A ntarctica is appealing. Its beauty is unique. It is a land that has never seen a war and where testing military capabilities is not allowed. It's a natural reserve dedicated to peace and science.
This is the place I will be calling home for the next five months, as I embark on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work for the UK. I am drawn to Antarctica because of my interest in the major role it plays in our climate system, as well as the chance to monitor the gentoo penguin colony in Port Lockroy.
I will be living and working on this small island on the Antarctic peninsula for the rest of the year. It's a place with a lot of animals. There are many species of sea bird and seals here. It's the stuff of dreams for wildlife lovers like me.
Four women were selected to run an outpost.
When I was studying geography at Glasgow I was able to travel to far flung destinations to conduct wildlife research. My work has taken me to several countries. Until now, there have been few and far between opportunities to work with amazing wildlife in the white expanse ofAntarctica.
There are stories of exploration, jeopardy, discovery and scientific advancement in the history of the continent. The first-hand experiences of those that lived and worked on the Antarctic decades ago are included in these stories.
Working with the other members of this year's Port Lockroy team, I'll be welcoming visitors to this tiny spot. The site is now a museum and home to the world's most remote post office. Visitors can purchase a souvenir here to support the trust's important work in heritage preservation in one of the most challenging environments on the planet. During the austral summer, a Nissen hut will be used as a bunkhouse. The site doesn't have running water, a toilet or internet, but it seems like a fair trade.
Climate change is always on my mind, even if I don't see it. When I move to the continent that gave birth to climate science, it won't be any different. The piece of the climate jigsaw puzzle that is important isAntarctica. The albedo effect is when the amount of heat that is absorbed is reduced by reflecting the suns rays. Climate change can be regulated by the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the southern ocean. The melting of the ice sheets could have dire consequences for coastal communities around the world. The need to limit and mitigate climate change is important.
You can see the consequences of climate inaction on the wildlife in polar regions if you watched the most recent episode of Frozen Planet 2. Warming temperatures mean more rain and penguins are at risk of dying if they don't protect themselves against dry cold. Changes to the population of penguins are indicators of the health of the environment. I will work on a long-term penguin study during my time at Port Lockroy. We will be able to better understand environmental changes and the impact on both wildlife and the environment as a result of the information collected.
As I prepare for the long journey, I think about the sights I will see, the history I will encounter and the wildlife I will observe. The chance to live alongside charismatic, unique species in such an awe-inspiring natural habitat negates any concerns of being far from home with no shower or toilet. What can it be?
The place that is most hostile to life is the most frigid place on the planet. It is rich in a few places. I hope to be as interested in the heritage of Antarctica and the smell of my neighbours as they are. I won't really know what to expect until I step foot on the snow covered rocks of Goudier Island. I will let you know
Dr MairiHilton is a researcher. You can follow Mairi and the team on the Port Lockroy website.
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