• Question: Why do you need snow samples?

    Asked by Emily_Emily_Evie to Beth on 13 Oct 2015. This question was also asked by curlygirl.
    • Photo: Beth Healey

      Beth Healey answered on 13 Oct 2015:

      Hello! This is Adrianos from Greece, I am Beth’s predecessor as a research doctor for the European Space Agency in Antarctica and I am filling in for her today due to connectivity problems over there.

      During my stay in Antarctica, we collected snow samples for various reasons. My friend, Cecile, a glaciologist, needed to run tests on them to study the composition of the ice. For me, as medical doctor, the interesting thing was to check for living microorganisms in the snow. Our research Station lies in the heart of Antarctica, where the temperature is so low that no animal lives. But maybe bacteria can? I think Beth’s crew collects snow samples for similar reasons, maybe she’ll give you more details herself once her internet connection in Antarctica comes back!

Comments