This project was designed both to investigate the little explored sub-ice shelf environment and to provide essential site data for coring 1000 m into the sea floor by ANDRILL for a history of the McMurdo-Ross Ice Shelf (MRIS). Ross Island has been depressing the crust under its own weight for at least the last million years, and at the same time has been acting as the western pinning point for the MRIS. As a result sediment has been accumulating in a sea floor depression over 900 m deep to the south of Ross Island in Windless Bight (Fig. 2). These sediments record the presence and possible past absence of the MRIS, and the movement of Ross Sea Shelf Water behind Ross Island between McMurdo Sound and the central Ross Sea

Proposed field activity

We proposed to occupy up to 4 sites on the McMurdo Ice shelf (Windless Bight area), first melting a 50-cm-wide hole through the ice shelf (70 to 150 m thick). We then proposed to measure water depth (expected to be over 800 m) and water column properties through a tidal cycle (conductivity, temperature, current speed, current direction) before sampling the sea floor by grab and gravity corer. At one or more sites a mooring to measure currents over several tidal cycles would be deployed and recovered. The access hole was to be melted by a Hot Water Drilling system provided by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, which had been delivered by ship the previous summer.

Achieved activity

The project ran extremely well with access holes drilled and kept open through the ice shelf for up to 9 days (for a full account see the Logistics Report). This was critical for the success of the project. All instruments and sampling devices deployed through the access holes functioned and were recovered. The two most central of the 4 proposed sites were occupied, and a third site at the edge of the ice shelf monitored over a period of three weeks for currents in the upper 2/3 of the water column. The field operation to deploy the camp, drill and ream the access holes took longer than expected for the first site especially. In addition the techniques that we would trial to re-drill a hole and recover the frozen-in mooring were evaluated and it was decided that these required further development before this procedure would likely be successful. We decided to concentrate on two ice shelf holes setting short-term current moorings in both and a sea ice site where a mooring was deployed for 22 days.

Application process

At the time of submission of this program for review by Antarctica New Zealand AWI and VUW had committed to sending the AWI hot water drilling equipment to Antarctica by ship in January 2002 and was also awaiting the outcome of PGSF funding. This was a significant risk and a commitment of funds primarily by AWI before the result of the proposal submission was known. The timing of Antarctic logistics, the timing of season proposal system due October 2002 for one season (2002/03) programs did not allow any alternative and would require a one year delay. In future the earlier timing of proposal submission and the longer term (3 year) proposals will hopefully reduce this problem. PGSF funding was approved March-April 2003, the hot water drilling equipment wintered at Scott Base so the program could proceed.

Communications with Antarctica New Zealand staff

This program was one of the larger programs supported by Antarctica NZ in 2002-03 and it was clear that it would require a significant large part of the available surface vehicle resources. These resources and in particular their timing when they were available were a constraint to the field program. Field events such as the Divers working on the sea ice in October-November and the seismic operation (K114) working in the WOLZ before Williams Field opened (October 21) required the same resources. We also considered it to be prudent to under take NZ's first hot water drilling operation during the warmer part of the season to minimise freezing problems based on past experience with other drilling projects. The AWI HWD system is also operated outside without protection from wind and temperature. We proposed to operate in the January – February period when temperatures were still relatively warm but were also conscious of the limited time frame available especially the expectation of minimal aircraft cargo capacity for equipment return to NZ and therefore relying on ship cargo which had to be available early February. Antarctica NZ was aware and understood these constraints and accommodated our program within their resource capability.

A significant planning step was to confirm the position of the proposed HWD sites with the US Airfield authorities. This was done by several emails and a meeting with NYANG and ANT.NZ representatives in Christchurch in mid 2002. Several different groups approved the proposed 2002/2003 seismic lines and HWD sites in the US system. One site was too close to the Williams field cross wind runway but this was only apparent when we had setup our considerable camp. We and Antarctic NZ followed appropriate procedure, got US approval but it is now clear that the system at McMurdo is extremely complex and that the system and process is will have to be clarified for future work such as ANDRILL.

We did have some miscommunication and changes regarding the start timing of our field operation and our flexibility to change this was limited because of international flight travel by our German, Italian and US collaborators. There is a difficulty in planning around the Christmas – New Year period when few flights are planned but more a usually scheduled as the season progresses. Antarctica NZ's effort to get three of us on a NYANG flight was very helpful.

In future this HWD operation probably would be better planned for the warm and settled weather period from mid November to ensure a longer field period is possible without the cargo on timing constraints associated with the end of the season.

Provision of maps and aerial photographs

Aerial Photographs or maps were not sourced from Antarctica NZ. During our negotiation with NYANG and McMurdo authorities regarding the seismic and HWD operation in the WOLZ it became apparent that a map data base of the McMurdo Station area with the airfields, roads etc. is available and updated by USGS/Raytheon. It would be extremely helpful if Antarctica NZ investigated this and made it available to NZ researchers and also the operating group at Scott Base.

Pre-season information

We were well informed by the Operations Manager and Cargo Operations during most of the planning stages. Our operation was complex and we accept that it is important to able to initiate dialogue and requests with the personnel who are directly providing the service.

Medicals, documentation and flights to Antarctica

International collaborators add an extra dimension to this process. It is important that this is considered and the process this year as in the past of accepting other national programs medicals should continue. This season German and Italian members used their own medial process and hand-carried their medical records to Scott Base to be held by the Operations Manager. Our US member was not supported by the US program and completed NZ requirements. Some of the documentation could be available earlier in the year. The cost of medicals is an increasing concern especially for people visiting Antarctica on a regular basis. At the moment all Laboratory tests must be done again and these seem to be increasing in Number (SARS next?).

Reception and planning for your event

This process was complicated due to the size and complexity of the program. We hired Johno Leitch as camp and program engineer and he was involved in planning and the set up of equipment from mid December for this event prior to the other event members starting on the program and arriving in Antarctica. This position required extensive knowledge of Scott Base, trade skills and field experience. In addition to an engineer salaried to the project the Scott base engineering group provided support including building core processing and sea ice mooring equipment, set up and minor modification to a Cape Roberts project drill site lab container for physical properties measurements on the core. A refuelling operation at the Willies field Road transition was co-ordinated by Scott Base Engineers. The plant operators were available to assist with the movement of the equipment and their contribution was a vital part of the operation.

Field training

Members of our event new to Antarctic with "old" members doing appropriate refresher courses undertook field training. We appreciated the flexibility that Antarctica NZ makes available to "adjust" a course to the event's activity that takes into account existing experience within the event. There is probably still some scope in refining this process to include area specific familiarisation where appropriate i.e. a local McMurdo Area road, routes and procedures.

Field party equipment 'shakedown' journey

This was not undertake primarily because the area of activity was primarily close to Williams field and a semi permanent camp was set up for the field operation. A significant part of the science activity was undertaken at Scott Base in tandem with the field operation.

Delays at Scott Base, whatever the cause

No significant delays occurred except for a storm on 20-21 January when personnel were at both the camp and Scott Base.

Safety and Risk Management processes

I believe that we operated in a safe way, identified risks, which are increased in any large-scale operation that uses heavy equipment and vehicles. Drilling operations also have specific risks including hot water as well as operation of winches and movement near the ice shelf hole where personnel were in safety harness. Travel procedures for our operation were negotiated and agreed to that were more in line with field procedures than Scott Base procedures. The revised procedures made our operation work and we would have required more resources and personnel on Call from Scott Base if we followed Scott base rules. It was clear that with a field activity operating so close to Scott Base that some differences would be apparent to Scott Base personnel. Perhaps further training should be undertaken by Base personnel to allow more flexible procedures to field activities.

Other comments

Vehicle

Generally all vehicles were in good condition.

Final drive noise in the D6 that developed during the early was an initial concern because without this vehicle this program could not be deployed into the field. This was monitored by the mechanic but was probably getting progressively worse.

The Hagglund and Kassbohrer PB100 allocated K042 were operated without incident. Of concern in the H2 was the lack of a functioning engine pressure gauge and odometer when the vehicles were allocated to the event.

The Kassbohrer PB170 was vital for our operation and was not in good condition. It was serviced back at Scott Base by expert engineers during the field period but returned no better that before. Both the Hiab crane hydraulic hoses and the vehicle hydraulic transmission controllers had problems. The stub axel on the front right was also damages when the wheel fell off driving back to Scott Base. This was temporarily repaired but need further maintenance.

Two Alpine (model 2) and a new Skandic skidoo were allocated to the event. The new skidoo performed faultlessly but it is unstable on rough ground and potentially dangerous if rough ground is encountered at speed. The engine of one of the old Alpine 2 skidoos failed and the vehicle was towed back to Scott Base.

Aircraft Operations

Ship Operations

Science cargo was prepared for ship cargo return to NZ on 5 February.

*Sites Visited

*Sites Visited

Site name	McMurdo Ice Shelf HWD-1
Site location (coordinates/description)	77 5.111′S 167 20.209′E
Dates occupied	23 Jan. - 5 Feb. 2003
Total days (or hours) at site	13 days
Maximum number of people at site	15
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site	(see SB Ops report for person nights)page 11
Main activity undertaken	Hot Water drilling, sub ice oceanography and sea floor sampling

*Sites Visited

*Sites Visited

*Sites Visited

*Geological Material

*Geological Material

*Geological Material

Chemicals

Chemicals

Chemicals

Equipment installed/left in field

*Other environmental impacts

Minor loss of food grade glycol fresh water mixture

*Differences from original Preliminary Environmental Evaluation (PEE)

Approval for use of food grade glycol and burying of human wastes as part of revised PEE process.