Ice Stories: Dispatches From Polar Scientists » observation http://icestories.exploratorium.edu/dispatches Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:40:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Observation Tube at the Penguin Ranch http://icestories.exploratorium.edu/dispatches/observation-tube-at-the-penguin-ranch/ http://icestories.exploratorium.edu/dispatches/observation-tube-at-the-penguin-ranch/#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:05:18 +0000 Exploratorium Crew http://icestories.exploratorium.edu/dispatches/?p=1328 PENGUIN RANCH, MCMURDO SOUND, ANTARCTICA– (By Ron Hipschman) At the Penguin Ranch, the scientists not only observe the penguins above the ice, but also below the ice. They do this with the “observation tube”. Anchored above a hole in the sea ice is a tube about 20 feet long and about 3 feet across. Rungs are welded to one side of the tube to let you climb down to the observation room which is a 360 degree glass-enclosed portion of the tube with a box to sit on. Once you are down in the observation room, someone closes the lid above to cut out the light from above, enhancing the observing experience. If you’re not claustrophobic, it’s actually a very relaxing place to sit and observe the ocean around you with the ice above. You should not be acrophobic (fear heights) either because you can look down into the inky depths below knowing it’s a 1500 foot dive to the ocean floor.


Here is the top of the observation tube with the light-blocking lid.

Looking down into the tube, you can see the iron rungs.

Sitting and observing in the observation tube (self-portrait given that there is not room for two people.) Note that the last 4 feet or so is on a rope ladder.

A somewhat fuzzy photo of a penguin swimming. It’s pretty dark down there and exposures have to be long.
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