1 00:00:05,539 --> 00:00:03,350 hi everyone I'm Aries Keck here at NASA 2 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:05,549 Goddard Space Flight Center and we're 3 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:07,770 doing a hangout live today with two of 4 00:00:11,810 --> 00:00:09,570 our scientists who are pretty much other 5 00:00:13,820 --> 00:00:11,820 ends of the earth and we've got a school 6 00:00:16,340 --> 00:00:13,830 that's here in Maryland where where 7 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:16,350 Goddard is as well they're at the Naval 8 00:00:20,900 --> 00:00:19,770 Academy primary school in Maryland we're 9 00:00:23,359 --> 00:00:20,910 going to be talking a lot today about 10 00:00:24,650 --> 00:00:23,369 ice bridge high school going to you guys 11 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:24,660 shortly and we're going to show some 12 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:27,810 videos as well first I'm going to 13 00:00:33,770 --> 00:00:30,570 introduce Nathan Kurtz he's the project 14 00:00:35,690 --> 00:00:33,780 scientist for operation IceBridge and he 15 00:00:37,850 --> 00:00:35,700 is reaching us from what looks like an 16 00:00:40,069 --> 00:00:37,860 office or maybe a hotel out there at 17 00:00:44,450 --> 00:00:40,079 Plato's air is chilly Nathan can you say 18 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:44,460 hi alright alright athan tell us what 19 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:48,090 you're doing there in Chile so we're 20 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:50,850 here in Chile with a plane it's called 21 00:00:56,209 --> 00:00:54,570 the g5 we've loaded up with instruments 22 00:00:59,660 --> 00:00:56,219 we have a laser on board a camera and 23 00:01:01,220 --> 00:00:59,670 we're flying around Antarctica around 24 00:01:04,789 --> 00:01:01,230 the oceans around out our cut it and 25 00:01:10,630 --> 00:01:04,799 we're measuring the ice how thick it is 26 00:01:14,690 --> 00:01:12,410 fantastic and now if you're watching 27 00:01:16,370 --> 00:01:14,700 this because you could imagine having 28 00:01:19,429 --> 00:01:16,380 somebody in Chile another person in 29 00:01:21,140 --> 00:01:19,439 Greenland oh we're going to be a little 30 00:01:23,330 --> 00:01:21,150 patient with our audio or any kind of 31 00:01:25,730 --> 00:01:23,340 technical issues it's going as well as 32 00:01:28,130 --> 00:01:25,740 it's going so far let me see if I can 33 00:01:30,649 --> 00:01:28,140 bring John woods who's in Thule 34 00:01:32,899 --> 00:01:30,659 Greenland in he the project manager for 35 00:01:37,399 --> 00:01:32,909 operation ice bridge and I think he's in 36 00:01:39,859 --> 00:01:37,409 the airplane hanger itself hello John hi 37 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:39,869 hello everyone yes my name is John woods 38 00:01:44,050 --> 00:01:41,610 and I'm currently the project manager 39 00:01:46,130 --> 00:01:44,060 for NASA operation icebridge and 40 00:01:47,510 --> 00:01:46,140 unfortunately we're not in our hangar so 41 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:47,520 our plane is actually the hangar next 42 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:49,290 door but I do have two of our pilots 43 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:51,570 here available to answer any questions 44 00:02:01,940 --> 00:01:54,210 if anyone has any pilot specific 45 00:02:03,830 --> 00:02:01,950 questions all right 46 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:03,840 hasook while since we've got the pilots 47 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:05,130 there let's go talk to them right now 48 00:02:13,250 --> 00:02:10,370 John do you mind taking it away alright 49 00:02:18,820 --> 00:02:13,260 mi-17 plug my headphone here see if I 50 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:26,920 hi I'm Greg Slover who's that audio okay 51 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:30,450 it's working fairly well so let's have 52 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:32,730 pilots before we lose you let me have 53 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:34,410 you guys describe what it's like to go 54 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:38,370 out on a flight you might put all my 55 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:41,370 headphones on describe what it's like to 56 00:02:52,490 --> 00:02:48,690 want to fly standby one second hi can 57 00:02:54,699 --> 00:02:52,500 you hear me what well it's what it's 58 00:02:57,050 --> 00:02:54,709 like is that we get up really early and 59 00:02:58,430 --> 00:02:57,060 we find out what the scientists want to 60 00:03:01,009 --> 00:02:58,440 fill out based on the weather that we 61 00:03:02,690 --> 00:03:01,019 have no grand if the weather is clear 62 00:03:05,089 --> 00:03:02,700 took real and these are really big 63 00:03:07,099 --> 00:03:05,099 island and so you look for really clear 64 00:03:09,410 --> 00:03:07,109 area so the history that we have this is 65 00:03:13,039 --> 00:03:09,420 a laser and camera can see all the way 66 00:03:15,410 --> 00:03:13,049 to acts and based on the weather gets 67 00:03:18,229 --> 00:03:15,420 together and about a couple hours Corey 68 00:03:19,940 --> 00:03:18,239 fly and we applied for about four hours 69 00:03:22,309 --> 00:03:19,950 and you come back here in land and the 70 00:03:24,259 --> 00:03:22,319 scientists take with you the data and we 71 00:03:31,900 --> 00:03:24,269 do that just about every morning in the 72 00:03:36,100 --> 00:03:34,360 and now pilots what is what are the 73 00:03:42,490 --> 00:03:36,110 planes like that you're flying out there 74 00:03:45,670 --> 00:03:42,500 oh it's right but I google HQ 25 75 00:03:49,330 --> 00:03:45,680 guardian and there's some figures of RPG 76 00:03:53,020 --> 00:03:49,340 from NASA and we got our twin engine jet 77 00:04:01,180 --> 00:03:53,030 coach Gard we have one that's fine right 78 00:04:03,580 --> 00:04:01,190 now and it seats right now that two 79 00:04:09,870 --> 00:04:03,590 pilots and we carry through resources 80 00:04:13,930 --> 00:04:12,220 excellent and so now you guys are up 81 00:04:15,820 --> 00:04:13,940 there in Greenland Nathan you're down at 82 00:04:17,350 --> 00:04:15,830 the other end of the earth are you doing 83 00:04:21,310 --> 00:04:17,360 similar flights from down there in 84 00:04:24,790 --> 00:04:21,320 puente Sarah so chilly yes we are we 85 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:24,800 also have a it's not a large plane but 86 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:29,810 it's it's decent size and we have our 87 00:04:35,470 --> 00:04:32,450 two pilots that fly on board we have a 88 00:04:38,140 --> 00:04:35,480 laser operator or a camera operator and 89 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:38,150 the techs on board and there are longer 90 00:04:43,570 --> 00:04:41,690 flights out to Antarctica to the 91 00:04:45,580 --> 00:04:43,580 southern are the northern tip of the 92 00:04:47,860 --> 00:04:45,590 Antarctic Peninsula it takes about two 93 00:04:49,510 --> 00:04:47,870 hours to get down there so just our 94 00:04:51,790 --> 00:04:49,520 transit to and from Antarctica is pretty 95 00:04:56,950 --> 00:04:51,800 long so our flights are about 10 or 10 96 00:05:00,150 --> 00:04:56,960 and a half hours every day and some of 97 00:05:04,090 --> 00:05:00,160 our targets are actually quite far 98 00:05:07,510 --> 00:05:04,100 something like the the guests gets as GE 99 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:07,520 TZ ice shelf is actually quite far away 100 00:05:12,430 --> 00:05:10,130 so it takes almost four hours to get 101 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:12,440 there we also have a mission that we 102 00:05:17,890 --> 00:05:15,050 haven't flown yet to the South Pole and 103 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:17,900 that's pretty much just a flying we kind 104 00:05:22,420 --> 00:05:19,610 of fly a circular on the South Pole go 105 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:22,430 to the cell phone and go up so it's 106 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:24,650 always depended on whether you don't 107 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:26,090 ever know where we're going to apply 108 00:05:30,280 --> 00:05:27,770 until that mornings and then we kind of 109 00:05:33,679 --> 00:05:30,290 make a call to decide where we're going 110 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:35,640 fantastic thanks so much that's Nathan 111 00:05:41,309 --> 00:05:39,610 Kurtz of course um he is down at point O 112 00:05:43,679 --> 00:05:41,319 Sarah's chili and now we have a school 113 00:05:45,869 --> 00:05:43,689 who's joining us low school if you guys 114 00:05:47,969 --> 00:05:45,879 want to unmute yourselves and see do you 115 00:05:49,619 --> 00:05:47,979 have any questions for the scientists 116 00:05:52,739 --> 00:05:49,629 that are there the school that's joining 117 00:06:01,559 --> 00:05:52,749 us is the Naval Academy primary school 118 00:06:12,779 --> 00:06:01,569 which is located in maryland hi guys so 119 00:06:15,330 --> 00:06:12,789 what okay so so what question is indeed 120 00:06:20,629 --> 00:06:15,340 not have for the pilots that's prob one 121 00:06:29,219 --> 00:06:23,369 anyone how long did it take them to get 122 00:06:32,010 --> 00:06:29,229 there okay I did you guys are usually so 123 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:32,020 so the question the school just asked 124 00:06:35,219 --> 00:06:33,490 and I put them on mute just because 125 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:35,229 there's a bunch of them there but the 126 00:06:38,850 --> 00:06:36,610 question they just asked was how long 127 00:06:42,510 --> 00:06:38,860 did it take you to get there let's go to 128 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:42,520 the gentleman in in Greenland first how 129 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:43,930 long did it take you to physically get 130 00:06:47,939 --> 00:06:45,849 up to Greenland to even start doing your 131 00:06:49,379 --> 00:06:47,949 job yeah I think your microphone is 132 00:06:57,779 --> 00:06:49,389 muted so you want to unmute your 133 00:07:00,059 --> 00:06:57,789 microphone let's see can we hear you if 134 00:07:03,029 --> 00:07:00,069 you're in Greenland try I'm muting your 135 00:07:07,589 --> 00:07:03,039 microphone there hey yeah just just 136 00:07:09,990 --> 00:07:07,599 unmuted oh my name is Greg again we have 137 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:10,000 our our airplane is out of Langley 138 00:07:15,089 --> 00:07:12,490 Research Center who Virginia's we flew 139 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:15,099 from Virginia up to Greenland it took us 140 00:07:21,540 --> 00:07:18,610 three flights and about 75 hours we 141 00:07:22,980 --> 00:07:21,550 stayed overnight in Tuesday Canada the 142 00:07:24,809 --> 00:07:22,990 airplane can actually get there a little 143 00:07:26,519 --> 00:07:24,819 quicker but because of the remote 144 00:07:29,129 --> 00:07:26,529 location of Greenland we had to make 145 00:07:32,459 --> 00:07:29,139 sure to carry extra fuel reserve so we 146 00:07:35,459 --> 00:07:32,469 left we take it and landed at finger 147 00:07:38,519 --> 00:07:35,469 loose away greenland you come come to do 148 00:07:40,879 --> 00:07:38,529 lyrics that allowed us to carry the 149 00:07:43,219 --> 00:07:40,889 extra fuel research needed 150 00:07:46,429 --> 00:07:43,229 your safety and for the operation 151 00:07:54,050 --> 00:07:46,439 conditions we also carry keeps the Saudi 152 00:07:55,939 --> 00:07:54,060 beast an excellent and now nate to you 153 00:07:57,800 --> 00:07:55,949 how long did it take it is physically 154 00:08:02,119 --> 00:07:57,810 get down to Chile to start even doing 155 00:08:08,589 --> 00:08:02,129 this job uh it took me about I believe 156 00:08:13,219 --> 00:08:08,599 30 hours uh uh I flew from Washington DC 157 00:08:14,929 --> 00:08:13,229 down to Miami down to Santiago it was 158 00:08:18,189 --> 00:08:14,939 flying over night and then I waited in 159 00:08:21,019 --> 00:08:18,199 the Santiago Air Force been flexing and 160 00:08:24,679 --> 00:08:21,029 flew down to the southern tip of Chile 161 00:08:27,499 --> 00:08:24,689 so the the plane that we took down here 162 00:08:30,679 --> 00:08:27,509 took off from Colorado just outside of 163 00:08:33,019 --> 00:08:30,689 Denver they flew it took them two days 164 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:33,029 to get down they they stopped in Arica 165 00:08:38,810 --> 00:08:35,610 Chile they picked up an observer from 166 00:08:41,089 --> 00:08:38,820 the Chilean military too on the way down 167 00:08:46,269 --> 00:08:41,099 we actually flew over several different 168 00:08:52,699 --> 00:08:46,279 targets include over Costa Rica II in 169 00:08:54,470 --> 00:08:52,709 yuh volcanoes and jalisa on the way down 170 00:08:55,519 --> 00:08:54,480 you turn the laser on and turn the 171 00:08:57,259 --> 00:08:55,529 cameras and we're actually taking 172 00:09:00,889 --> 00:08:57,269 measurements on the way down several 173 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:00,899 places so uh about two days to get down 174 00:09:09,259 --> 00:09:06,570 here excellent okay so Naval Academy 175 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:09,269 let's go back to you guys do we have 176 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:11,490 another question for our scientists 177 00:09:17,389 --> 00:09:14,130 there and but don't forget to unmute 178 00:09:21,860 --> 00:09:17,399 yourself first and you do that by going 179 00:09:26,380 --> 00:09:21,870 to the very top of your screen what's 180 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:26,390 the weather like yeah done in one and 181 00:09:34,250 --> 00:09:31,290 bring this up Jim okay let's let's let 182 00:09:35,900 --> 00:09:34,260 it start inmate first mate tell us with 183 00:09:37,910 --> 00:09:35,910 the weather's like down there and then 184 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:37,920 we'll go up there so Nate you're 185 00:09:45,439 --> 00:09:42,050 essentially down there Oh in Philly yes 186 00:09:47,180 --> 00:09:45,449 so the weather in Chile because it's the 187 00:09:48,949 --> 00:09:47,190 southern hemisphere that the seasons are 188 00:09:53,060 --> 00:09:48,959 opposite so it's just coming out of 189 00:09:55,790 --> 00:09:53,070 winter uh and coming into spring so 190 00:10:00,440 --> 00:09:55,800 it's it's a little bit chilly it's maybe 191 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:00,450 40 degrees on average here uh so but the 192 00:10:06,740 --> 00:10:03,450 big difference here the winds are very 193 00:10:10,790 --> 00:10:06,750 very strong it's very common to get just 194 00:10:13,820 --> 00:10:10,800 I don't even know how fast a winds and 195 00:10:17,180 --> 00:10:13,830 uh i mean it's it's constantly blowing 196 00:10:19,130 --> 00:10:17,190 and so this is actually a hazard for the 197 00:10:20,930 --> 00:10:19,140 plane itself because if the winds get 198 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:20,940 too strong we actually have to move the 199 00:10:30,770 --> 00:10:25,290 plane away so but otherwise it's it's 200 00:10:32,990 --> 00:10:30,780 pretty nice and in chile actually and 201 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:33,000 now up there in Greenland let's have you 202 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:33,930 guys talked about the weather I mean 203 00:10:37,250 --> 00:10:35,610 from the park up from the clothes you're 204 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:37,260 wearing the Parker you're wearing it 205 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:40,890 looks like it's pretty cold has been 206 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:43,010 really cool I actually started out at 207 00:10:48,050 --> 00:10:46,530 minus 10 degrees Celsius earlier in the 208 00:10:50,390 --> 00:10:48,060 week okay it's really nice and clear 209 00:10:53,420 --> 00:10:50,400 skies and unfortunately we just had a 210 00:10:56,210 --> 00:10:53,430 blizzard last night where it was blowing 211 00:10:58,820 --> 00:10:56,220 snow and with about 50 to 60 knot winds 212 00:11:01,490 --> 00:10:58,830 so we were all confined to our quarters 213 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:01,500 last night no it was a lot out and we 214 00:11:06,860 --> 00:11:03,530 just came out of our lockdown earlier 215 00:11:08,810 --> 00:11:06,870 this this morning but it's still blowing 216 00:11:10,220 --> 00:11:08,820 snow out there it's about 25 miles an 217 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:10,230 hour and unfortunately no one was able 218 00:11:15,770 --> 00:11:13,650 to fly so the weather has been pretty 219 00:11:17,390 --> 00:11:15,780 rough but fortunately some of our 220 00:11:19,190 --> 00:11:17,400 science targets are away from the air 221 00:11:21,410 --> 00:11:19,200 base so as long as the plane can take 222 00:11:27,890 --> 00:11:21,420 off there's other parts of Greenland at 223 00:11:30,350 --> 00:11:27,900 half decent weather lot over it says 224 00:11:31,940 --> 00:11:30,360 that sounds pretty intense so we have 225 00:11:34,100 --> 00:11:31,950 some video that I'm going to throw to a 226 00:11:38,540 --> 00:11:34,110 little bit to play and I'm thinking in 227 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:38,550 that Nate and can talk about it a little 228 00:11:45,650 --> 00:11:42,450 bit sorry and let's see if it's going to 229 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:45,660 play these are essentially what I 230 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:47,970 believe are flyovers Nathan can you tell 231 00:11:53,930 --> 00:11:49,170 us a little bit about what we're seeing 232 00:11:58,850 --> 00:11:53,940 here uh wait I don't see the video yet 233 00:12:02,000 --> 00:11:58,860 oh I see let's see what 234 00:12:07,730 --> 00:12:02,010 it what I'm sitting on Jefferson screen 235 00:12:10,310 --> 00:12:07,740 there should be at the top well let's go 236 00:12:12,430 --> 00:12:10,320 back out he see oh I see it now yeah 237 00:12:15,500 --> 00:12:12,440 thank you know so this is a flyover of 238 00:12:18,260 --> 00:12:15,510 an ice sheet let's see that the 239 00:12:19,820 --> 00:12:18,270 crevasses that's flying over mixture of 240 00:12:21,860 --> 00:12:19,830 water and ice there so probably along 241 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:21,870 the edge of an ice sheet so that rough 242 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:23,610 area those are car biases in the ice 243 00:12:28,070 --> 00:12:26,970 sometimes they get very very deep that's 244 00:12:29,750 --> 00:12:28,080 what you want to avoid if you're walking 245 00:12:31,970 --> 00:12:29,760 on the plane this is the plane that 246 00:12:35,510 --> 00:12:31,980 we're taking down south in Chile it's 247 00:12:37,940 --> 00:12:35,520 called the g5 it looks like oh that's 248 00:12:39,230 --> 00:12:37,950 and so this is the plane from Langley 249 00:12:42,590 --> 00:12:39,240 this is the Falcon that they're taking 250 00:12:48,260 --> 00:12:42,600 in Greenland so the two planes that we 251 00:12:50,930 --> 00:12:48,270 have on the mission right now uh see 252 00:12:53,990 --> 00:12:50,940 there's that's our mission scientists 253 00:12:58,820 --> 00:12:54,000 name's Jon Sno Tek he's up in Greenland 254 00:13:01,730 --> 00:12:58,830 as well he decides uh things like checks 255 00:13:06,590 --> 00:13:01,740 the weather make sure everything's going 256 00:13:09,020 --> 00:13:06,600 smoothly makes calls on the ground so we 257 00:13:12,170 --> 00:13:09,030 have him up in Greenland and I'm down 258 00:13:14,810 --> 00:13:12,180 here and uh and Chile doing a similar 259 00:13:17,180 --> 00:13:14,820 job right now and that all of this a 260 00:13:20,780 --> 00:13:17,190 question for you and Nathan so why do 261 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:20,790 two campaigns at the same time why why 262 00:13:28,250 --> 00:13:24,930 not just focus on one at a time uh in 263 00:13:30,380 --> 00:13:28,260 the past we had focused on one campaign 264 00:13:32,150 --> 00:13:30,390 at a time putting on different 265 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:32,160 instruments more instruments on one 266 00:13:37,820 --> 00:13:35,130 plane this year we don't have the planes 267 00:13:39,860 --> 00:13:37,830 that can fit all the instruments that we 268 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:39,870 have so we decided to take planes that 269 00:13:44,300 --> 00:13:42,330 fly at high altitude and take more 270 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:44,310 specific kinds of measurements and so by 271 00:13:47,540 --> 00:13:46,290 doing that we can actually take 272 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:47,550 measurements at different times of the 273 00:13:51,260 --> 00:13:49,290 year usually we have been taking 274 00:13:53,450 --> 00:13:51,270 measurements always in the spring so 275 00:13:55,970 --> 00:13:53,460 it's now spraying in the southern 276 00:13:58,820 --> 00:13:55,980 hemisphere and we had always been going 277 00:14:00,860 --> 00:13:58,830 to the Greenland and the Arctic in March 278 00:14:04,610 --> 00:14:00,870 and April May which is also the 279 00:14:05,930 --> 00:14:04,620 springtime when you take measurements at 280 00:14:09,830 --> 00:14:05,940 different times of the year so now we're 281 00:14:12,530 --> 00:14:09,840 in the fall time in Greenland it's just 282 00:14:16,730 --> 00:14:12,540 after the summertime so in some 283 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:16,740 uh everything's melting obviously not 284 00:14:21,830 --> 00:14:19,250 all Greenland starts to melt typically 285 00:14:23,570 --> 00:14:21,840 but a large portion does and so we don't 286 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:23,580 always know what happens how much snow 287 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:26,130 is melting how much snow is falling so 288 00:14:29,420 --> 00:14:28,050 when we come back in the fall after 289 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:29,430 we've taken measures in the spring we 290 00:14:35,860 --> 00:14:31,530 can get a sense of well what happened 291 00:14:38,690 --> 00:14:35,870 over the summer doing things I we try to 292 00:14:41,900 --> 00:14:38,700 improve predictive models so what's 293 00:14:44,030 --> 00:14:41,910 going to happen to Greenland many years 294 00:14:45,980 --> 00:14:44,040 from now and to do that we have to know 295 00:14:47,750 --> 00:14:45,990 well how could our models and how that 296 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:47,760 are we representing certain physical 297 00:14:53,570 --> 00:14:51,690 processes so by going in the fall it 298 00:14:59,060 --> 00:14:53,580 gives us more more information basically 299 00:15:01,490 --> 00:14:59,070 to to do that okay wonderful let's go 300 00:15:02,660 --> 00:15:01,500 back to the school for a second and have 301 00:15:05,150 --> 00:15:02,670 to see if you guys have another question 302 00:15:07,670 --> 00:15:05,160 for our scientists let's go back over 303 00:15:09,350 --> 00:15:07,680 here you guys should probably the big 304 00:15:11,930 --> 00:15:09,360 bucks there so let's hear again from the 305 00:15:13,340 --> 00:15:11,940 Naval Academy and I don't forget to uh 306 00:15:18,260 --> 00:15:13,350 meet your microphones and give us 307 00:15:21,500 --> 00:15:18,270 another question song what animals have 308 00:15:22,940 --> 00:15:21,510 they seen up in Greenland's all right 309 00:15:24,740 --> 00:15:22,950 now mute your microphone again and that 310 00:15:27,170 --> 00:15:24,750 sounds like a question for for John 311 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:27,180 woods up there in Greenland have you 312 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:29,010 seen any animals i know you're obviously 313 00:15:33,110 --> 00:15:31,410 focused on studying the ice but what 314 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:33,120 wildlife do you have to be aware of up 315 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:36,930 there so actually there's a pretty large 316 00:15:43,490 --> 00:15:39,330 family of arctic foxes and live on the 317 00:15:44,990 --> 00:15:43,500 dates assam almost every day and some 318 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:45,000 really it's been really neat to watch 319 00:15:51,350 --> 00:15:47,970 them getting their winter coats builded 320 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:51,360 so they they started out almost blacking 321 00:15:56,570 --> 00:15:53,970 color and they're actually turning much 322 00:15:59,480 --> 00:15:56,580 more white and it's just in good time 323 00:16:00,740 --> 00:15:59,490 since the snow is starting to fall and 324 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:00,750 they're blending in with the environment 325 00:16:06,170 --> 00:16:04,290 much better now and also one day when we 326 00:16:07,970 --> 00:16:06,180 weren't flying I was able to get up off 327 00:16:10,220 --> 00:16:07,980 base a little bit and see some Arctic 328 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:10,230 hares which are really impressive some 329 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:12,690 of the largest ponies I've ever seen and 330 00:16:18,350 --> 00:16:15,330 they are quite funny looking they stayed 331 00:16:21,140 --> 00:16:18,360 up on their hind legs and they run or 332 00:16:24,390 --> 00:16:21,150 hop pretty best we saw a couple dozen or 333 00:16:28,630 --> 00:16:24,400 two pairs as well and we're all facing 334 00:16:30,310 --> 00:16:28,640 and now back down to Nate are there 335 00:16:31,750 --> 00:16:30,320 similar types of animals that you have 336 00:16:34,150 --> 00:16:31,760 to be concerned about when you're doing 337 00:16:40,900 --> 00:16:34,160 the flights from point O Sarah's chilly 338 00:16:44,250 --> 00:16:40,910 uh not so much in Chile in terms of 339 00:16:48,250 --> 00:16:44,260 flying we do have toe we do fly over 340 00:16:49,750 --> 00:16:48,260 penguin colonies no this mission we 341 00:16:51,700 --> 00:16:49,760 don't have to worry about flying over 342 00:16:53,710 --> 00:16:51,710 the penguin colonies because we're high 343 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:53,720 altitude so we're far enough why not 344 00:16:58,990 --> 00:16:56,330 father them in the past we had flown 345 00:17:01,540 --> 00:16:59,000 loyal students we actually had to have a 346 00:17:03,550 --> 00:17:01,550 map of where we're all known penguin 347 00:17:06,310 --> 00:17:03,560 colonies are so we can maneuver around 348 00:17:08,860 --> 00:17:06,320 them because we don't want to interfere 349 00:17:10,630 --> 00:17:08,870 with anything that I think the plane 350 00:17:12,690 --> 00:17:10,640 actually because it's so loud it 351 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:12,700 actually disrupts their third 352 00:17:20,260 --> 00:17:16,850 environment and so do you have to be 353 00:17:22,120 --> 00:17:20,270 aware of that um we do see wildlife from 354 00:17:25,630 --> 00:17:22,130 the air not you haven't seen any from 355 00:17:28,180 --> 00:17:25,640 the high altitude but in the past do you 356 00:17:29,950 --> 00:17:28,190 see seals seals are there's some very 357 00:17:33,580 --> 00:17:29,960 large seals that we can see down on the 358 00:17:37,660 --> 00:17:33,590 ice from the air I other than that I 359 00:17:41,170 --> 00:17:37,670 mean Antarctica itself other than 360 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:41,180 penguins I there's no large animals and 361 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:43,010 so just just on the ice around it though 362 00:17:50,290 --> 00:17:48,770 we will see uh yeah lots of seals also I 363 00:17:52,570 --> 00:17:50,300 guess to bring it back up to to 364 00:17:54,790 --> 00:17:52,580 Greenland it there are polar bears 365 00:17:56,670 --> 00:17:54,800 around to Lee he'd be careful of they 366 00:17:59,860 --> 00:17:56,680 don't always hang around there but I 367 00:18:03,790 --> 00:17:59,870 have been around when a last spring when 368 00:18:06,220 --> 00:18:03,800 we were there uh there was actually they 369 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:06,230 had found a polar bear not too far off I 370 00:18:12,370 --> 00:18:08,330 thing goes about 15 miles off off the 371 00:18:14,050 --> 00:18:12,380 base right let's go back to the 372 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:14,060 classroom again and get another question 373 00:18:18,730 --> 00:18:17,690 from the Naval Academy kids hi guys so 374 00:18:26,020 --> 00:18:18,740 don't forget to unmute your microphone 375 00:18:32,230 --> 00:18:26,030 and give us a question Margaret you can 376 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:32,240 ask is it hard but changing now haha 377 00:18:36,890 --> 00:18:34,850 that's a good question or is it hard 378 00:18:40,100 --> 00:18:36,900 work let's go up to John up there 379 00:18:42,290 --> 00:18:40,110 in in Greenland first John woods the 380 00:18:43,340 --> 00:18:42,300 project manager so is it hard work and 381 00:18:45,140 --> 00:18:43,350 you were talking about a blizzard 382 00:18:48,830 --> 00:18:45,150 yesterday that did not sound like easy 383 00:18:50,750 --> 00:18:48,840 work committee yeah it's definitely a 384 00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:50,760 hard work environment and its really 385 00:18:56,210 --> 00:18:53,130 long days wake up really early and check 386 00:18:57,620 --> 00:18:56,220 the weather so eun if you know the 387 00:18:59,750 --> 00:18:57,630 weather doesn't look that promising 388 00:19:01,400 --> 00:18:59,760 yourself to get up and go through the 389 00:19:05,030 --> 00:19:01,410 normal routine to see if we can possibly 390 00:19:07,250 --> 00:19:05,040 fly and if we do fly for instance on the 391 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:07,260 last day before the storm hit we were 392 00:19:10,810 --> 00:19:09,450 actually able to apply two missions so 393 00:19:13,510 --> 00:19:10,820 the pilots were out for four hours 394 00:19:15,950 --> 00:19:13,520 getting back at a quick bite to eat 395 00:19:17,750 --> 00:19:15,960 refuel the airplane and flew again for 396 00:19:19,910 --> 00:19:17,760 another four hours but they were up in 397 00:19:21,530 --> 00:19:19,920 the air for eight hours and not to 398 00:19:23,900 --> 00:19:21,540 mention that the true on the ground to 399 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:23,910 support the claim they had to be here 400 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:25,290 you know before the flight and then 401 00:19:29,360 --> 00:19:27,690 again after the plane so definitely hard 402 00:19:31,780 --> 00:19:29,370 work in a challenging environment it's 403 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:31,790 really rewarding and fun I really need a 404 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:37,890 neat experience to be up there and now 405 00:19:43,220 --> 00:19:40,410 Nate on to you a little bit if it was 406 00:19:45,260 --> 00:19:43,230 hard work obviously it is but I mean how 407 00:19:46,820 --> 00:19:45,270 do you deal with the extensive amounts 408 00:19:48,290 --> 00:19:46,830 of darkness and sunlight that you have 409 00:19:53,990 --> 00:19:48,300 to deal with for these kinds of 410 00:19:55,790 --> 00:19:54,000 scientific work uh it's actually at 411 00:19:58,820 --> 00:19:55,800 least where we are it's the the 412 00:20:00,430 --> 00:19:58,830 latitudes not far enough away so we 413 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:00,440 don't have to deal with too much 414 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:02,610 excessive light and dark in Greenland 415 00:20:11,780 --> 00:20:06,330 it's much different so um but otherwise 416 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:11,790 I think the most challenging thing I 417 00:20:15,350 --> 00:20:13,410 guess in terms of visit hard work is 418 00:20:18,410 --> 00:20:15,360 there's a lot of what John said in terms 419 00:20:21,260 --> 00:20:18,420 of we have to get up very early to check 420 00:20:23,690 --> 00:20:21,270 one other when we do fly it's 10 and a 421 00:20:25,550 --> 00:20:23,700 half hour flights and then we come back 422 00:20:27,860 --> 00:20:25,560 and we always want to check everything 423 00:20:31,220 --> 00:20:27,870 that we had done so we do that in the 424 00:20:33,710 --> 00:20:31,230 night or the next day and you always try 425 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:33,720 to plan for the next day so days are 426 00:20:40,220 --> 00:20:36,690 long but again it's it's definitely very 427 00:20:44,300 --> 00:20:40,230 rewarding a fun okay so let's go back to 428 00:20:45,710 --> 00:20:44,310 the school again school hi all right so 429 00:20:47,780 --> 00:20:45,720 let's get another question from you guys 430 00:20:49,580 --> 00:20:47,790 about the science that they're doing up 431 00:20:50,630 --> 00:20:49,590 there if you have it so don't forget to 432 00:20:56,300 --> 00:20:50,640 unmute your microphone 433 00:21:02,020 --> 00:20:56,310 moans and I knew it you go to the top of 434 00:21:06,470 --> 00:21:02,030 your screen all right go ahead school 435 00:21:10,700 --> 00:21:06,480 Hey well uh do you I eat different food 436 00:21:14,210 --> 00:21:10,710 shop and grab one all right Joe chilly 437 00:21:16,870 --> 00:21:14,220 request and Ellen chillin the question 438 00:21:19,940 --> 00:21:16,880 is and we put you guys back on you and 439 00:21:21,830 --> 00:21:19,950 please John but I think your mics open 440 00:21:24,140 --> 00:21:21,840 like so they were tuck and I'm sorry 441 00:21:25,790 --> 00:21:24,150 your microphones open so John woods 442 00:21:27,260 --> 00:21:25,800 you're talking about kinds of food you 443 00:21:28,940 --> 00:21:27,270 eat up there I can imagine it can be 444 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:28,950 quite comforting to come in and have 445 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:30,690 something warm after these blizzard 446 00:21:38,090 --> 00:21:34,650 conditions yes so we actually pretty 447 00:21:43,550 --> 00:21:38,100 well up here freeland is actually Danish 448 00:21:47,500 --> 00:21:43,560 own so there's a lot of Danish food so 449 00:21:49,940 --> 00:21:47,510 authentic pages a lot of fish a lot of 450 00:21:51,890 --> 00:21:49,950 lot of different meats that you might 451 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:51,900 not normally experience in the United 452 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:54,090 States but they also do have a lot of 453 00:21:57,740 --> 00:21:55,890 America novelties but usually at it at 454 00:22:02,840 --> 00:21:57,750 each meal I like to try at least one 455 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:02,850 authentic danish danish but they 456 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:04,050 definitely on peeps pretty well although 457 00:22:08,030 --> 00:22:06,090 again last night since we had the 458 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:08,040 blizzard no one was a lot out so we had 459 00:22:12,410 --> 00:22:10,290 to make our own dinner in our dorm rooms 460 00:22:14,870 --> 00:22:12,420 and they actually handed out meals 461 00:22:18,260 --> 00:22:14,880 ready-to-eat which are like the army 462 00:22:21,470 --> 00:22:18,270 boxed meals for breakfast this morning 463 00:22:26,450 --> 00:22:21,480 until the base of that guy and now so 464 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:26,460 what's a traditional Danish meal so lots 465 00:22:33,890 --> 00:22:30,090 of different uhh different fish some raw 466 00:22:36,830 --> 00:22:33,900 fish which I tried but not enjoy too 467 00:22:38,750 --> 00:22:36,840 much some different types of sausages 468 00:22:40,850 --> 00:22:38,760 they have hot dogs here that they call 469 00:22:42,950 --> 00:22:40,860 hot dogs that do not look like our hot 470 00:22:47,690 --> 00:22:42,960 dogs but again everything seems to be 471 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:47,700 Bertha tribe is the most and now Nate 472 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:49,530 you're down in a completely different 473 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:51,450 part of the world and bathing is it 474 00:22:56,180 --> 00:22:53,730 different down there with what you're 475 00:23:00,320 --> 00:22:56,190 eating or is it a similar fish based 476 00:23:02,810 --> 00:23:00,330 food uh it's it's quite a bit different 477 00:23:04,970 --> 00:23:02,820 um I think 478 00:23:07,730 --> 00:23:04,980 Chile has its own kind of cuisine and 479 00:23:10,310 --> 00:23:07,740 most of the restaurants here that we are 480 00:23:12,830 --> 00:23:10,320 Chilean but since we're in southern 481 00:23:16,100 --> 00:23:12,840 Chile I think the biggest difference is 482 00:23:18,820 --> 00:23:16,110 that there's just not many fruits and 483 00:23:21,919 --> 00:23:18,830 vegetables except for canned food so 484 00:23:23,419 --> 00:23:21,929 there's very idea just very little fresh 485 00:23:27,499 --> 00:23:23,429 fruits and vegetables so a lot of the 486 00:23:29,930 --> 00:23:27,509 food is meat cheese they do like their 487 00:23:31,519 --> 00:23:29,940 sweets here so they have excellent 488 00:23:36,499 --> 00:23:31,529 selection of cakes and things like that 489 00:23:40,159 --> 00:23:36,509 but other than that it's it is pretty 490 00:23:42,499 --> 00:23:40,169 good food but again not many vegetables 491 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:42,509 and fruits are not so much healthy 492 00:23:47,029 --> 00:23:45,210 eating and I would say okay so we're 493 00:23:48,740 --> 00:23:47,039 going to the science of this 494 00:23:51,499 --> 00:23:48,750 mission a little bit I'm an ice bridge 495 00:23:54,860 --> 00:23:51,509 is not only studying land ice it's also 496 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:54,870 studying ice sheets and glaciers and sea 497 00:23:58,669 --> 00:23:56,970 ice so Nathan we're gonna play some this 498 00:24:04,519 --> 00:23:58,679 video can you explain a little bit about 499 00:24:07,460 --> 00:24:04,529 what we're seeing as this plays so what 500 00:24:09,169 --> 00:24:07,470 you can see the border around Antarctica 501 00:24:13,340 --> 00:24:09,179 it's kind of shifting that's the edge of 502 00:24:16,009 --> 00:24:13,350 the sea ice so as the season changes the 503 00:24:19,310 --> 00:24:16,019 sea ice grows and shrinks based on winds 504 00:24:21,049 --> 00:24:19,320 and how cold it is so this video's you 505 00:24:23,659 --> 00:24:21,059 can see mountains in the background but 506 00:24:25,999 --> 00:24:23,669 then the the water itself the ocean 507 00:24:28,519 --> 00:24:26,009 surface freezes and it gets quite thick 508 00:24:31,279 --> 00:24:28,529 at times but we're seeing here is sort 509 00:24:34,159 --> 00:24:31,289 of a mixture of the the darker ice isn't 510 00:24:35,990 --> 00:24:34,169 quite as thick has doesn't have any snow 511 00:24:39,499 --> 00:24:36,000 on it but then you see it mixed in with 512 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:39,509 a spice that does have snow on it so 513 00:24:45,620 --> 00:24:44,010 it's probably a bit thicker I just 514 00:24:48,850 --> 00:24:45,630 and it moves around quite a bit so 515 00:24:51,890 --> 00:24:48,860 you're seeing you don't just see a big 516 00:24:53,780 --> 00:24:51,900 white sheet of ice it's more typical in 517 00:24:56,030 --> 00:24:53,790 the Arctic in the anode if you see a lot 518 00:24:58,610 --> 00:24:56,040 more variety just because of the ice is 519 00:25:01,180 --> 00:24:58,620 thinner it moves around more it's more 520 00:25:04,730 --> 00:25:01,190 expansive so this is very new ice 521 00:25:08,270 --> 00:25:04,740 probably the ice it opened up a bit it's 522 00:25:12,230 --> 00:25:08,280 just so cold and it freezes over this 523 00:25:14,300 --> 00:25:12,240 this looks like near the edge of the 524 00:25:16,850 --> 00:25:14,310 Antarctic so in the background even side 525 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:16,860 see the edge of that the ice sheet and 526 00:25:21,140 --> 00:25:18,690 what happens is there's very strong 527 00:25:25,490 --> 00:25:21,150 winds they just blow they push the ice 528 00:25:27,740 --> 00:25:25,500 away from the from the continent and it 529 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:27,750 keeps the the ocean ice free but then it 530 00:25:31,910 --> 00:25:29,850 starts to form you ice it's just just so 531 00:25:35,120 --> 00:25:31,920 cold down there here there looks like 532 00:25:37,730 --> 00:25:35,130 icebergs mixed in with the I soda the 533 00:25:39,549 --> 00:25:37,740 efforts cab off the land 534 00:25:43,460 --> 00:25:39,559 you 535 00:25:45,740 --> 00:25:43,470 the wrong about the car blowing the ice 536 00:25:48,799 --> 00:25:45,750 away but it's in the process kind of 537 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:48,809 creating new ice so this is a one of our 538 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:51,690 instruments taking pictures on board the 539 00:25:55,750 --> 00:25:53,970 aircraft so here's a field of icebergs 540 00:25:58,340 --> 00:25:55,760 so this is near the continent just 541 00:26:01,700 --> 00:25:58,350 calving off lights of big icebergs that 542 00:26:06,379 --> 00:26:01,710 you can see means these things are just 543 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:06,389 huge there they're massive easy to spot 544 00:26:15,139 --> 00:26:12,330 from the air this again icebergs mixed 545 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:15,149 in with the ice here's some more sea ice 546 00:26:25,310 --> 00:26:20,730 a bit hard to tell what's going on in in 547 00:26:28,399 --> 00:26:25,320 this sea ice but so that again looks 548 00:26:30,740 --> 00:26:28,409 like all Antarctic sea ice and one easy 549 00:26:33,169 --> 00:26:30,750 way to tell us it's the I guess the 550 00:26:36,769 --> 00:26:33,179 sheer variety so from the snow cover to 551 00:26:40,159 --> 00:26:36,779 the non snow-covered and again the the 552 00:26:42,830 --> 00:26:40,169 huge icebergs all over Antarctica just 553 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:42,840 calves off so many icebergs so it's 554 00:26:49,360 --> 00:26:44,250 pretty much what we're seeing on the 555 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:52,490 fantastic thanks so much Nathan Kurtz 556 00:26:57,680 --> 00:26:54,690 hey let's go back up to John woods a 557 00:27:00,020 --> 00:26:57,690 real quick up there I'm wondering we 558 00:27:03,110 --> 00:27:00,030 hear a lot about how things are melting 559 00:27:05,150 --> 00:27:03,120 at our polar regions and I know that's 560 00:27:07,279 --> 00:27:05,160 one of the parts of this mission is to 561 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:07,289 keep track this ice have you been able 562 00:27:15,409 --> 00:27:09,690 to see differences as you go out from 563 00:27:16,850 --> 00:27:15,419 year to year yeah definitely that's 564 00:27:22,279 --> 00:27:16,860 exactly what trying to do is I'm 565 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:22,289 measuring the melt summer fall season 566 00:27:27,380 --> 00:27:24,090 right now compared to what we saw in the 567 00:27:28,940 --> 00:27:27,390 previous March season I do believe that 568 00:27:32,360 --> 00:27:28,950 every year that he come up here they do 569 00:27:34,039 --> 00:27:32,370 see a little bit less nice time they're 570 00:27:35,210 --> 00:27:34,049 definitely does seem to be a decline in 571 00:27:40,250 --> 00:27:35,220 noise and that's a detective with these 572 00:27:42,980 --> 00:27:40,260 measures so we can track that and I know 573 00:27:45,289 --> 00:27:42,990 this is my first time in the fall time 574 00:27:48,169 --> 00:27:45,299 so I've nothing to really compare to I 575 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:48,179 know when I was up here springs ago and 576 00:27:52,789 --> 00:27:50,010 talking to people that have lived up 577 00:27:54,470 --> 00:27:52,799 here for seven eight nine plus year they 578 00:27:56,830 --> 00:27:54,480 have mentioned that there they have 579 00:28:07,279 --> 00:27:56,840 definitely seen at the climate change 580 00:28:09,860 --> 00:28:07,289 amount of snow and now John up there and 581 00:28:12,260 --> 00:28:09,870 truly Greenland I know the flights are 582 00:28:13,669 --> 00:28:12,270 higher this year in altitude we're going 583 00:28:14,930 --> 00:28:13,679 to look at a little bit of video of that 584 00:28:17,029 --> 00:28:14,940 but while we're doing that can you 585 00:28:21,279 --> 00:28:17,039 explain what's the importance of flying 586 00:28:28,490 --> 00:28:24,289 there so the plea met were on this year 587 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:28,500 it's a pilot's Twinner an old postcard 588 00:28:34,490 --> 00:28:32,250 claim and its really optimized to fly 589 00:28:37,549 --> 00:28:34,500 higher altitude so you get a much longer 590 00:28:39,860 --> 00:28:37,559 range so much longer missions when it's 591 00:28:41,299 --> 00:28:39,870 up in altitude and the instrument that 592 00:28:44,390 --> 00:28:41,309 we're using that we've been using the 593 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:44,400 past at lower altitudes they modified it 594 00:28:49,970 --> 00:28:48,690 to be a entire opportunities so this is 595 00:28:52,789 --> 00:28:49,980 the first time that they phone did it 596 00:28:55,039 --> 00:28:52,799 this high we're grateful they're kind of 597 00:28:57,350 --> 00:28:55,049 the boats but their baby collected some 598 00:29:00,530 --> 00:28:57,360 great data and they're really looking 599 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:00,540 forward to usually again this way in the 600 00:29:14,150 --> 00:29:12,110 excellent okay let's go back to that 601 00:29:15,530 --> 00:29:14,160 naval academy and have you guys do one 602 00:29:17,390 --> 00:29:15,540 more question I think we have time for 603 00:29:23,810 --> 00:29:17,400 probably two more questions let's do one 604 00:29:35,780 --> 00:29:23,820 now so don't forget to undergo what is 605 00:29:37,190 --> 00:29:35,790 the time what is the time difference all 606 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:37,200 right so the question is what is the 607 00:29:43,910 --> 00:29:40,650 time difference go to Nathan Kurtz first 608 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:43,920 down there in Chile ah the time 609 00:29:49,190 --> 00:29:45,810 difference here it's only one hour time 610 00:29:51,470 --> 00:29:49,200 difference from eastern US so the 611 00:29:56,900 --> 00:29:51,480 eastern time zone so how much different 612 00:30:01,460 --> 00:29:56,910 it's one hour ahead and up there in 613 00:30:04,220 --> 00:30:01,470 Greenland s so early an hour were an 614 00:30:06,530 --> 00:30:04,230 hour ahead but even more interesting I 615 00:30:10,070 --> 00:30:06,540 think is that we're losing about 15 616 00:30:13,310 --> 00:30:10,080 minutes of daylight a day so we've been 617 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:13,320 up here the Sun has risen an hour later 618 00:30:17,450 --> 00:30:15,810 each morning so we used to go to 619 00:30:19,850 --> 00:30:17,460 breakfast into the early morning weather 620 00:30:22,130 --> 00:30:19,860 brief first day we got here it was sunny 621 00:30:23,570 --> 00:30:22,140 out and now it started and then when we 622 00:30:25,790 --> 00:30:23,580 come in at night again it's getting 623 00:30:27,140 --> 00:30:25,800 darker a lot sooner and you can you 624 00:30:30,410 --> 00:30:27,150 definitely notice the difference from 625 00:30:31,610 --> 00:30:30,420 day to day are you losing up here until 626 00:30:40,740 --> 00:30:31,620 they'll actually go into complete 627 00:30:42,510 --> 00:30:40,750 darkness here and now the main 628 00:30:45,180 --> 00:30:42,520 question you guys we both introduced you 629 00:30:47,460 --> 00:30:45,190 as a either project manager a scientist 630 00:30:49,860 --> 00:30:47,470 for operation icebridge the biggest 631 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:49,870 question we get is exactly what is this 632 00:30:53,820 --> 00:30:51,730 ice bridge what are you trying to bridge 633 00:30:58,530 --> 00:30:53,830 between the two Nathan Kurtz let me have 634 00:31:02,550 --> 00:30:58,540 you answer that one so the concept of 635 00:31:04,110 --> 00:31:02,560 the bridge came out we NASA had a 636 00:31:07,050 --> 00:31:04,120 satellite called ice at which was 637 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:07,060 launched in 2003 was a laser taking 638 00:31:13,770 --> 00:31:10,210 measurements of the surface i SAT failed 639 00:31:16,290 --> 00:31:13,780 in 2009 and the next version of i SAT is 640 00:31:18,690 --> 00:31:16,300 actually not set to launch for about 641 00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:18,700 another two years so in the meantime 642 00:31:24,270 --> 00:31:22,690 nasus decided to have a plane take 643 00:31:25,890 --> 00:31:24,280 similar kinds of measurements and so 644 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:25,900 that's sort of the bridge that we're 645 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:28,210 trying to do is is bridge these two 646 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:29,410 satellites so make sure we're not 647 00:31:34,290 --> 00:31:32,410 missing something but in the meantime 648 00:31:36,750 --> 00:31:34,300 you can actually put a lot more 649 00:31:41,610 --> 00:31:36,760 instruments than on a plane than you can 650 00:31:45,270 --> 00:31:41,620 on a satellite so we we typically fly a 651 00:31:50,250 --> 00:31:45,280 set of lasers radar very different kinds 652 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:50,260 of radars for some radars measure how 653 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:52,330 deep the snow is they don't go down very 654 00:31:57,240 --> 00:31:55,570 far under the ground up their radars 655 00:32:00,210 --> 00:31:57,250 that we have actually go all the way to 656 00:32:02,910 --> 00:32:00,220 the bottom of the ice sheet so can go 657 00:32:04,710 --> 00:32:02,920 down more than a mile into the ice just 658 00:32:09,570 --> 00:32:04,720 to see how thick it is where the rock is 659 00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:09,580 so other things that are on you know but 660 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:10,690 sometimes I have an instrument that 661 00:32:15,750 --> 00:32:13,810 measures the gravity field and based on 662 00:32:19,950 --> 00:32:15,760 very small changes in the gravity you 663 00:32:21,810 --> 00:32:19,960 can tell a sort of what kind of material 664 00:32:24,900 --> 00:32:21,820 is under the ice so this video is 665 00:32:26,940 --> 00:32:24,910 showing the concept of the radar so the 666 00:32:28,410 --> 00:32:26,950 planes flying over an ice shelf in this 667 00:32:30,750 --> 00:32:28,420 case taking laser measurements of the 668 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:30,760 top a radar that's going down underneath 669 00:32:36,900 --> 00:32:34,330 and so when combined the tube the the 670 00:32:39,510 --> 00:32:36,910 radar going underneath we get sense of 671 00:32:42,330 --> 00:32:39,520 well are we losing ice if we're losing 672 00:32:44,550 --> 00:32:42,340 ice or are we losing snow are we gaining 673 00:32:47,180 --> 00:32:44,560 I saw regaining snow so really what's 674 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:47,190 happening to to change the ice sheets so 675 00:32:52,370 --> 00:32:49,690 putting as much as we can onto a plane 676 00:32:54,450 --> 00:32:52,380 taking all these different measurements 677 00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:54,460 tell us what's happened 678 00:33:04,580 --> 00:32:57,610 so bridging this gap between the the I 679 00:33:09,090 --> 00:33:06,810 fantastic all right so one last question 680 00:33:11,580 --> 00:33:09,100 from the Naval Academy kids who've been 681 00:33:13,980 --> 00:33:11,590 joining us let me go over to you guys so 682 00:33:17,670 --> 00:33:13,990 this is one last question from you guys 683 00:33:19,260 --> 00:33:17,680 make it a good one oh I don't forget to 684 00:33:21,140 --> 00:33:19,270 turn your microphone back on you have to 685 00:33:29,370 --> 00:33:21,150 do it up at the top of your screen there 686 00:33:37,050 --> 00:33:29,380 we go yeah let me just okay we can hear 687 00:33:39,330 --> 00:33:37,060 you honey hi oh you they were so do you 688 00:33:40,980 --> 00:33:39,340 know whatever on it ah for the question 689 00:33:45,810 --> 00:33:40,990 is you know we're having a game right 690 00:33:48,450 --> 00:33:45,820 here okay there you go so let's throw it 691 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:48,460 up to John first is the hurricane that 692 00:33:53,790 --> 00:33:49,690 we're having here on the East Coast 693 00:33:55,170 --> 00:33:53,800 United States affecting you guys your 694 00:33:58,530 --> 00:33:55,180 question answer not affecting us 695 00:34:01,080 --> 00:33:58,540 directly now a lot of the people that 696 00:34:03,420 --> 00:34:01,090 are from up better on the crew here are 697 00:34:05,190 --> 00:34:03,430 from the Virginia area so they're pretty 698 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:05,200 nervous I know my family's back home 699 00:34:09,090 --> 00:34:07,450 they're in Annapolis we're thinking that 700 00:34:10,290 --> 00:34:09,100 everyone with a hurricane on the east 701 00:34:15,320 --> 00:34:10,300 coast and we've been watching the 702 00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:17,640 excellent and now on to you native you 703 00:34:20,730 --> 00:34:19,210 having the same thing with just two 704 00:34:22,920 --> 00:34:20,740 people you're here you are at a rather 705 00:34:24,510 --> 00:34:22,930 extreme part of the world but here we're 706 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:24,520 having rather extreme weather right off 707 00:34:30,390 --> 00:34:27,850 the east coast of the US yeah it's it's 708 00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:30,400 pretty much what John said my family is 709 00:34:36,510 --> 00:34:34,210 back in Maryland some of the crews has 710 00:34:39,780 --> 00:34:36,520 family uh in the path of the hurricane 711 00:34:43,260 --> 00:34:39,790 so that's pretty much the extent of it 712 00:34:46,550 --> 00:34:43,270 otherwise know whether direct impact on 713 00:34:49,230 --> 00:34:46,560 the mission there are candy other 714 00:34:51,990 --> 00:34:49,240 factors like that do have an impact 715 00:34:54,930 --> 00:34:52,000 there was a an earthquake not too long 716 00:34:56,460 --> 00:34:54,940 ago just off of chili which ended up 717 00:34:58,610 --> 00:34:56,470 delaying some of our shipments a little 718 00:35:02,630 --> 00:34:58,620 bit 719 00:35:04,310 --> 00:35:02,640 a volcano went off on one of our planned 720 00:35:07,490 --> 00:35:04,320 flight tracks we had to divert around it 721 00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:07,500 a little bit so there are always natural 722 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:09,210 disasters that happen we just gotta 723 00:35:17,210 --> 00:35:15,810 prepare for it okay so John just because 724 00:35:18,530 --> 00:35:17,220 we're going to wrap up here let's go 725 00:35:20,510 --> 00:35:18,540 back up to you to Greenland if you can 726 00:35:21,710 --> 00:35:20,520 tell us a little bit more but maybe 727 00:35:23,180 --> 00:35:21,720 what's going to be happening in the next 728 00:35:25,310 --> 00:35:23,190 few days or what you're going to do with 729 00:35:30,110 --> 00:35:25,320 the data when you get back down back 730 00:35:33,050 --> 00:35:30,120 home yeah so we're actually a period 731 00:35:35,240 --> 00:35:33,060 into plea agreement until Wednesday and 732 00:35:37,880 --> 00:35:35,250 then actually we're taking a art NASA 733 00:35:40,340 --> 00:35:37,890 Jet will go down about two hours south 734 00:35:44,660 --> 00:35:40,350 of here to our town called king of Ooo 735 00:35:47,570 --> 00:35:44,670 silvac preglued two weeks out of there 736 00:35:51,290 --> 00:35:47,580 lots of tiny targets down the southern 737 00:35:53,510 --> 00:35:51,300 part of the the island so we're hoping 738 00:35:54,950 --> 00:35:53,520 to get to more science flights in on 739 00:35:56,660 --> 00:35:54,960 Monday and Tuesday unfortunately the 740 00:36:00,260 --> 00:35:56,670 airport is closed here on saturday and 741 00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:00,270 sunday we're hoping actually to get to 742 00:36:05,930 --> 00:36:02,490 more flying days in and possibly even to 743 00:36:12,140 --> 00:36:05,940 to research place before we go down for 744 00:36:14,890 --> 00:36:12,150 another two weeks in some fantastic and 745 00:36:17,210 --> 00:36:14,900 now Nathan Kurtz down there and Chile 746 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:17,220 casts a little bit about the final bit 747 00:36:21,830 --> 00:36:20,010 of what you're going to be working on so 748 00:36:25,520 --> 00:36:21,840 we have about another month that will be 749 00:36:27,530 --> 00:36:25,530 down here right now we're actually night 750 00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:27,540 because whether it's just too bad over 751 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:29,490 all of Antarctica is just clouds 752 00:36:33,530 --> 00:36:32,010 everywhere or as we found out it's 753 00:36:35,870 --> 00:36:33,540 actually too cold for the plane to fly 754 00:36:39,560 --> 00:36:35,880 in some places it's it's 80 below zero 755 00:36:43,820 --> 00:36:39,570 so the plane does not fly gets too cold 756 00:36:45,970 --> 00:36:43,830 for that so we're looking like whether 757 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:45,980 it's going to be better tomorrow so I 758 00:36:51,260 --> 00:36:48,450 probably fly on the Antarctic Peninsula 759 00:36:53,150 --> 00:36:51,270 and that's pretty much what will keep 760 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:53,160 doing well as long as the plane 761 00:36:57,440 --> 00:36:55,130 nothing's wrong with the plane 762 00:36:58,850 --> 00:36:57,450 instruments are working in weather is 763 00:37:01,820 --> 00:36:58,860 good we'll just keep flying back and 764 00:37:02,990 --> 00:37:01,830 forth fantastic all right so let's go 765 00:37:04,670 --> 00:37:03,000 back to the naval school just have you 766 00:37:12,950 --> 00:37:04,680 guys say goodbye thanks so much for 767 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:12,960 joining us guys want to say and I got a 768 00:37:30,290 --> 00:37:26,570 thank you so much Nathan thank you thank 769 00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:30,300 you thank you thank you everybody for 770 00:37:37,970 --> 00:37:34,610 joining us so this has been a live 771 00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:37,980 obviously a Google+ Hangout I Mary's 772 00:37:41,720 --> 00:37:39,690 cake here at greenbelt maryland for 773 00:37:43,790 --> 00:37:41,730 Goddard Space Flight Center and I really 774 00:37:45,770 --> 00:37:43,800 want to thank both Nathan Kurtz and John 775 00:37:47,810 --> 00:37:45,780 woods from the operation IceBridge team 776 00:37:49,790 --> 00:37:47,820 thank you guys so much for joining us 777 00:37:51,860 --> 00:37:49,800 from both ends of the earth and we hope