Jack Gillies, Ph.D., NSF OPP is working on a research program to quantify the dynamics of the aeolian sediment transport system in three of the McMurdo Dry Valleys: the Taylor, the Wright, and the Victoria. Ten minute average wind direction, vertical wind speed profiles, and saltation activity were recorded continuously for two years. This data will be used to characterize the frequency, magnitude and seasonality of the aeolian transport system. Custom designed sediment traps collected the material being transported for grain size analysis and for estimating time-integrated horizontal sediment flux rates. In addition, the team examined the links between the transport system and two landforms found in the Dry Valleys: ventifacts or wind-abraded rocks and the unique gravel ripples of the Wright Valley.

Alison Murray, Ph.D. participated as an instructor in the International Antarctic Biology Course, a graduate and postdoctoral training course held at McMurdo Station. The month of January is dedicated to intensive marine sciences research-oriented activities in which the participants (25, this season) are exposed to the rigors of Antarctic field work and use the sophisticated laboratory facilities at the Crary Laboratory at McMurdo. An expedition blog assembled during the course can be found at summerinantarctica.usc.edu.

Kendrick Taylor, Ph.D. led a multi-institutional effort to investigate how atmospheric greenhouse gases influence climate. His team is collecting ancient ice that  fell as snow up to 100,000 years ago, which contains samples of the past atmosphere and information on past climate changes. See waisdivide.unh.edu for more details. Nature News’s Coverage of the work can be found at: www.nature.com/news/2010/100127/full/463408a.html.