QUESTION:
How can you tell direction in Antarctica?
	
        Jason N.
 	3rd grade
	9 years old


ANSWER from Scott Borg, Program Director                                 
            Office of Polar Programs
            Antarctic Geology & Geophysics Program        
            National Science Foundation
            Mon, 31 Mar 1997 17:51:13 -0500

Dear Jason,

You can use a magnetic compass in most areas but it is a bit more
complicated to use than in the rest of the world.  Scientists are using GPS
(Global Positioning System) satellites and receivers these days to tell
position and direction that they have travelled (not exactly the direction
in terms of following a direction, but this tells the direction they have
just come and so by reference to your recent path, you can determine
directions).

One of the easiest ways of telling "true" directions in the summer time is
by using the sun.  Unless you are at the south pole, where every direction
is north, then the sun is a bit higher in the sky at noon, local time.  The
highest point that the sun gets in the sky is also true north.  It takes a
bit of time to determine north in this way but you could then pick out
landmarks after you knew the direction.

Another way that geologists tell direction when they are in the mountains,
is simply by reading maps and using landmarks.

Scott Borg