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What lurks under the ice in Antarctica? Take a video tour with scientific diving officer Michael Lang
Posted on 30 September 2009
How many people would stare 15 feet down a deep ice hole and plunge into the freezing waters below? Michael Lang would and does on a regular basis. As the Smithsonian’s Scientific Diving Officer Lang is responsible for training and certifying all Smithsonian scientists whose research requires them to dive underwater, whether in extreme environments like Antarctica, or in the warmer, more inviting waters of the tropics. He also tests equipment and diving methods to ensure that all the Smithsonian scientists he trains are safe and able to work effectively underwater.
In the accompanying video Michael Lang discusses the incredible biodiversity that exists under the ice in the frigid waters of Antarctica. Blubbery Weddell seals, fish that live inside the ice and fascinating invertebrates that look otherworldly are some of the cold-water creatures Lang encounters frequently. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History has nearly 19 million invertebrate specimens, some collected as far back as 1838. Images of many of these creatures can be viewed on the Antarctic Invertebrates Web site.
This November, the Smithsonian will host an Antarctic Treaty Summit in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959 by 15 nations to ensure that this continent would be used for “peaceful purposes only.” More information on this upcoming event can be found at the Antarctic Treaty Summit Web site. The treaty has allowed scientists from all over the world to collaborate on research that has furthered our understanding of planet Earth, and has been a key element in the recent studies of climate change.
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Tags | climate change, National Museum of Natural History, scientist
The underwater footage in this video is absolutely amazing!
This is really interesting – not only the research but also the specialized equipment that these folks have to use. I still can’t imagine getting in that water though!
Great video!
The SI Scholarly Press will publish “Proceedings of the Smithsonian Marine Science Symposium” edited by Michael Lang, Ian Macintyre, and Klaus Ruetzler. It will appear in Smithsonian Contributions to the Marine Sciences, no. 38, due out in a few weeks.
This video had no human sound, only water gurgling.
WOW! That’s really impressive. Who would have believed the wonderful diversity under the Antartic ice. I really wish I were younger, I’d sure ’nuff attempt the training to be with you.
Interesting! Are there plans to have web cams in the Antarctica with streaming video and sound? That would be cool.
Fascinating video! The clarity of the water was astonishing to see. Wish I could have been there with them.
I would SO love to do this! When I took my ice diving class, a number of the people in the class said they were there because they wanted to dive in Antarctica some day. Way cool…
Great blog. I like the way you have it laid out. Thanks.
Nice site, I envy it, but it seems a little weird when under mozzila browser, keep it moving:)