We are slowly
discovering some truly cold spots on Earth which may well serve as a valuable
laboratory and manufacturing platform for exotic materials and tests in large
bulk lots. Where else could one lay out
tons of material on a test bed to process easily at these temperatures?
Of course, it
would be wise to tunnel deep into the rock to protect humans working there and
a closed heat system would also be wise.
Of course a
whole range of technology would demand invention in order to work well here but
to be honest; we need all this anyway in order to work in space, on the moon
and on Mars. A full base on that
particular ridge begins to look attractive.
On the other
hand, penetrating with an adit and excavating a series of internal chambers is
a pretty quick job and that internalizes the whole operation while it is
happening. The trick is to go as large
as can be mounted in the front end. Next
season one can easily double up the working space with the same equipment and
completely resupply as well.
Since this is an
underground base, it makes sense to create domed chambers with cemented roofs
in the first phase, then excavate downward deeply below the roof, then build
the internal structure back up to the secure roof. Multiple ten story chambers with connecting
multi story tunnels that also are wide enough to house living space provide a
robust base.
This will be
necessary because moving in and out of this base particularly needs to be
minimized during the winter at least.
Polar-orbiting
satellite locates the coldest place on Earth
It goes without saying that it's cold in Antarctica, but exactly how
cold does it get? Scientists poring over more than 30 years of
data from orbiting satellites have found one part
of the Antarctic mountain ridge that actually got down to a record -93.2
degrees Celcius — the coldest temperature we've ever recorded anywhere on
the planet.
This truly
bone-chilly temperature was recorded on August 10th, 2010, along the East Antarctic Plateau, and it knocks
the previous 'coldest place on Earth' — Vostok research station with its record of -89.2°C — off of its 26 year throne of
ice.
As for how
temperatures can actually get down that low, rather than a very windy place,
you actually need very still air that persists in one area for a long time, as this short video explains:
There are a few
particularly amazing and scary facts about this discovery.
Firstly, this
temperature is so cold that it goes far beyond any discussions of extreme cold
you'll likely find. Environment Canada's guide on this kind of weather stops at "-55 and below" with warnings like
"Extremely High risk: exposed skin can freeze in less than 2
minutes," "DANGER! Outdoor conditions are hazardous" and the
simple advice of "stay indoors." Furthermore, that "-55 and
below" isn't for temperature, but wind chill. The same strong
breeze that can turn -30°C into a -55 wind chill can make -93.2°C feel more
like -145. Yikes!
If you ever want
to visit the East Antarctic Plateau, forget about the long underwear and
parkas. Break out the space suits!
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