Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

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

*EVENT DIARY

*EVENT DIARY

Date Main Activities and Location Other Comments
19 Oct Thu Bertler, Kipfstuhl, Kingan arrive at SB
20 Oct Fri AFT refresher, locate cargo
21 Oct Sat Loading of ice core drilling equipment on Huggland sledge, test 3-phase generators
22 Oct Sun Transfer ice core drilling equipment to ANDRILL drill site, discuss drill set-up and site safety with A.Pyne and T.Kingan
23 Oct Mon Set-up of ice core drilling system and commence drilling to 10m depth, transfer of wannigan to drill site, ice cores are stored in SB science freezer in ice core boxes 300, 301
24 Oct Tue Bertler, Kipfstuhl, Kingan complete skidoo licence, continue test drilling, target depth is 20m as water level in ANDRILL hotwater borehole is ~20m from surface. page 8 Remaining 10m of core are packed in ice core boxes 302-303 and stored in SB science freezer
25 Oct Wed Disassemble drilling system and transfer back to SB; start to pack and weigh field cargo, repacking of drilling system
26 Oct Thu Testing of field equipment, such as tents, stoves. SB carpenter finished generator boxes and SB engineer assists in set-up of winch system
27 Oct Fri Watson and Robinson arrive at SB, cargo preparation
28 Oct Sat AFT and roped skidoo - Nansen sledge travelling training with Robinson and Kirkwood, continue to test equipment and set-up traverse radar and GPS system
29 Oct Sun Crevasse rescue training with Robinson and Kirkwood, continue traverse training
30 Oct Mon Set-up of radar equipment on Nansen sledge and test radar equipment to skifield using 500 MHz antennae, finish cargo preparation, test radio equipment
31 Oct Tue Test radar equipment using 35 MHz antennae on deeper ice, identify and certify hazardous cargo
01 Nov Wed Test radar equipment using 10 MHz antennae on deeper ice on Aurora Glacier, meeting with DC-3 pilots to discuss cargo packing requirements
02 Nov Thu Pick-up of aircraft pallets, commence prepare individual loads for DC-3 input
03 Nov Fri Complete cargo loads, complete testing field equipment
04 Nov Sat Transfer cargo loads to ice runway page 9
05 Nov Sun Science visit to ANDRILL, SB check-out meeting
06 Nov Mon Bertler, Kipfstuhl, Watson, Kingan, Robinson: put-in to Whitehall Glacier with two DC-3 loads; flight time 120mins (one way), total cargo load 11,000 lb Set-up camp, secure cargo (sunny, cloud-free, wind <5knots)
07 Nov Tue Set-up ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment and GPS base station, commence radar survey with 35MHz and 500MHz antennae. Survey shows only minor crevasses (sunny, 10% cloud cover, wind 5-10 knots)
08 Nov Wed Continue GPR survey with 35MHz and 500MHz antennae, weather conditions deteriorate and survey is suspended. Initial data show site will be suitable for drilling. Move to Malta Plateau is not necessary. (80% low cloud cover, visibility 50-2000m, blowing snow, wind 10-25 knots)
09 Nov Thu Weather conditions remain marginal, field work is restricted to camp area, set-up of snow accumulation stakes, repositioning of HF radio antenna, check and secure cargo (100% low cloud cover, visibility 50-500m, blowing snow, wind 25-45 knots)
10 Nov Fri Weather conditions improve, dig out cargo and camp equipment, repair snow damage on GPR sledge, blowing snow damages electronic during operation (40-100% low cloud cover, visibility 200m to unrestricted, blowing snow, wind 10-20 knots)
11 Nov Sat Continue GPR survey using 10MHz antennae, but blowing snow damages electronics, field work is suspended, Bull arrives at SB from Chch, change 60L fuel drum of polar heaven heater (5-20% cloud cover, unrestricted visibility, blowing snow, wind 10-15 knots)
12 Nov Sun Continue GPR survey using 10MHz antennae, measure snow temperature and snow accumulation, Bull participates full AFT (5-15% cloud cover, unrestricted visibility, blowing snow, wind 10-20 knots, drop of 2mbar)
13 Nov Mon Continue radar survey using 35MHz antennae, measure snow temperature and snow accumulation, Bull participates full AFT page 10 (10% cloud cover, unrestricted visibility, wind 10 knots, no blowing snow)
14 Nov Tue Continue radar survey using 35MHz antennae, measure snow temperature and Snow accumulation, Bull participates full MZS (sunny, <10% cloud cover unrestrict visibility, wind 10 knots, no blowing snow)
15 Nov Wed Complete 35MHz antennae radar survey, measure snow temperature and snow accumulation (sunny, <5% cloud cover, unrestricted visibility, wind 5-10 knots, no bowing snow)
16 Nov Thu Analyse radar survey results, determine drill site, conduct high resolution radar survey with 200MHz and 35MHz grid in the vicinity of drill site. The radar shows good, horizontal reflectors (image left) and indicates suitable conditions for drilling. (sunny, <10% cloud cover, unrestricted visibility, wind 10 knots, no blowing snow)
17 Nov Fri Complete all GPR survey work, pack GPR equipment final assessment on location of drill site (100% cloud cover, cloud base <300m, wind 10-15 knots, minor blowing snow)
18 Nov Sat Bull, Peterson, and Marshall arrive at Whitehall Glacier with DC-3, total cargo load in 3400 lb. Marshall carries out environmental audit of the field camp. Watson a Marshall return to SB, total K049 cargo load 2900 lb Set-up capstan, start excavating drilling, trench to 1.65m depth, cover trench with drill tent (sunny, unrestricted visibility, wind <5 knots, bad weather warning from MZS)
19 Nov Sun Built snow shelter for drilling trench as weather conditions deteriorate, continue to excavate drilling trench from within the drill tent to 2.20m depth. During the night, strengthened winds and increased snow drifts cause partial collapse of drill tent and fatigue poles. Repairs are carried out and tent stabilises. (100% cloud cover blowing snow, large snow drifts, wind 10-45 knots) page 11
20 Nov Mon Snow accumulation and wind stress on drilling tent causes significant damage and collapse of the tent; wind barrier (anchored ice core boxes and additional cargo) disintegrates, weather conditions are marginal and deteriorate, all movements are restricted to camp site (100% cloud cover, blowing snow, large snow drifts, visibility <10m, wind 40-60 knots)
21 Nov Tue Weather conditions remain marginal, all movements are restricted to camp site, polar tents show signs of fatigue with rips in the outside canvas along poles (100% cloud cover, blowing snow, large snow drifts, visibility <10m, wind 40-75 knots)
22 Nov Wed Weather conditions improve, check camp and cargo, clear snow (net accumulation for the last 48 hours ~40cm snow), commence repairs on polar tents (100% cloud cover, blowing snow, visibility 200-1000m, wind 10-35 knots)
23 Nov Thu Initial improvement of weather conditions, clean-up of camp and cargo, inspection of drill site. Clearing snow of the collapsed and ripped drill tent, excavate snow that had filled the exposed drill pit, set-up of alternative cover for the drill pit using fragments of the original tent and additional tarpaulins. Enlarge and strengthen snow wall around the drill site (2m high and 1.5m wide). In the evening weather conditions deteriorate, wind increases to ~50 knots). (20-80% cloud cover, blowing snow, visibility unrestricted, wind 15-30 knots, increasing to ~50 knots in the evening)
24 Nov Fri Further strengthen snow wall, deepen drill pit and commence setting up the drill rig (80% cloud cover, blowing snow, visibility unrestricted, wind 15-30 knots)
25 Nov Sat Completed set-up of drill rig. Change to nightshift operation. Drilling operation is carried out during night hours, when temperatures are up to 15°C cooler. Team goes to sleep at 4pm, reconvenes at midnight for breakfast, and commences drilling at 1am, 26 Nov (100% cloud cover, precipitating snow, visibility <200m, wind 15-20 knots)
26 Nov Sun Commence drilling operation at 1am until 10am, page 12 accomplished drilling and processing depth 29.0m (night time: sunny, <10% cloud cover, calm)
27 Nov Mon Continue drilling shift at midnight, accomplished drilling and processing depth 57.0m. Commence concurrent high resolution snow sampling in multiple snow pits. (night time: sunny, <10% cloud cover, calm)
28 Nov Tue Continue drilling shift at 11pm, accomplished drilling and processing depth 85.0m. Shift times are commenced earlier, as temperatures in the morning are now rising more rapidly due to the sun now climbing above the eastern mountain range. Temperature in the drilling pit at midnight is −14°C, dropping to −20°C at around 4am and rises to −7°C at around 10am. Continue concurrent high resolution snow sampling in multiple snow pits. (night time: sunny, no cloud cover, calm)
29 Nov Wed Continue drilling shift at 11pm, accomplished drilling and processing depth 102.82 m. Electronic malfunction of drilling control unit terminates drilling. Attempts to repair the unit fail. Continue concurrent high resolution snow sampling in multiple snow pits. (night time: sunny, <10% cloud cover, wind ~5-10 knots)
30 Nov Thu Continue high resolution snow sampling in multiple snow pit. Continue to attempt repair of malfunctioning control unit. With assistance of SB staff we correspond with the drilling engineer at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany. Change to dayshift operation. (night time: sunny, 30% cloud cover, wind 10-20 knots)
01 Dec Fri Continue high resolution snow sampling, Twin Otter pick-up for ice core boxes and Peterson to SB. The flight is carried out as cold-deck to ensure integrity of the samples. Inspection of the data loggers shows that core box temperature during the flight remained below the temperature limit of −18°C (sunny, 50% cloud cover, wind 5-10 knots)
02 Dec Sat After final attempt, decision was made that drill was not repairable in the field. Continue high resolution snow sampling. In discussion with SB staff pull out for 05 and 06 Dec is scheduled. (sunny, no cloud cover, wind 10-20 knots)
03 Dec, Sun Dismantling drill, pack cargo, pull down drilling tent. Continue high resolution snow pit sampling. (sunny with fog in the afternoon, visibility dropping to <20m, wind 10-20 knots, increasing to 40 knots during the night) page 13
04 Dec Mon Commence building loads for four Twin Otter shuttles. Complete high resolution snow pit sampling (sunny, visibility unrestricted, wind 10-20 knots, increasing to 30 knots during the night)
05 Dec Tue 1.Twin Otter shuttle arrives 9am; Kipfstuhl, remaining ice core boxes with snow samples, and ice core drill return to SB. 2. Twin Otter shuttle arrives 4pm; remaining ice core drill and science cargo return to SB. Continue to break-down camp (sunny, visibility unrestricted, wind <5 knots)
06 Dec Wed 3.Twin Otter shuttle arrives at midday; camp and remaining science cargo return to SB. 4.Twin Otter shuttle arrives at 8pm; Bertler, Robinson, Kingan, Bull return with camping equipment to SB, arriving 10pm at Willies Field (sunny, visibility unrestricted, wind <5 knots)
07 Dec Thu SB electrician and engineer, Lyal Cross assists in helping to identify the problem with the control system. On-line information shows that the second control unit is wired differently from the first. We order new material for a drilling tent substitute for Mt Erebus from NZ Boys arrives at SB from Chch
08 Dec Fri Cross identified the problem in the control unit and re-wires the system. Initial tests show the new wiring plan circumvents the problem. Cross orders a new potentiometer Calculate total fuel needs (mogas and diesel). Identify and certify hazardous cargo for helicopter transport to Mt Erebus.
09 Dec Sat Set-up of the drilling system and testing of all units show the drill is operational again, pulling together new tents and camping equipment for Mt Erebus Robinson and Bull depart for Chch
10 Dec Sun Testing of new drilling tent set-up using scaffolding tubing and large, heavy tarpaulin Cleaning of tarpaulin and adjustment of scaffolding connectors
11 Dec Mon Packing eight helicopter loads and preparing 6 sling loads at the helo loading zone ready for pick-up page 14
12 Dec Tue Scheduled put-in to Mt Erebus Saddle postponed due to weather condition to Thursday
13 Dec Wed No helicopter time available
14 Dec Thu Attempt for put-in to Mt Erebus Saddle; however attempt is aborted due to deteriorating weather conditions
15 Dec Fri Bertler, Kingan, Kipfstuhl, Boys, Roche, MacKey, successful put-in to Mt Erebus Saddle with eight helicopter loads, the prepared sling loads make the put-in efficient and fast, and all cargo is moved to the site before weather deteriorates again, set-up of camp, securing cargo
16 Dec Sat Commence set-up of drilling trench and drill tent. After a trench of initial 1.80m depth is excavated, it is covered with a tent to avoid snow filling over night. A substantial snow wall of ~1m thickness and ~1.80m height is constructed to protect the drilling trench from the predominantly southerly wind flow. (sunny, visibility unrestricted, wind <5-20 knots)
17 Dec Sun Continue excavation of drilling trench, excavating the processing platform to 2.60m, the core extraction platform to 4.00m, and start excavating ice core storage cave (sunny, visibility unrestricted, wind <5-20 knots)
18 Dec Mon Complete excavation of drilling trench and ice core storage cave, commence set-up of ice core drilling system (sunny, visibility unrestricted, occasional low clouds restricting visibility, wind <5-20 knots)
19 Dec Tue Complete set-up of ice core drilling system. Roche and MacKey depart for SB, remaining team switches to night shift and commences drilling at 11pm until 5am. Accomplished drilling and processing depth 20.0m (sunny, visibility unrestricted, occasional low clouds restricting visibility, wind <5-20 knots) page 15
20 Dec Wed Continue drilling operation from 9pm to 7am. Accomplished drilling and processing depth 60.43m (low clouds restricting visibility, wind <10-30 knots)
21 Dec Thu Continue drilling operation from 9pm to 7am. Accomplished drilling and processing depth 100.00m (low clouds restricting visibility, wind <10-20 knots)
22 Dec Fri Continue drilling operation from 9pm to 4am. Accomplished drilling and processing depth 122.00m. Contaminated fuel causes generator failure. The generator is taken apart and cleaned but problem persists. (sunny, unrestricted visibility, wind <10-20 knots)
23 Dec Sat Arrange with Scott Base for HNO to pick up generator for repair by Scott Base mechanic T.Griffith-Jones. In addition, engineer W.Dean modifies fuel pump to include a filter to prevent further problems due to contaminated fuel. Generator and modified fuel pump are returned to the site by late afternoon. Continue drilling operation from 9pm to 6am. Accomplished drilling and processing depth 150.00m (low clouds restricting visibility, wind <10-20 knots)
24 Dec Sun Continue drilling operation from 9pm to midnight. Core quality deteriorates and drilling adjustments are necessary. Accomplished drilling and processing depth 155.40m Christmas dinner at 8am in beautiful weather. (sunny, unrestricted visibility, wind < 5knots)
25 Dec Mon Continue drilling operation from 10pm to 2am. Core quality issues persist, antitorque appears to slip. Accomplished drilling and processing depth 158.90m (low clouds restricting visibility, wind <10-20 knots)
26 Dec Tue Adjustments and minor repairs on the drilling system do not improve drilling quality. The spinning antitorque causes the drill cable to kink. Drilling operation is terminated. Commence manual drilling of 8 × 2m surface page 16 cores for high resolution snow analysis (low clouds restricting visibility, wind <10-20 knots)
27 Dec Wed Commence dismantling drill, pack cargo, pull down drilling tent (low clouds restricting visibility, wind <30-40 knots)
28 Dec Thu Complete dismantling drill and pack cargo, prepare helicopter sling loads
29 Dec Fri Return to Scott Base, store ice core boxes in Scott Base Science Freezer, start cleaning and drying field equipment
30 Dec Sat Clean and dry field equipment, start packing cargo, discuss with Keith DePew, US Science Cargo Officer, shipment of ice core boxes to NZ
31 Dec Sun Pack cargo, clean and return field equipment, store empty ice core boxes in container
01 Jan Mon Day off
02 Jan Mon Arrange ice core boxes in Scott Base Science Freezer to economise room, weigh cargo, identify hazardous cargo
03 Jan Tue Palletise cargo, discuss with cargo handler J.Martin handling procedures for the shipment of temperature sensitive material, MAF permits, and requirements for the remaining cargo, find space to store the
04 Jan Wed Bertler, Kipfstuhl, Pyne, Boys, Roche, Clendon to Victoria Lower Glacier to set-up GPS on mass balance devices (above) and then move on to Evans Piedmont Glacier to service weather station and download data, measure mass balance devices, and take 100 snow samples. Then return to Victoria Lower Glacier to pick-up GPS equipment and return to Scott Base, Kingan returns to NZ
05 Jan Thu Pack snow samples for shipment, pack GPS equipment and palletise, return remaining field equipment, such as generator, fuel, survival gear etc
06 Jan Fri Clean out cage in the Hillary Field Centre
07 Jan Sat Meeting with US Science Cargo Officer, K.DePew to discuss loading and procedures of ice core shipment, check weather station data and discuss with P.Clendon, page 17 Boys returns to NZ
08 Jan Sun Down-load temperature data loggers from ice core boxes, clear office space.
09 Jan Mon Transport of 4 ice core boxes to MZS for shipment with Italica to Alfred Wegener Institute Bertler, Kipfstuhl return to NZ