New Zealand’s scientific base in the Antarctic, Scott Base, has now lost the sun. On Tuesday, the sun was up for 39 minutes then it set at 1.10pm. The team of 14 people who stay at Scott Base for the winter, will wait four months now until they see the sun on August 19th. On that date, they will see the sun for one hour and 40 minutes. Gradually this will increase and in mid-summer, it will be daylight for 24 hours.
The last flight from New Zealand was at the end of February. This flight brought fresh food. There will be no more fresh food now until an air drop in mid-winter which might even bring fresh eggs. Flights to Antarctica do not start again until October. Nobody can leave until then.
The people who stay over the winter include a chef, a mechanic, an electrician and scientists. They are trained in First Aid and they have a good communication system with New Zealand if they need medical advice. There is also a small hospital in the American McMurdo Base, only 5km away, if anyone gets sick.
Questions
1. Is it possible to drop fresh eggs from a plane without breaking them? What other things are probably dropped from the plane?
2. How do people manage to sleep when it is daylight for 24 hours? How do they manage to wake up when it is dark for 24 hours?
3. Scientists who stay over the winter enjoy the moon and stars. Would you like to stay in Antarctica over the winter? What do you think would be most difficult for you?