The Harsh Bottom of the World | Continent 7: Antarctica

I think it's important for people to know about what's happening in Antarctica, not only just that the science that goes on down there, but what that science is actually trying to tell us about the future of this planet. Most of the research is really focusing on climate change and trying to predict how the continent has reacted in the past to warmer climates and how that's going to affect the planet in the future.

When you first get down there, the first breath you take, as you step off the plane, it really hits you. It goes right down through your lungs; the cold air, you can feel it. But after a couple of weeks of actually working in that environment, your body does adjust slightly, and the colder temperatures aren't so bad as long as you've got the appropriate attire on to keep you warm.

The weather is probably the biggest challenge for us down there. One minute it can be a reasonably nice day, and you've got good visibility; you can see where you're going and what you're doing. Within a matter of minutes, it can actually change, and you can't see a couple of feet in front of you. You're stuck out there without knowing where you are, and where your nearest vehicle is to retreat to for safety. Then it's a very tough environment to conduct science and to work in down there.

Every little thing you do takes a lot longer, and it's a lot harder. Changing the tire on a vehicle, which would normally be a five-minute job with your car at home, will take you an hour to two hours because of the conditions you work in.

Petrol sun's probably harder than perpetual night, too, or weather, because to get routines and patterns into your life, you can be awake at two o'clock in the morning, and it's like a nice, cool, warm summer's day. So you end up going for a walk, and suddenly your routines go away. Whereas in winter, it's actually a little bit easier to get into a normal daily routine.