Way Down Under: Spring in the Antarctic

Imagine leaving the modern, civilized world as we know it, and traveling down to Antarctica to live and work there for months at a time, in the equivalent of a scientific outpost on another, barren planet. Well, that is the life of vagabond Ken Klassy, that he writes about in his blog, Ken's AntarctiKen .

Ken's profile: am a Systems Administrator currently working at the McMurdo Research facility on Ross Island Antarctica. While my paycheck travels through several different subcontractors, it originates with the National Science Foundation. I spend 8 months a year enduring the winters of Antarctica. (no, its not that exciting… don’t believe everything you see on TV) While we do get to experience the occasional Condition 1 storm putting temps down around -70 ambient and windchill below -100 for the most part is pretty tolerable.


Photography is my main hobby when not at work. While in Antarctica I enjoy shooting auroras, stars, and the occasional iridium flare. All that is made possible by the orbital patterns of Earth plunging most of Antarctica into darkness for 3-5 months a year depending on your location. The Sun coming back in August brings out the Nacreous clouds which are always a great show. Do a search on Polar Stratospheric or Nacreous clouds to learn more about these clouds. They deal with the depletion of Ozone (natural depletion! not caused by global warming or any other THEORY!) Natures own acid clouds.


See some of Ken's amazing Antarctic photos here