Don't Panic Geocast Episode 3 - “Computers don’t like -20 degree temperatures” with Nick Holschuh
7 snips
Feb 6, 2015 
Nick Holschuh, a geophysics and glaciology graduate student at Penn State, shares his thrilling journey to Antarctica, where he faced unexpected equipment failures in frigid conditions. He dives into the fascinating use of radar technology to study the West Antarctic ice sheet and its dynamics. Holschuh also discusses the challenges of effectively communicating climate uncertainties to the public. Additionally, the conversation touches on the unique intersection of economics with geosciences, shedding light on how education shapes our understanding of complex issues.
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Antarctic Travel Challenges
- Nick Holschuh described the challenging journey to Antarctica, including multiple flight cancellations to the field site.
- He emphasized the unpredictable weather delays as a routine but frustrating part of Antarctic fieldwork.
Borehole Access in Antarctica
- Nick and team used a borehole drilled eight years earlier to lower instruments deep into the ice sheet.
- The buried drilling shelter and winching equipment illustrate the extreme Antarctic environment complexities.
Instrument Coupling Challenges
- The downhole seismometer had a mechanical lever arm designed to couple it to the borehole wall.
- Previous failures due to contraction in extreme cold underscored the challenge of reliable Antarctic instrumentation.
