This trip was supposed to be very science-focused. It has seemed very "coach" (aka bus) focused to most of us, I believe. But, I decided to think about the science we did focus on, and, wow!! I guess we did do quite a bit!
In New Zealand, we started out at the Christchurch Antarctic Centre where we learned a ton about life in Antarctica. We participated in a brief talk on who spends time in Antarctica and learned that there are quite a few scientists working together on various different research topics. The Antarctic is a really different place because of its frigid temperatures and abundance of wildlife around it and who come to "visit" regularly. There are many different types of penguins not only in Antarctica, but also in New Zealand. One of my favorite exhibits at the Antarctic center was the Blue Penguin Habitat. The Blue Penguin is the smallest of penguins. It is endemic to New Zealand, meaning that New Zealand is their natural, main habitat. They are less than a foot tall, fully grown and are more of a dark blue, not quite navy, than black color. They are so cute!!! BUT, like most penguins, they are stinky! Their little lagoon area under water is just so calm and sweet looking. Watching them swim is so relaxing. Take a walk around the back side and up onto the shore side and, whew!!!! They stink!!!
Another of the exhibits that we all enjoyed was one where we were able to "experience" for ourselves what a storm in Antarctica would be like. We were led into a room that had simulated snow and frozen air. It literally felt frozen!! Then the "storm"began. The wind started to howl. The temperature dropped even more. I could feel my face begin to freeze and the faces of the kids around me were red and started to look chapped (in just that short of time?! Yes!). Maybe the best part of that exhibit was that when the storm simulation was over, we exited the room. We hung our special cold-proof jackets up and were able to warm our hands up instantly on the "hand-warming" bar!!! I need that!!! Wouldn't that be a great addition to Central?! Can you just imagine coming in from the cold and windy mornings and just warming your hands up on that bar?! I think yes. What do you think, Mr. Harrington??
Also in Christchurch, we were able to get a first-hand accounting story of the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. Our guide, Sarah, had been finishing a tour the day of the second earthquake (In 2011) and talked about how she saw so many people help each other out. Maybe "better" (if there can be a "better" way to learn about the earthquake's aftermath) experience for all of us was to see the destruction that is STILL there 2-3 years later. The downtown streets are still under construction and many are blocked off. There was a small shopping area that had been a mall, that was using cargo containers as shops. It actually gave it a really unique look, but it was completely different knowing that it was out of necessity--shops obliterated, by the earthquake.
Another shocking site was seeing a movie theater that had basically been cut in half. We could see the debris littering the aisles between the seats. It looked like it was a normal theater, waiting for its patrons to come and see the next big release. I am glad that the quake happened when no one was there, but rather in their beds still asleep!!
The other science focused day centered around the rain forest and the glaciers in the mountains. The Franz Josef Glacier was the one that we were supposed to climb, however, it is in its "retreating" phase so we were unable to and were to climb the Fox Glacier instead. Retreating means that it is shrinking or moving back to where it came from. The Fox glacier is 300 meters above sea level and is 12-15 kilometers long. We learned that the top is called the "nevé" and the place where the glacier ends is called the "terminal face". The Fox Glacier is one of the only glaciers that ends in a rain forest. We were to hike the terminal face.
It was a beautiful hike through frozen rain forest to the glacier. It gets about 30 meters of snow per year. There was no snow on the ground, which was a little abnormal because it is winter. They were expecting snow, so no one was worried. Everyone wants the glacier "healthy", which means not in the retreating phase. The guides at the glacier said that we are due for a mini ice age, which would be fine for the world with only a 4 degree dropping temperatures world-wide and great for the glacier.
There wason the ground, which was a little abnormal because it is winter. They were expecting snow, so no one was worried. Everyone wants the glacier "healthy", which means not in the retreating phase. The guides at the glacier said that we are due for a mini ice age, which would be fine for the world with only a 4 degree dropping temperatures world-wide and great for the glacier.
That was a lot of science in New Zealand!!! Wanna hear about culture?! Stay tuned...
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