31st July - 6th August
G’day Campers!
This week from Tracey in Casey we bring you some interesting weather facts and figures about the month that was July.
Ferocious is one way to describe the weather of late. Atrocious is another. And I guess Casey Antarctic is probably the best one.
With compliments from our friendly Meteorology Staff here on Casey station we have the following info:
The worst July on record since 1989.
Highest Temp: - 0.3Deg C
Lowest Temp: -28.2Deg C
Highest Wind Gust: 104 Knots Easterly
Days of Blowing Snow: 16
Days of gale force Winds: 23
Days of Snow: 19 – (which was all blown away by the winds :o[ )
Days of Blizzard: 12
**A note should be inserted here that the average days of Blizz for July at Casey is normally 4 days*
Humidity hovers around 23%. (This is the driest place on earth after all)
But today it is lovely. I walked outside to the site of at least ½ a metre of snow fallen overnight and it was still falling – with no winds.
Gorgeous! An absolute winter wonderland of fine fluffy powdery snow. So I did what I do every day we have such beauty.
I dropped to the ground and made a Snow Angel. I just love making snow angels. :o]
Then I went on a 4 hour walk all around the local area. With pack on back off I headed with Shane, one of the dieso’s.
It was lovely to be out walking in the falling snow. It was very peaceful.
We walked over near Shirley Island and then up to the receiver farm, back through the station and down to the wharf.
While we were near Shirley we had spied what appeared to be seals in the distance near the wharf so decided to check them out.
To our delight we found two Weddell seals. They are my favorites, they have the cutest faces.
Weddell seals are very placid and don’t mind at all letting you come very close.
It is just so awesome to be able to sit on a snow covered rock, in Antarctica, next to such beautiful creatures in their wild, natural habitat.
It is good to see wildlife coming back to the station. Soon the penguins will be returning as well.
Sometimes it is still hard to believe I am actually here, living this adventure. I really do love this place.
The days are slowly becoming longer. The first reds and pinks of a sunrise start to creep over the horizon as I go to work now at 8am and the sun pokes its head out at about 9:30am now.
At 4pm it is still light, with dark just beginning to fall. 3 weeks ago it was pitch back at 4pm. So the change is occurring quite quickly now.
Roll on summer I say! 24/7 sunshine, blue skies, walking around in a T-Shirt. Can’t wait. The winter down here is long and cold. Of course I am in Antarctica so expect no less. But I have never been a big fan of the cold. And the lack of sunlight does have some severe physiological effects on the body.
On the work front:
Andrew and I finished refitting yet another Hagglund with a new centre console, Radar, VHF & HF Radios and GPS equipment. This is always fun. I do enjoy being in the dieso workshop; crawling all over the Haggs with drills and screwdrivers and shifters – drilling holes, running cables, fitting and mounting equipment. It is always a good feeling when you take the vehicle for a test run and all the equipment comes up and works a treat first go. Not that it ever would not work first go. I am tech after all! ;o]
Oh and before I go I would like to announce that I won the inaugural award for "Most Smashed rat" at our presentation ceremony on Saturday night.
I was trying for “Prettiest rat’ but any trophy will do. ;o]
Anyway - Till next week.
Be good, if not, be good at it!
Trace :o]
This week from Tracey in Casey we bring you some interesting weather facts and figures about the month that was July.
Ferocious is one way to describe the weather of late. Atrocious is another. And I guess Casey Antarctic is probably the best one.
With compliments from our friendly Meteorology Staff here on Casey station we have the following info:
The worst July on record since 1989.
Highest Temp: - 0.3Deg C
Lowest Temp: -28.2Deg C
Highest Wind Gust: 104 Knots Easterly
Days of Blowing Snow: 16
Days of gale force Winds: 23
Days of Snow: 19 – (which was all blown away by the winds :o[ )
Days of Blizzard: 12
**A note should be inserted here that the average days of Blizz for July at Casey is normally 4 days*
Humidity hovers around 23%. (This is the driest place on earth after all)
But today it is lovely. I walked outside to the site of at least ½ a metre of snow fallen overnight and it was still falling – with no winds.
Gorgeous! An absolute winter wonderland of fine fluffy powdery snow. So I did what I do every day we have such beauty.
I dropped to the ground and made a Snow Angel. I just love making snow angels. :o]
Then I went on a 4 hour walk all around the local area. With pack on back off I headed with Shane, one of the dieso’s.
It was lovely to be out walking in the falling snow. It was very peaceful.
We walked over near Shirley Island and then up to the receiver farm, back through the station and down to the wharf.
While we were near Shirley we had spied what appeared to be seals in the distance near the wharf so decided to check them out.
To our delight we found two Weddell seals. They are my favorites, they have the cutest faces.
Weddell seals are very placid and don’t mind at all letting you come very close.
It is just so awesome to be able to sit on a snow covered rock, in Antarctica, next to such beautiful creatures in their wild, natural habitat.
It is good to see wildlife coming back to the station. Soon the penguins will be returning as well.
Sometimes it is still hard to believe I am actually here, living this adventure. I really do love this place.
The days are slowly becoming longer. The first reds and pinks of a sunrise start to creep over the horizon as I go to work now at 8am and the sun pokes its head out at about 9:30am now.
At 4pm it is still light, with dark just beginning to fall. 3 weeks ago it was pitch back at 4pm. So the change is occurring quite quickly now.
Roll on summer I say! 24/7 sunshine, blue skies, walking around in a T-Shirt. Can’t wait. The winter down here is long and cold. Of course I am in Antarctica so expect no less. But I have never been a big fan of the cold. And the lack of sunlight does have some severe physiological effects on the body.
On the work front:
Andrew and I finished refitting yet another Hagglund with a new centre console, Radar, VHF & HF Radios and GPS equipment. This is always fun. I do enjoy being in the dieso workshop; crawling all over the Haggs with drills and screwdrivers and shifters – drilling holes, running cables, fitting and mounting equipment. It is always a good feeling when you take the vehicle for a test run and all the equipment comes up and works a treat first go. Not that it ever would not work first go. I am tech after all! ;o]
Oh and before I go I would like to announce that I won the inaugural award for "Most Smashed rat" at our presentation ceremony on Saturday night.
I was trying for “Prettiest rat’ but any trophy will do. ;o]
Anyway - Till next week.
Be good, if not, be good at it!
Trace :o]
posted by Tracey in Casey - Antarctica at 11:00 am
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