7 January--Penguins

Emperor penguins

A group of 7 emperor penguins was along the sea ice/land margin down by Hut Point yesterday. Cavorting. waddling, sliding around.

I talked to Mandy Freylich, the physical therapist down here.  She goes on periodic clinical visits to the South Pole to treat people there.  A few days before New Year's she was down there and was expected to fly back to McMurdo in time for New Year's festivities here.  The weather turned and she was stranded for a few extra days.  But this allowed her to see them move the red and white barber pole with silver sphere on top the grand distance of 33 feet to show the change in the actual position of the geographic South Pole.  This is done every January 1st to reflect the slight wobbles in the Earth's spinning.  The magnetic South Pole is considerably further north than this and presumably wanders around as drunkenly as the magnetic North Pole.

Interesting things to ponder: When they move the marker for the South Pole, in whatever direction they move it, they will always be moving it south and when you are standing on the exact South Pole, every direction you can conceivably face is always north.

Fata Morgana.  The cliffs are all mirages.