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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1993-94: VUWAE 38

Planning

Planning

  1. The operation of sophisticated oceanographic programmes from the sea ice away from Scott Base such as the vibracorer operation is difficult because large equipment operated through the sea ice is also exposed to surface weather conditions. Significantly greater logistic resources would be required to operate this equipment under cover to avoid the weather on the ice and this is not considered practical at present when all equipment must be transported from and returned to Scott Base each season. We then have a very limited period to operate from the sea ice starting from about 20-25 November when air temperatures have usually warmed up sufficiently and ending 5-7 December when sea ice travel with heavy plant normally must be completed because of the sea ice deterioration at some places along the coastal return route to Scott Base. The ice conditions in the Granite Harbour area however usually remain workable for a least another 7-10 days.

    For future successful sea ice operations such as the vibracorer programme we need to maximise the working period. We could expect up to 25 days (20 Nov. to 15 Dec.) working in the area if NZAP logistic resources allowed prepositioning of some equipment in Granite Harbour and winter storage of plant and some equipment at Cape Roberts at the end of the work period.

    The RDRC review process for 1994-95 university proposals appears to be less rigorous than for PGSF funded proposals. It is important to make both systems as equal as possible specifically in the peer review process. Finding New Zealand reviewers with expert knowledge is very difficult because of our small science community and we should expect as a matter of course to look to the International Antarctic community. A place should be made on the proposal where the proposer lists scientists (with addresses) from both New Zealand and the international community who would be suitable "expert" reviewers.

  2. Several minor but irritating problems occurred during the NZAP planning phase of this seasons programme. The visit by Malcolm MacFarlane to VUW in March-April? to discuss the forthcoming programme was very useful. I believe that we discussed the use of the USCG Icebreakers and decided that it was not practical to deploy the vibracorer so our programme did not expect to use it this coming season. Unfortunately this point caused a misunderstanding in the planning later in the year when an icebreaker was requested for us by NZAP. These early season meetings should be encouraged and continue but should be structured so that changes and requirements are recorded for incorporation in planning later in the year, possibly by some sort of initial event summary form.

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    Two items noted in the NZAP Event Summary circulated in June-July were not acknowledged or incorporated in the finalised event directive. Event request information was not sent directly to A R Pyne the antarctic liaison person and event leader, consequently information requests were mislaid or the responses late. The requested excess baggage allowance of 300 lb was missed off the event directive but did not cause any problems with the movements section.

    We expected to cooperate with Dr Ross Powell (USAP S170) while in the field and informed NZAP of the extent of the planned cooperation, as did Dr Powell did the same for NSF. However there was reportedly some confusion in McMurdo prior to the event arriving on 7 November but was not evident during the S170 event briefing.

    We had agreement with the facilities services officer to use and slightly modify the OSKAM-1 sledge for the event. The Field Operations Officer and Facilities Services Officer both responded positively to the special needs of this event.

  3. The shortening of the Tekapo Training Course is a positive move to a more realistic course. The event briefs are a vital part of the course but are generally rushed so it is important to give several days lead time between event leaders receiving the initial event directive and the training course to give the time to respond to omissions and corrections.
  4. The event medicals were sent to NZAP later than usual due to some confusion in the medical system, as a result of the significantly more complex testing requirements. Our doctor commented that NZAP medical requirements are now more complex than the USAP requirements which he was also doing.

The movement of our event personnel and cargo was controlled efficiently as usual, although delays to personnel flights were caused by weather.