12 Jan 2008

86.05767 deg S

55.06667 deg E

3251 meters above sea level

Maximum & Minimum temperatures: - 26 to - 36 °C

We received a very pleasant visit of an international VIP-group this morning. This group is supported by Antarctic Logistics Expedition and led by a Swedish explorer. They landed at our traverse with a Twin Otter on their way to the Pole of Inaccessibility. The group consisted of VIP persons from Australia, Canada, Dubai, Germany, Russia, Scotland and Sweden. Later this afternoon the transmission transfer-case on Sembla broke. Since we have no spare parts Sembla will be placed on a sledge and riding like this for the rest of our expedition. Tomorrow, we will reconfigure the sledges, complete our last science stop and then drive around-the-clock for the coming days.

- Jan-Gunnar

Some of the VIP visitors at our camp (Photo: Jan-Gunnar Winther)

Below is the Polar Puzzle of the Week* for week 10, and the answer is below it.  A new Polar Puzzle for week 11 is on our web page – click on the Education button to see it!

Polar Puzzle 10:  Emporer penguins march to the sea for food from their home on the inland ice. One penguin averaged 4 km per hour on the way to the sea. On the way back along the same route, he averaged only 2 km per hour.  Counting only the time the penguin was moving, what was his average speed?   (Hint: it is not 3 km/hr!)

ANSWER: 2.66 km/hr.  The speed is the total distance divided by the total time. Pick any distance one way, for example 12 km.: it takes the penguin 3 hrs to the sea, and 6 hrs back, a total of 9 hrs to cover 24 km, or 2.66 km/hr.