cold it's hard for me to breath through my nose because
it feels like the inside of my nose is icing up. But the mouth works
fine for breathing in these conditions. One thing that's hard for those
of us with glasses or goggles is exhaling. Because the air is so cold,
the water vapor in your breath forms a fog as soon as you exhale. If
you exhale near your glasses they get covered with ice.
As for getting tired, the atmospheric pressure here is about 2/3 of what
it is at sea level (or in Davis). This means there's one-third less
oxygen for us to breath, making it difficult to exercise too much.
If we're not doing anything strenuous (like walking around) it's no
problem, but doing hard work is very difficult. Several days ago a
few of us pushed a sled with about 600 pounds of equipment about a mile across
the snow. We had to take a lot of breaks and there was a lot of wheezing.- Cort Anastasio, University of California
at Davis - writing from Summit.
3. Do you have snow fights?
Hehehehe. We try! Unfortunately it's so cold
here that the air and snow are really dry, which makes it really hard to
make snowballs. We tried yesterday and were able to make a few decent
balls, but it was a lot of work. The alternative is to dig up blocks
of snow and throw those because the surface snow is like styrofoam.
But we haven't gotten
to this point yet; it's probably a good thing that you're not here or you
might have started many snow battles.- Cort
Anastasio, University of California
at Davis - writing from Summit.
4. How did Napmeister get his nickname?
Sad to say but the Napmeister is no longer at Summit, Dave is an awesome
person to work with. He got his nickname because he can be sitting anywhere
and just go to sleep. He could be at his desk, working on his computer,
working with the instruments in the Bally Building...and he would take these
10 min naps several times a day. Napping is very healthy so that must
mean that Dave will live a very long life. - Donna Friel, University of
Arizona - writing from Summit.
I gave the Napmeister his nickname last year because he has this incredible
ability to fall asleep anytime, anywhere, in any position (see here for examples). A few
weeks ago a group of us were working in the Satellite Camp lab. Dave
(the Napmeister) and I were talking but after a few minute pause in our conversation
I looked over to find that he'd fallen asleep in his chair with his head
tilted back at a painful-looking angle. [To be fair to the Napmeister,
he's only taking all of these power naps because he works so hard and at
all hours. So he's got to sleep when he can.] - Cort Anastasio, University of California
at Davis - writing from Summit.
5. What do you miss most about home?
I would have to say, warm weather since i am from Tucson but i also
miss long showers everyday, my bed and my friends -
Donna Friel, University of
Arizona - writing from Summit.
You might think it's a tie between not working all the time (we usually work
about 12 hours a day here, every day) and sleeping in my bed. But the
real answer is that I miss my girlfriend most. :) - Cort Anastasio, University of California
at Davis - writing from Summit.
6. Can you send the recipe for spiced hot chocolate?
We've got a different cook this year (Sarah - she's great!), so I'm not sure
if she has the recipe. But I'll ask her and see if I can get it!
(Actually, it's probably on the web - so maybe you can find it.) I've
only had one mug of hot chocolate since I've been here; I don't know why
I haven't had more. - Cort Anastasio,
University
of California at Davis - writing from Summit.
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