DRESCHHOFF PEAK
KU physics professor Gisela Dreschhoff has braved 15 Antarctic summers to study the effects of solar radiation. Now she is the third KU professor to have a place in Antarctica named after her.
Story by Tim Harrington • Photos by GR Gordon-Ross
standing about a mile and a half above the most frigid, wind-swept desert in the world is the namesake of a University of Kansas professor's life's work.
Dreschhoff Peak, in western Antarctica, was named after Gisela Dreschhoff, a KU physics professor for her contributions to science. From 1976 to 1991, Dreschhoff spent every November and January in the most inhospitable climate on Earth studying the effects of solar radiation.
"I'm really very happy about it," said Dresschoff of the honor bestowed upon her by the United
States Committee on Geographic Names. "I consider it the culmination of my work here at KU."
The official naming of Dreschhoff Peak came in January this year, but Dreschhoff received the news last year when she got a call from the National Science Foundation telling her that she had been recommended for the honor.
"Someone out there likes me." Dreschhoff said.
One reason for the recognition was the large body of data Dreschhoff and her associates collected during their years in Antarctica.
Gisela Dreschhoff, KU physics professor, holds up a sample of a rock containing Uranium ore. Dreshhoff has done extensive research with Uranium in Antarctica. She recently had a mountain named after her in appreciation for her work.
For instance, by studying the effects of solar radiation in Antarctica, Dreschhoff's team was able to warn the Apollo 12 moon walkers that irradiated lunar dust could burn tiny holes in their
space suits. Because of her findings, the design of the Apollo 12 lunar lander was changed.
The bulk of Dreschloff's time in Antarctica was spent on a U.S. Air Force Huey helicopter skimming 3,000-foot cliff faces and
levels of naturally occurring radiation. With that work, she established the average amount of-radiation on the continent.
An increase in the radiation levels could indicate toxic waste dumping, whereas a decrease could indicate looting of the continent's large uranium deposits.
Dreschhoff remembers her work with the Air Force fondly.
"You are flying along mountains and cliffs. That was extremely fun to do," she said. "That kind of flying is absolutely gorgeous."
At times, however, that kind of flying provided more of a rush than any spectacular scenery could induce. There were what Dreschhoff called "a couple of hairy encounters."
One such encounter occurred about 100 feet above the floor of a glacial valley. During what seemed to be a beautiful Antarctic day, Dreschhoff's chopper suddenly was caught in a blinding snowstorm.
With zero visibility, the pilots and crew could do nothing but sit tight as their aircraft tossed around through a pure white cloud. Then, as abruptly as it had come, the storm passed.
"It was two minutes of absolute terror," Dreschhoffsaid.
On her final trip last year, Dreschhoff's work proved less exciting and less dangerous, but not less important.
She studied ice core samples to build a long-term record of solar activity.
The ice cores contained a record of energetic particles from the sun that had entered the Polar region's atmosphere. These particles interacted with the atmosphere, forming nitric acid. The nitric acid then fell to the earth in snow, which was built up during thousands of years.
By studying the patterns of nitric acid in the ice cores, scientists can predict large eruptions of solar activity.
Dreschhoff said she hoped the research one day would aid in a human mission to Mars by protecting interplanetary travelers from sporadic and fatal bursts of solar radiation.
Dreschhoff Peak, though, is not the only geographic feature in Antarctica with the name of a KU professor.
Edward Zeller, a former KU professor of physics who was with Dreschhoff on every expedition, has a glacier named in his honor.
It was Zeller who invited Dreschhoff to leave her home in Germany to come work with him at the University of Kansas in 1967.
Dreschhoff and Zeller were married in 1992
Angino, a friend of Dreschchoff's, understands perfectly why the Board of Geographic Names chose to honor her.
Along with Dreschhoff Peak and the Zeller Glacier, there's the Angino Buttress, named after Ernest E. Angino, professor of civil engineering and geoelovt at the University.
"I don't think there's any question that she's spent more time in Antarctica than any woman alive," Angino said.
WEDNESDAY
Groova-ilious, 9 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $2.
PAGE 6A
THE UNIVERSITY
DAILY KANSAN
APRIL 2, 1997
THURSDAY
The Deal, 9 p.m. at The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St. Cost: $4 and $5.
Bait N Tackl, Crown Electronics and Holler, 9:30 p.m. at the Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $3 and $4.
FRIDAY
Funky Shtuff, 10 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $5 and $6.
KU Opera: Ellja by Felix
KU Opera: Ellija by reuva
Mendelssohn: the KU Symphony Orchestra. 8
p.m. at the Lied Center.
Cost; $7 public; $5 students and senior citizens.
Tickets available at the Murphy Hall, SUA and Lied Center box offices.
■ Inge Theater Series Between Pancho Villa and A Naked Woman 8 p.m. at the Inge Theater. Cost: $8 public; $4 students; $7 senior citizens. Tickets available at the Murphy Hall, SUA and Lied Center box offices.
SATURDAY
Art Alexikas (from Everclever) and Chris Tole, 6 p.m. at the Bottleneck, 7,37 New Hampshire St. Cost: $10.
feathers and The Honeydogs,
10 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737
New Hampshire St. Cost: $4
and $5.
Arthur Dodge & The Horse
Fools Fest featuring Kid Quark-starr & The Band That Saved the World, 10 p.m. at The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St. Cost: $4 and $5.
■ Inge Theater Series, Between Pancho Villa and A Naked Woman 8 p.m. at the Inge Theater. Cost: $8 public; $4 students; $7 senior citizens. Tickets available at the Murphy Hall, SUA, and Lied Center box offices.
Trombonanza, all day at Murphy Hall. Free.
Trombonanza, 3 p.m. at the Lied Center. Free.
The Ying Quartet, 3 p.m. at the Lied Center. Cost: $22 and $18 public; $11 and $9 students; $21 and $17 senior citizens. Tickets available at the Murphy Hall, SUA and Lied Center box offices.
SUNDAY
Swing Set, 9 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Free.
Visiting Artists Series; Paul Hunt, trombone; 1 p.m. at Swarthout Recital Hall. Free
Doctoral recital; Tandy Reusser, organ; 2:30 p.m. at Bales Recital Hall, Free.
KU Opera, Ellia by Felix
KU Opera, Eliza by Felix Mendelssohn; featuring the KU Symphony Orchestra, 8 p.m. at the Lied Center. Cost: $7 public; $5 students and senior citizens. Tickets available at the Murphy Hall, SUA and Lied Center box offices.
Faculty recital; Marian Hesse, horn; 7:30 p.m. at Swarthout Recital Hall. Free.
TUESDAY
MONDAY
Open Mike, 9 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Free.
■ Inge Theater Series, Between Pancho Villa and A Naked Woman 8 p.m. at the Inge Theater. Cost: $8 public; $4 students; $7 senior citizens. Tickets available at the Murphy Hall, SUA and Lied Center box offices.
■ Einstein and Double Stuff, 9 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $3 and $4.
Morphine, doors at 7 p.m. at The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St. Cost: $15.
Student Choreographers Concert, 7:30 p.m. at Sherbon Dance Theater in Robinson Center. Free.
Student recital; James Fightmaster, tenor; 7:30 p.m. at Swarthout Recital Hall, Free.
**Inge Theater Series, Between Pancho Villa and A Naked Woman 8 p.m. at the Inge Theater. Cost: $8 public; $4 students; $7 senior citizens. Tickets available at the Murphy Hall, CUA and Lied Center box offices**