Generally the weather balloons return to land or into the ocean. The balloons are made of a natural rubber latex, which under the right conditions (sunlight, water, micro-organisms) will decompose. The Bureau is continually looking at ways to reduce the impact, including replacing the use of weather balloons with other technologies (satellite etc) for forecasting purposes. The other important reason they are used in the Antarctic is to monitor the ozone depletion rate. It is still the best method for tracking the issue. An interesting article on the ozone problem: www.theadvocate.com.au/story/5046086/smaller-ozone-hole-does-not-mean-safety/

Thank you so much for responding. I know how important the work is and I am in awe of the intrepid few who carry it out! I am glad to hear that the balloons are expected to decompose.

Davo, how are you mate? Long time no see indeed. Have you done another winter or summer on the ice?

Not since our last. Looking like i may be heading south this summer tho...medical and phsyc passed, just waiting for confirmation. Hopefully Mawson this trip...fingers crossed. Take care mate..all the best

@@markdavis632 You end up heading back down mate? I am keen for another run too. Been too long!

@@alexrogers5777 g'day mate..yeah at Davis now for the summer. Putting in that new 600 000 ltr water tank finally. Did Mawson last year. That's the pick of the stations one the ice. Speccie place. Take care and merry xmas and all that Davo

We cooked up a whole pig on a spit outside in -30 deg C with an excellent Lager. That would have been one of the highlights. Thanks for watching.

I bet it's ice cream

G'day mate. They send us a bunch of fresh milk cartons, but nothing that good lasts that long. Long life was only for the lactose intolerant. It's amazing how quickly you forget the taste of the real thing...or just start drinking black coffee.

Refrigerated liquid (not powdered, not frozen, not shelf-stable) soy-milk stays fresh a lot longer than milk taken from living beings. Today is 24 March 2023, the soy-milk in front of me was bought at least a week ago, and the best-before date on it is 5 May. I often find that the date on the top is about two months after the date on which I buy it. It's delicious, it's inexpensive, it's better for the planet, and its nutritive value is better for weened humans than cows' milk is. I don't know how long they wait between deliveries, but being able to have milk for about two months without rehydrating a powder would be a nice way fill a good part of that time.

The double choc are the best ones...especially for a' Tim tam slam'...google that!😉😉😉

We often did. Picture a small caravan with a hole in the bottom dragged onto the ice. We would drill down through 3-4m of ice and then drop the lines in. Great way to pass time with a nice beer.

Its exactly what happened to the mammoths in north america, Mammoth genocide cause by native americans.

I guess you need a lot of skill to prepare a can of beens into to a delicious meal

We’re you a a kindergarten teacher once . You speak like one

Ha. No, never a kindergarten teacher, but a few young kids. As I mentioned in the summary, this was geared to primary school audiences. Thanks for watching.

You are, of course, joking Thurman Sherman

I asked the same obvious question when I got there. Problem is temperature variability. We swung from -43 to -5 deg C on some days, which doesn’t bode well for long term food storage.

Such a cool video man. You’re a legend. But you definitely need more sun 🌞

Cheers for watching man.

Most scientists there will have to take on other jobs. At times, they have to shovel snow, help out in the kitchen. The new Belarus station, the expeditioners are required to learn construction skills so they can assist in building their station.

Cheers for the feedback - was aimed at seven year olds so that might explain the speed. ;)

@@alexrogers5777 oops!

When the green ran out after only a month then there was not much left to eat other than processed food. There was a spud party after four months where we picked off all the growth from the potatoes and recycled them ready for chips. Hence the greenhouse! Needed some green.

The Russian Camp has the Best greenhouse out of all the stations that I've seen, that get's properly used and carefully attended to daily.

Google a timtam hot chocolate straw. Definitely one of the best experiences you could ever have!