British Antarctic Survey employee from Forres helping to research environmental impact for national governments

A Forres man is working for 15 months as a field guide in one of the most inhospitable areas of the planet.

British Antarctic Survey employee, Nathan Rhind, 27, left for the furthest reaches of the Southern hemisphere last November on the RRS Sir David Attenborough - the polar research ship formerly known as Boaty McBoatface - to join science teams in the coldest, windiest, and driest continent on Earth.

“I feel privileged to be here,” he said. “It's very satisfying to be part of research which has a huge significance to the planet in light of climate change.

“The main challenge is being away from home for so long - I appreciate everyone back home supporting me.

“It's a harsh environment and job but an amazing experience.”

The keen mountaineer travelled to Cambridge for interviews and assessment to get the job. He trained all over the UK then sailed out from Uruguay via the Falkland Islands and across the Drake Passage to Antarctica.

The British Antarctic Survey investigates Earth’s frozen regions. For the last 60 years, the research has highlighted their fragility and what that means for the planet. The scientists discovered the hole in the ozone layer and identified key evidence for climate change in ancient ice – to this day, their science still informs decision-makers.

Nathan is based at Rothera Research Station - the UK's main base in Antarctica - as well as Halley VI Research Station on the Brunt Ice Shelf, and Fossil Bluff field station.

“It's a varied role,” he said. “The main aspects are guiding science teams on field deployments and keeping them safe, delivering training and recreation, and looking after field equipment.

“I'm also trained as a medical assistant - we do regular training with the station search and rescue teams who assist if there is an off-station emergency.”

At Halley, Nathan was the only field guide for most of the season where he took the science and engineering teams out on Skidoo snowmobiles to service GPS sites measuring the movement of the ice shelf. They also monitored the weather and terrain.

He said: “The snowmobiles are linked by ropes and the riders linked to the Skidoo, so if one falls into a crack or crevasse - which are often hidden by a thin cover of snow - there's a good chance of the linked skidoo stopping the fall!”

At Fossil Bluff, Nathan has been carrying out meteorological observations and helped to refuel aircraft going to and from more remote locations. His next job is boarding everything up so it can be left for the approaching winter.

Over the winter, he will be at Rothera, servicing equipment, monitoring sea ice and glaciers, and taking divers out to sites over sea ice.

He will also be taking winterers out for week-long recreational mountaineering trips as part of his training.

He said: “This allows time off station for them; important, given the length of time we're down here. It was more or less 24/7 sunlight for the first few months I was here but that'll be reversed and it'll be dark most of the time.”

Halley and Rothera are well established stations, mostly two to a room, with canteen-style dining areas and flushing toilets. The internet is a fairly recent addition. Halley is operational for around 10 weeks of the year; Rothera all-year-round.

“There were about 35 people at Halley this year,” said Nathan. “Rothera has about 140 at the height of summer but this will reduce to 40 in winter.”

Whilst on field deployment, the team stay in pyramid tents, using kerosene primus stoves and tilley lamps for cooking and heating. Having been flown in, travel is generally then by Skidoo with everything they need on a wooden Nansen sledge.

“Plus a lot more in case of getting caught in bad weather!,” added Nathan. “Most of the equipment has not changed much since the early days of Antarctic exploration because it works well and is easy to repair. Part of my role is instructing people on how it all works and fixing it.”

There are currently just three people at Fossil Bluff - a cottage similar to a bothy but with electricity and a skiway where planes fitted with skis land. The toilet is a bucket outside.

The trio take it in turns to cook; mostly military rations, canned or dehydrated food with similarly imported fresh veg and meat.

“It’s surprising how varied a diet you can have with those things!,” said Nathan. “The less hectic life here gives you time to think about what to do in the future.

“I would like to return after this deployment but for a shorter term. Meanwhile, I hope to continue to develop my skills and make the most of being here.”

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