ECW: What we wore in Antarctica

Since I got back to Washington, D.C., earlier this week, I have already lost 24 pounds ... of clothing. While South Pole residents do tend to lose 10-15 pounds in body mass because they are constantly fighting cold temperatures, there are much more dangerous dangers than this -- hypothermia and frostbite, for example. I've mentioned "ECW" (Extreme Cold Weather) gear throughout my travels in Antarctica, so I wanted to show you exactly what this consists of and how U.S. Antarctic Program participants prevent cold weather-related injuries.

It all starts at the Clothing Distribution Centre in Christchurch, where each participant receives two duffel bags full of clothing. Fashion is not important, as everyone will look the same once they don their "Big Red" parkas and their 10 pound "bunny boots":





Here's all the gear I was given:



The first few layers are base layers that wick moisture (sweat) away from your skin: polypropylene long underwear, wool socks and a light-weight fleece jacket and pants.



The next layers are windproof overalls or "bibs" and the infamous "bunny boots," which have extra room for air and felt liners (great insulators):



Then a windproof fleece jacket:



The big, red parka fluffed with goose down ...



A balaclava (fleece head-and-face warmer) or neck gaiter/hat combination:



And finally, ski goggles, glove liners and thick leather gloves or fleece/down mittens.



When visiting the South Pole and field sites or while traveling in airplanes and helicopters, participants are required to wear the essential ECW gear (long underwear, wool socks, fleece pants and jacket, bunny boots, a hat, gloves/mittens and "Big Red") and hand-carry the other items, in addition to extra socks, gloves and a toothbrush -- just in case you're stuck overnight. At these cold locations, it is not a good idea to have skin exposed, as frostbite can happen very quickly.

Some locations, such as McMurdo and the Dry Valleys, experience above-freezing temperatures. In this case, one can shed a few layers. But, it is still important to wear polarized, 100% UV protective sunglasses to prevent snow blindness (85% of sunlight that hits the ice is reflected) and high spf sunscreen on any exposed skin (the atmosphere -- and thus the ozone layer that blocks UV light -- is thinner at the Poles).

Ok, I must admit, even though it is above freezing in Washington right now, it feels colder with all the moisture in the air. I wish I had "Big Red" to throw on for my evening commute! What a fashion statement that would make on the Metro ...

Safe Return, Reflecting on the Ice, New materials

Here's a riddle that I'm trying to figure out right now: if I left Christchurch, NZ at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19 and arrived in Washington, D.C. at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19, how long did it take me to get here? How many breakfasts have I eaten? How many dinners? Was I supposed to sleep 8 hours somewhere in there? I guess the answer is that it's 2:30 am Eastern Standard Time, no matter what time my biological clock is telling me it is. I should go to sleep! As those of you who read Capital Weather Gang regularly might remember, for me, Sleeping Through Sunlight is Not a Success, especially when it never gets dark during Antarctic summer! At least it will be dark when I finally fall asleep tonight, even if at 3 in the morning.

It is a strange thing to be carried in flying machines from the eastern United States, to the bottom of the world and back again. After this trip, I am more impressed with the many aircraft we have seen and the pilots that fly them than ever before -- and perhaps more trusting, too. As I gazed out of my window seat on my third and final flight today (or yesterday?), I reflected on just how many sunsets and clouds I have seen from an airplane window over the past 3+ weeks ... too many to count, but all beautiful and stilling in their own way.

Since I left Antarctica, I have been full of an overwhelming sense of gratitude for having had the chance to go on this trip. Thanks again to National Science Foundation and Raytheon Polar Services, to the team of journalists who were great company and whom I learned a lot from, to Dan and Tim for answering my million-and-one Antarctic meteorology questions, to NEEF for supporting this trip and offering many outlets for the information, and to family, friends, and kind strangers who helped to make it happen! We did it -- we went to the South Pole, and learned a LOT in the process!

New materials:

--Check out my video of Happy Camp (field and safety training our second day in Antarctica) snippets posted yesterday on Capital Weather Gang
--Earth Gauge Kids: Antarctica (January theme, geared toward kids in grades 5-8)
--Earth Gauge in Antarctica resources distributed so far from myself and the team
--Dan has a new video up on his Wild Wild Weather blog

Headed home to D.C.

Hello all,

Thanks for following me. I had a few days on the South Island of New Zealand before traveling back to D.C. I'm about to board my first of many flights to get home, but I wanted to share photos of the first two sunsets I saw after no sunsets for a week in Antarctica: one taken on the jet back to Christchurch from McMurdo, and the second from the West Coast of New Zealand.

I have so many photos and videos and so much information to share with you after I get back. Thanks again for following along, and check back soon!