Microbiome diversity and function in the Sør Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica Follow the updates on the expeditions of the MICROBIAN project to continental Antarctica!
11-01-2018
Final preparations in South Africa
After crossing the Sahara during an 11 hour flight from Paris to Cape
Town, the MICROBIAN team is preparing to leave for the largest desert on
earth, the Antarctic! In the office of the International Polar
Foundation, Elie, Valentina and Sam, together with
the expedition doctor, Barbara, and 2 Turkish geologists, Serdar and
Naki, tried on and tested many kinds of Polar clothing and gear.
Insulating layer after layer was put on while temperatures in Cape Town
reached 32°C. In the afternoon, all the scientists
and operating personnel travelling to different research stations in
Dronning Maud Land attended a briefing given by the Antarctic Logistic
Centre. The briefing provided the latest details of the upcoming flight
to the Russian Antarctic research station Novolazarevskaya
(Novo for the friends). From there a Basler BT-67 aircraft will take
the team across the Sor Rondane Mountains to the Belgian Princess
Elisabeth station during a 1.5 hours flight. The weather in Novo is very
mild at the moment and forecasted to be between
-2 and -3°C at the time of landing. If the weather remains fine the
team should arrive at the Princess Elisabeth station in the evening. So
fingers crossed and stay tuned for more news to come in the next few
days! The 2018 MICROBIAN team. From left to right: Prof. Dr. Elie Verleyen (Ghent University), Sam Lambrechts (PhD student, Ghent University) and Valentina Savaglia (PhD student, Liège University).
Reacties op bericht (1)
12-01-2018
Thanks for the news!
Hello Microbians,
We look forward to follow your adventures! All the best, Annick
