Wednesday | 3 December, 2008

Interviews

Ch-Ch-Chatting with the South Pole's IT manager
Is there a difference between -60 and -100? Absolutely!
Robert L. Mitchell 03/01/2008 07:13:28
IT manager Henry Malmgren stands near the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. The actual pole marker is in the foreground right. This nine-meter diameter antenna points nearly horizontally toward the horizon to pick up geosynchronous satellites. Most communication to and from the South Pole travels over satellite. Extreme weather conditions make even simple maintenance tasks complicated. Manual dexterity is severely limited by the need for extreme cold weather clothing. The backup data center is directly vented to the outside, so keeping equipment at a nice temperature is usually an easy task. A ski-equipped LC-130 flown by the New York Air National Guard arrives with supplies. Everything from building materials to food and fuel must be flown in. The 300 Club is a select group of entertainment-starved South Pole crazies who steam in a 200-degree sauna, then run naked around the pole, realizing a 300-degree temperature change. Here's Henry Malmgren on a balmy -103F night. No, that's not grey hair on his head; it's frost. The geographic South Pole stands near the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station along with IT manager Henry Malmgren. cap8: The Southern Aurora lights up the night sky.
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Extreme weather conditions make even simple maintenance tasks complicated. Manual dexterity is severely limited by the need for extreme cold weather clothing.
Extreme weather conditions make even simple maintenance tasks complicated. Manual dexterity is severely limited by the need for extreme cold weather clothing.
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