Although I knew there was a good probability I would
be traveling to
Antarctica this winter, a lot can happen beforehand that can either delay or
cancel the trip altogether (i.e., funding issues, health problems, etc.). Once
I got the official word for this winter, I knew there would be a lot to
purchase in a relativity short time. Complicating matters is the fact that you
are only allowed 75 pounds of luggage, so you need to make sure what you
pack will be of use.
Fortunately, you are provided a list with items to bring (see below). Here's an abbreviated version:
Clothing:
Miscellaneous:
Pants Alarm
clock
Glasses (eye and sun) Batteries
Jacket, warm windbreaker Camera/camera
batteries
Pants/jeans Coffee
mug
Shirts, light wool or fleece, long-sleeve Day pack
Sock liners Laundry
bag
Socks (heavy) Memory
stick
Sunglasses Toiletries
Sweaters (heavy and light) Water bottle
Towel and washcloth Ziploc
bags
Underwear (thermal top and bottom) Sunblock
Flip flops for shower
At first glance the list might seem a little light,
especially if you’re going to spend a lot of time outside in the cold. Fortunately, the government outfits you with
your “cold weather” gear in New Zealand (more to come later).
Furthermore, some items seem straightforward while some
others might come as a surprise. For example, thermal underwear, sweaters and
heavy socks seem logical while sunblock and sunglasses might not.
Sunglasses and sunblock not only help protect your eyes
and exposed skin from sunlight reflected off of snow and ice but also protect
you from increased UV radiation in Antarctica. This increased UV radiation is
the result of a relative lack of ozone or the “ozone hole” in the upper
atmosphere (i.e., stratosphere) above the continent. Under normal conditions, the ozone layer in
the stratosphere absorbs most of this harmful incoming UV radiation from
the sun, which can lead to skin cancers. We typically use sunblock or
sunglasses in the summertime to protect ourselves from the remaining UV radiation
that makes it past the ozone layer.
The ozone hole over Antarctica is largely due to excess
bromide and chlorine accumulating in the stratosphere from the use of ozone
depleting substances (ODP), such as chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons,
freons, and halons. These ODPs are typically
used as refrigerants in air conditioners or freezers, solvents, or fire retardants
(i.e., chemicals used to put out fires). In the winter time, global winds help
these harmful chemicals accumulate in the stratosphere above Antarctica. In the
spring time, a reaction between these chemicals, sunlight, and the ozone itself
causes it to breakdown. This is bad news as it lets through much more UV
radiation than what is expected in normal conditions. Due to this increased risk
of exposure to UV radiation, you are not recommended to go outside in Antarctica
without sunglasses and sunblock!
Figure 1. View of the ozone
concentrations in Antarctica in 2012 (Source: NASA). Areas colored in blue
exhibit much lower ozone concentrations than those colored in green, yellow and
red.
