Peter Gibbs' Antarctic adventure
- Published
Peter Gibbs is travelling to Antarctica, 36 years after he worked there as a young meteorologist. Peter will be travelling to the British Antarctic Survey research station Halley, to give us a unique glimpse into the life and discoveries being made at Britain’s most remote scientific station. Here's Peter in Antarctica back in 1980.
Peter Gibbs and his production team set off on the first leg of their journey to Antarctica on January 13. Here is the team after a 12 hour flight to Cape Town; still smiling and ready for the adventure to begin!
On January 15, Peter arrived at the Royal Research Ship Ernest Shackleton docked at Cape Town. This is the ship that will be making the voyage to Antarctica; a trip expected to take up to two weeks.
Here's Peter onboard the RRS Ernest Shackleton in front of the picturesque Table Mountain. He's holding the ship thermometer, he tells us he's going to continue to take weather observations right through the trip.
Here is the Royal Research Ship Ernest Shackleton in all its glory, docked at Cape Town before departure. The ship is operated by the British Antarctic Survey and is primarily a logistics vessel used to transport cargo, fuel and passengers. The ship also has a basic scientific capability and undertakes some research work.
Ernest Shackleton departed Cape Town on January 16. Here is Peter joined by Captain John Harper on January 18. John Harper was an Able Seaman onboard the ship that brought Peter out of Antarctica in 1982, when he finished his stint working as a meteorologist at Halley.
The Ernest Shackleton makes headway through the Southern Ocean! Taken January 18.
Three days into the journey and Peter described the weather as 'balmy!' Bright blue skies and t-shirt weather for now, but the chilly Antarctic air is only a few days further south.
It doesn't matter who you are onboard the Ernest Shackleton, everyone has to pitch in! Here's Peter preparing dinner. We were told parsnips were on the menu, yum!
On January 19, Peter told us 'We're now almost at 45 degrees south, 11 degrees east and deck sunbathing is definitely a thing of the past. Air and sea temperature is now just 10C and there is a chill to the wind. On the positive side, we are seeing more and more albatrosses around the ship, soaring without any effort using the wind rising from the faces of the waves to gain lift'.
This is a snap of a Black-browed albatross, smaller than the typical albatross with striking black markings around the eye.
A weather man is never off duty! Peter measures the wind speed onboard on January 20. 'Wind only blowing a force 3 today. The Southern Ocean is being kind to us!' he tells us.
Who can resist a beautiful sunset, and they don't get much better than this! Stunning shot over the Southern Ocean.
On January 22, the ship passed Bouvet Island, the most remote island in the world. Peter told us 'we were lucky to see it as it's often covered in cloud and fog'.
Evidence that Antarctica is nearing, first iceberg spotted! This picture shows a tabular iceberg, around a mile and a half long. Taken on January 22.
A glimpse inside living on the Ernest Shackleton, the onboard gym! 'The onboard gym sits in the hold. I've been rowing and running the Southern Ocean!' Peter tells us.
Peter's view the morning of January 26. Antarctica is mere hours away, as they reach the Southern Ocean pack ice.
The Antarctic coast approaches, as the ship pushes its way through the pack ice. Taken January 26.
Stop the press! First penguins spotted as the ship nears the Antarctic. These little fellows are Adélie penguins; they only inhabit the Antarctic coast. Taken January 26.
A crabeater seal spotted! Crabeater seals are found primarily on the free-floating pack ice that extends seasonally out from the Antarctic coast, which they use as a platform for resting. Taken January 26.
Two more crabeater seals spotted overboard - spying out the new crowd in town!
The moment the team have been waiting for, the arrival on the Antarctic coast! This was Peter's view on the morning of January 27.
A stunning view of the Brunt Ice Shelf, as the ship prepares to dock on the Antarctic coast. Taken January 27.
The RRS Ernest Shackleton coming alongside the ice shelf. Taken January 27.
As The RRS Ernest Shackleton arrives, Peter spots little huts at the mooring site. These are the only human objects on the coast for hundreds of miles. Taken January 27.
The Royal Research Ship Ernest Shackleton moored up against the Antarctic coast.
Peter describes his photo taken January 27. 'Digging snow holes for the moorings. Large timbers are buried deep in the snow and the ropes are attached to hold the ship. Four all together.'
Peter on the Brunt Ice Shelf in front of the Royal Research Ship Ernest Shackleton. BAS research station Halley is now only miles away! Taken January 28.
Thirty six years later and Peter has returned to BAS research station Halley. He says "it's awesome". Enough said! Taken January 28.
Bright blue sky behind the British Antarctic Survey research station Halley. Taken January 28.
Peter's made some new friends! Hanging outside Halley research station, on January 29.
On January 31, Peter explored an ice chasm which has appeared in the ice shelf. He told us, "Three years ago this was just flat snow. Now a huge chasm has opened and it's growing."
When out exploring the ice chasm, Peter spotted this crevasse. "Cloud causes a flat light, making crevasses like this very hard to spot", he told us.
Here is one of Halley's resident meteorologists taking a vital weather reading. A full weather observation is made every three hours. Taken January 31.
The biggest job for a meteorologist on base is to prepare and launch the weather balloon. First the radiosonde is prepared in the office. This measures temperature, humidity, pressure and wind speed as it's carried aloft, sending the information back to a ground receiver.
Then it's time to fill the balloon with helium. A weighted nozzle ensures that the balloon has just the right amount of lift to carry the radiosonde.
Finally, the radiosonde is tied on to the balloon and released, as near as possible to 11:30GMT. That's so the data can be compared with other balloons being released at the same time all over the world. On January 31, Peter was given the honour of launching the balloon!
A sneak peek inside British Antarctic Survey research base Halley. This is the science module in the main building, where scientists work all year round.
There are many modes of transport in Antarctica - including skis!
A look inside the Antarctic kitchen - here's Victoria cooking up a storm!
The Halley resident doctor is responsible for looking after the team working at Halley throughout the year. Here's a look inside his makeshift doctor's surgery (we're told the patient is pretending!)
Peter has now left Antarctica and departed for the Falklands onboard the RRS Ernest Shackleton. Here is his final view over the Brunt Ice Shelf.
As Peter departed from Antarctica and set sail to the Falklands on the Shackleton, he sent us some of his favourite scenery photos. There's a sunset, and then there's an Antarctica sunset! Simply breathtaking.
British Antarctic Research station Halley looking truly majestic in the evening sun.
A grand Emperor penguin photographed by Peter. The last glimpse of Antarctic wildlife before departing.
A stunning sunset over the superdarn radar. The superdarn radar is one of the main space weather experiments at Halley.
Halley glistening on a sunny day in Antarctica.
A stunning sunset over Weddell Sea, as the RRS Ernest Shackleton leaves the Antarctic coast for the Falklands. Peter will now spend a week onboard the ship, until he arrives in the Falklands on 14 February.
"The plants on the mountains collect moisture from the passing clouds, blown through by the trade winds," explains Peter Gibbs.
Ascension Island is the tip of a large, subsea volcano.
Cloud generated by streams on Green Mountain, the highest peak on Ascension Island.
Meteorologist Greg Dewhurst outside the airfield's Met Office, on Ascension Island. Despite there being a limited number of flights a week, the Met Office operates 24 hours a day, as the airfield also functions as an emergency diversion.