Life in the arctic...

Well arriving in the arctic was an easy process. I took a series of planes to go from Newark, New Jersey to Minnesota to Winnipeg, to Churchill. The flight to Churchill was on a prop plane that help 24 people in total. The flight was comfortable but noisy.

Upon arrival we received a tour of the facility, were assigned a bunk room and roommate, and then attended a research briefing. The research briefing was very insightful. It clarified the projects with which we will be involved. The initial briefing that I received from Earthwatch was a bit different then the research that I will be conducting while I am here. The focus during the time I am here will be on vegetative growth, soil profiling, and tree boring.

Today we are learning the methods of the study, instruments, and practicing using the instruments. Tomorrow will be the first full day in the field.

The facility has a lecture classroom, two large labs, a cafeteria, dorms, and a small library. The facility is maintained by a crew and the research is overseen by a research scientist who coordinates all of the on-site and off-site studies that are using the grounds. Visiting scientists arrange with the research scientist the logistics of their research.

I do have the ability to stream via skype in the mornings starting at 7:30 am Eastern time.