The Return of LIDAR

Our hearty quartet has been reduced to a mere band of 3 as Rob the mountaineer left Antarctica yesterday evening to go back to work in a land where energy is consumed to keep frozen foods cold and people are expected to change their clothes on a 24 hour cycle (it's a harsh world). In tribute to our kiwi friend, I encourage you to read this article describing one example of New Zealand's technological dominance over the US that Rob brought to our attention.

In other news, we went back to Sessrumnir Valley to get some more LIDAR data with Marianne today and while she was doing her scans Robert, Allen, and I went off to collect yet more rock samples. Although the weather was colder than it's been recently (dropped down to -8 degrees C), it was great to be back out in the field- if only for a few hours.

Plus, the helicopter trips between McMurdo and Sessrumnir Valley provided yet more fantastic views:

The LIDAR machine

The ice ponds at the bottom of the pothole features have increased in size since we were last in Sessrumnir Valley due to the additional melt water from the warm temperatures. Allen, perhaps lost without Rob's guidance, felt compelled to slide across the slippery ice on his belly.

Cold base glaciers creep into Taylor Valley

Geology by color: light brown = sandstone, dark brown = dolerite, white = snow/ice

Skua's eye view of Sessrumnir Valley