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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 2006-07: VUWAE 51

MOVEMENT OF TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE SCIENCE CARGO

page 24

MOVEMENT OF TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE SCIENCE CARGO

We collected a total of 56 ice core boxes of ice cores (total of 260m) and snow samples (total of 1000 samples). 4 boxes were sent to Mario Zuchelli Station to be shipped with the Italica to the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany. The remaining 52 boxes were stored at the Scott Base Science Freezer and then shipped in a reefer container on the American Tern to Christchurch and on to Wellington. The reefer container was accompanied by an empty reefer container as back up. Twelve temperature data logger were packed randomly in boxes of the shipment. In Fig.15 the temperature history of ice core box no 350 is shown. The boxes were stored in the field in an ice cave that was excavated off the main drilling trench at sufficient depth to ensure stable temperatures below −18°C at all times. The boxes were flown either by Twin Otter (Whitehall Glacier) or Helicopter (Mt Erebus Saddle, Figure below) to Scott Base and shifted immediately by B.McDavitt and J.Burton into the Science Freezer. Their careful and speedy handling of the samples is much appreciated. The samples were then packed on the day of ship loading into the provided reefer and transported on the American Tern to Christchurch. The samples were cleared by MAF in Wellington, but briefly hold by MAF in Christchurch due to confusion whether the MAF issued permit was correct. MAF then approved its permit, and P.Woodgate shipped the reefer container by train to Wellington. As recorded by the data logger, the samples were stored and transported under excellent conditions. In the field, sample storage in an ice cave proved to be an efficient and safe storage option despite relatively high ambient temperatures at the site. The Scott Base Science Freezer exhibits very stable thermal characteristics. The testing and monitoring efforts by L. Cross are much appreciated as well as the arrangement of a back-up reefer container at Scott Base. During transport in the reefer container the samples remained below −25°C. Overall, the storage and shipment of our samples to New Zealand was highly successful. We also would like to thank P.Woodgate for his careful, reliable, and speedy handling of the samples. A point of general concern is that the system failed to identify during shipping the sample container from the back-up container. Good progress has been made in initial discussion with Antarctic Support Manager, Iain Miller, on how to further improve the tracking and monitoring system during transport.

Fig. 15: Temperature history of ice core box 350 from Mt Erebus Saddle to Wellington.

Fig. 15: Temperature history of ice core box 350 from Mt Erebus Saddle to Wellington.