LOGISTICS REPORT
K047: Climate and Landscape History from shallow Drilling in the Dry Valleys
Antarctica New Zealand
*AIMS
A model to explain the occurrence of ground ice in glacial sediments and bedrock at high altitudes (>1000m) throughout the Dry Valleys where liquid water is rare was developed from work on Table Mtn. (Dickinson, 1997; Dickinson and Rosen, 2002). Although this model may apply at Table Mtn. for the very old glacial sediments of the Sirius Group, it has yet to be tested at other locations in the Dry Valleys.
The sampling programme of the 2001/02 season aims to test the Table Mtn. model by examining soils and ice cemented sediments from three geologically different locations, which are in close proximity to each other in the Dry Valleys. The three areas included: Beacon Valley for its polygonal ground, glacial sediments and old ice, Arena Valley for its potentially old, non-glacial soils, and Pearse Valley for its abundance of young glacial sediments at a low elevation. Evaluation of analytical results may lead to shallow core drilling of certain sites in the future to test the Table Mtn. model.
*PERSONNEL
Name | Designation | Organisation | Departed Chch | Returned Chch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Warren Dickinson | Event Leader | Victoria University | 9 Nov 2001 | 21 Dec 2001 |
Karyn Hopkins | Technical Support | VUW | 9 Nov 2001 | 8 Dec 2001 |
Sarah Tammik | Student | VUW | 9 Nov 2001 | 8 Dec 2001 |
*PLANNING
i. | No suggestions to change the application process |
ii. | Antarctica NZ staff are excellent |
iii. | No suggestions on maps and aerial photos |
iv. | Pre season information is generally good except it would be most helpful if the first aid/field manual could be sent prior to arrival and kit-up in Christchurch. Most all of the new comers would read these manuals with enthusiasm in trying to figure out what to pack and expect in Antarctica. |
v. | No suggestions on change to the medicals etc. |
*PREPARATIONS FOR THE FIELD
*Event Diary
EVENT MAP
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Figure 1. Topographic map of Beacon and Arena valleys.
The Beacon Valley camp (fig. 1) was located on a small patch of snow on the southwestern flank of University Valley (1650m; S77°51.368′ E160°41.987′) and was selected for the snow patch and central location to the valley. However, due to the rugged terrain and subsequent slow walking, it probably would have been more convenient and as climatically comfortable to camp adjacent to the main valley bottom on the southeastern flank. Winds during the field visit were generally down valley and less than 10 knots, however, diurnal up-valley winds were also encountered.
The Arena Valley camp (fig. 1) was located at the western end (generally the leeward end) of a linear snow patch at the northern edge of Ashtray Basin (1130m; S77°51.593′ E160°56.915′) and was selected for the snow patch and central location to the valley. Winds, generally down valley, were 10 – 15 knots stronger than Beacon Valley during the field visit and probably averaged between 15 and 25 knots. Wind strength and duration at this location was about average for the valley floor.
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Figure 2. Topographic map of Pearse Valley.
The Pearse Valley camp (fig. 2) was on an alluvial terrace located at the eastern edge of Lake House (325m; S77°42.101′ E161°26.924′) and was selected for its proximity to a source of water. Wind direction and strength seems highly variable throughout the valley and diurnal variations were common. During the field visit, winds did not exceed 20 knts and seemed strongest from 2 – 5 am. In general wind strength and duration were inbetween those of Beacon and Arena valleys.
*WEATHER
For the 22 days in the field the weather was generally good. Field movements by helicopter were not constrained by the weather. Nov 24 th was the only day in which field reconnaissance and sampling was not possible because of poor visibility and blowing snow. Temperatures in Beacon Valley ranged from −25°C at night to −12°C during warmer days. Arena Valley was slightly warmer and ranged from −18°C to −8°C, but windier than Beacon Valley. By comparison, Pearse Valley was warm with night temperatures about −6°C and day temperatures about −1°C.
*ACCIDENTS, INCIDENTS OR HAZARDS
Accident #1: Occurred at Scott Base, 3pm Fri 9 Nov at the bottom of the administration stairs outside entrance. Karyn Hopkins slipped and fell on ice at the base of the stairs. Initially her ankle was sore, but 1-2 hours later it became swollen and was diagnosed by the Scott Base nurse as a moderate sprain for which it was treated. On Mon 12 Nov, Hopkins was medically cleared for AFT provided a splint was applied to the ankle. The timing of this accident was such that it caused no delay to the event.
Accident #2: Occurred at Arena Valley camp 8pm Thurs 22 Nov in a Scott Polar tent. While attempting to open a frozen can of mushroom soup, Sarah Tammik cut the middle finger of her right hand. The cut was about 2.5 cm long and 3-4 mm deep. Although medical supplies were frozen, the wound was washed with boiled water, dried and bound with plastic suture strips. It was dressed with antiseptic cream and wrapped with gauze. Because the cut would not heal properly without stitches, Tammik was medivacked to McMurdo Station at 10p the next day. Due to a weather delay at Marble Point, she did not arrive at McMurdo until 4p that day. Because it had been significantly longer than 12 hrs since the incident, the doctor on duty decided not to stitch the wound, which would now require daily cleansing. Consequently, Tammik did not return to the field until Wed, 28 Nov. During her absence, Dickinson and Hopkins were able to carry out field work in Arena Valley with only minor inconveniences of not having our third member of the event.
RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
VHF radio communications at each of the valley campsites was extremely limited. At Beacon and Arena valleys the VHF high-gain aerial worked in selected places, but there was a fault with the connector pin fitting and this made the antenna unreliable and not usable. Although this problem was eventually fixed, Pearse Valley was too isolated for the aerial to work. Here communication was possible only with the HF 'butterbox' or by climbing .5 hr to a suitably high location.
In addition to poor communications, a hand-held VHF radio was lost at the Beacon Valley campsite during the helicopter landing and loading for the move to Arena Valley. A limited search for it was made with the helicopter waiting during the move to Pearse Valley.
Field operations in Antarctica now require reliable and quick communications with Scott Base. Because of this, I strongly recommend that satellite phones be provided to field parties that are out of VHF radio contact.
*ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
*Sites Visited
Site name | University Valley (Beacon Valley proper) |
Site location | S77°51.368′ E160°41.987′ |
Dates occupied | 15 – 21 Nov 2001 |
Total days (or hours) at site | 7 |
Maximum number of people at site | 3 |
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site | 21 |
Main activity undertaken | Recon, soil sampling and description |
Site name | Arena Valley |
Site location | S77°51.593′ E160°56.915′ |
Dates occupied | 22 – 30 Nov 2001 |
Total days (or hours) at site | 9 |
Maximum number of people at site | 3 |
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site | 27 |
Main activity undertaken | Recon, soil sampling and description |
Site name | Lake House (Pearse Valley proper) |
Site location | S77°42.101′ E161°26.924′ |
Dates occupied | 1-5 Dec 2001 |
Total days (or hours) at site | 5 |
Maximum number of people at site | 3 |
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site | 15 |
Main activity undertaken | Recon, soil sampling and description |
Site name | Table Mountain |
Site location | S77°57.011′ E161°59.350′ |
Dates occupied | 6 Dec 2001 |
Total days (or hours) at site | 1 |
Maximum number of people at site | 3 |
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site | 3 |
Main activity undertaken | Repair/programme temp probes; soil spling |
Geological Material
Equipment installed/left in field
Type of equipment/marker installed | 2 temperature probes 2 m deep |
Location of installation left in field | S77°57.011′ E161°59.350′ (install Table Mtn. 2000) |
Size of items left in field | (2 m deep in ground, 0.25m 3 on surface) × 2 |
Number of items left in field | 2 probes |
Date of intended retrieval | Nov 2004 |
*Differences from original Preliminary Environmental Evaluation (PEE)
Environmental impact from the 2001-2002 season was well within the limits of the PEE which was approved 13 Oct, 2001. For example, the PEE approval for total sample weight was 80kg but only 35 kg was taken during the season.