LOGISTICS REPORT
K049 Holocene Climate History from Coastal Ice
Antarctica New Zealand
*AIMS
Victoria Valley is the northernmost and largest of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, which lie within the Transantarctic Mountains and between the Ross Sea and the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Differences in moisture and temperature of air masses originating from either the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, the rocky area of the Dry Valleys or the Ross Sea form a sensitively balanced climate system where they meet in the Victoria Valley. Therefore a climate record of the Victoria/Valley provides an ideal opportunity to study rapid, high frequency climate variations.
During the 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 seasons firn cores and snow pit samples were collected from Victoria Lower Glacier, Baldwin Glacier and Wilson Piedmont Glacier. Their chemical and isotopic signals confirm the climate sensitivity of Victoria Valley, and verify the good preservation of this record in the ice of the surrounding low altitude, coastal glaciers.
During the 2001/2002 field season a 180m core was recovered from Victoria Lower Glacier. The ice was expected to provide a climate record for the last 8,000 to 10,000 years. The site was chosen for its location and for the glaciological characteristics of the site, which were determined with ground penetrating radar and mass balance measurements.
In addition, snow samples were collected from the polar plateau to complete our database along a transect from the coast to the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. The comparison of the chemical and isotopic record contained in the snow and firn at sites along this transect will allow us to distinguish between input from local and distant air masses
*PERSONNEL
Name | Designation | Organisation | Departed Chch | Returned Chch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ms Nancy Bertler | Principal Investigator | Victoria University | 02 Nov 01 | 02 Jan 02 |
Prof. Peter Barrett | Science Supervisor | Victoria University | NA | NA |
Mr Alex Pyne | Expedition Manager & Drilling Expert | Victoria University | * | 20 Dec 01 |
Mr Tony Kingan | Drilling Expert | Webster Drilling | * | 08 Dec 01 |
Mr. Bruce Koçi | Drilling Expert | USAP, ICDS | # | 20 Dec 01 |
Ms Nora Patterson | Student Assistant | Victoria University | 02 Nov 01 | 20 Dec 01 |
Mr Matt Hill | Student Assistant | Victoria University | 02 Nov 01 | 24 Dec 01 |
*PLANNING
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Communications with Antarctica New Zealand staff
Antarctica New Zealand staff appears competent and helpful
-
Provision of maps and aerial photographs
N.A.
page 2 -
Pre-season information
The information received was timely and valuable.
-
Medicals, documentation and flights to Antarctica
We did not encounter any problems
CARGO
Cargo Item | Qty | Approx. Weight (if known) |
---|---|---|
GPS equipment | 2 | 300 lb |
Ice core processing equipment | 200 lb | |
Snow sampling equipment | 200 lb | |
Computer | 1 | 20 lb |
*PREPARATIONS FOR THE FIELD
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Reception and planning for your event
The reception was well organised, friendly and efficient. The main issues of the event were promptly discussed and organised
-
Availability and condition of equipment received
The equipment requested from Scott Base was supplied in time and in good condition. This included one skidoo, one generator and field equipment. The skidoo had to be abandoned during the traverse from SB to Marble Point due to an engine failure. The quick re-supply of a new skidoo was appreciated.
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Field training
The field training was helpful and appropriate. The additional crevasse rescue training was appreciated
FIELD TRANSPORT
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Vehicles
Hugglands were used in three traverses to transport field and drilling equipment from SB to Marble Point and back (Fig.1).
page 3 -
Aircraft Operations
All but one helicopter moves were done by HNO. We enjoyed the professionalism, friendliness and efficiency of the HNO staff. Dangerous cargo such as fuel barrels was handled in a very professional and safe manner. None of our loads got damaged or lost
*EVENT DIARY
Date | Main Activities and Location | Helo weights |
---|---|---|
02 Nov | Bertler, Hill and Patterson NZSB | |
03/04 Nov | Hill and Patterson AFT | |
05-08 Nov | Bertler, Hill and Patterson Equipment preparation at SB and BFC | |
09 Nov | Bertler, Hill and Patterson Traverse to Marble Point with Huggland accompanied by Reid | |
10 Nov | ICDS drill flown from Byrd Station to MCM | |
10 Nov | Bertler, Hill and Patterson put in to Victoria Lower Glacier, camp set-up, drill site preparation, GPS base station installation and mass balance measurements | 5500 lb with HNO |
16–17 Nov | Pyne, Kingan and Koçi (ICDS driller) assemble, test and train on ICDS drill | |
18 Nov | Pyne and Kingan traverse from SB to Marble Point with Huggland accompanied by Reid | |
19 Nov | Pyne and Kingan put in at Victoria Lower Glacier | 3500 lb with HNO |
19 Nov | Pyne, Kingan, Bertler, Patterson and Hill set up of drill and test drill hole | |
20 Nov | Pyne, Kingan, Bertler, Patterson and Hill, drilling commences | |
23 Nov | Core pick up to Crary Laboratory | 1920 lb by HNO |
29 Nov | Koçi put in to Victoria Lower Glacier | 300 lb by HNO |
29 Nov | Core pick up to Cary Laboratory | 1920 lb by HNO |
03 Dec | Bertler, Patterson, and Hill to Marble Point waiting for weather to clear at Shapeless Mountain | 1600 lb with US helo |
03 Dec | Kingan to Marble Point for traverse to SB | 5400 lb with US helo |
03 Dec | Pyne and Koçi to Scott Base, core pick up to Crary Laboratory | 2000 lb with US helo |
04 Dec | Kingan traverse from Marble Point to SB with Huggland accompanied by Reid | |
04 Dec | Bertler, Patterson and Hill put in at Shapeless Mountain location, camp set-up and collection of snow samples from snow pit | 1600 lb with HNO |
08 Dec | Bertler, Patterson, and Hill to Scott Base | 1720 lb with HNO |
08 Dec | Kingan RT NZ | page 4 |
09 Dec | Bertler commences work on ice cores at Crary Laboratory | |
20 Dec | Pyne, Patterson RT NZ | |
24 Dec | Patterson RT NZ | |
02 Jan | Bertler RT NZ |
*WEATHER
Weather observations have been made using a 'meteorology kit' from Scott Base.
Date | Time | T (°C) | P (hPa) | Wind direction | Wind speed | Cloud cover | Cloud type | Visibility |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 Nov | 10:30 | −14.0 | 908 | W | 7 | 60% | High | Unres |
14 Nov | 20:50 | −14.5 | 909 | S | 10 | 80% | Interm | Unres |
15 Nov | 10:26 | −12.0 | 909 | S | 4 | 30% | High | Unres |
15 Nov | 19:00 | −14.0 | 909 | E | 3 | 60% | High | Unres |
16 Nov | 10:20 | −10.0 | 908 | E | 1 | 5% | High | Unres |
16 Nov | 21:07 | −16.0 | 908 | E | 10 | 15% | High | Unres |
17 Nov | 10:05 | −15.7 | 911 | E | 8 | 15% | High | Unres |
17 Nov | 20:40 | −15.0 | 911 | E | 3 | 0% | Unrespage 5 | |
18 Nov | 10:45 | −14.0 | 906 | E | 7 | 100% | Low | 500m |
18 Nov | 20:20 | −16.1 | 909 | E | 3 | 90% | Low | 5km |
19 Nov | 09:00 | −11.4 | 910 | E | 1 | 5% | Low | Unres |
19 Nov | 22:45 | −16.1 | 911 | E | 3 | 10 | Low/high | Unres |
20 Nov | 08:00 | −15.0 | 914 | E | 1 | 5% | Interm | Unres |
20 Nov | 23:10 | −9.0 | 913 | 0 | 5% | Interm | Unres | |
21 Nov | 09:22 | −11.0 | 911 | E | 1 | 10% | Low | Unres |
21 Nov | 22:45 | −13.08 | 908 | E | 6 | 10% | Low | Unres |
22 Nov | 09:10 | −11.8 | 906 | E | 3 | 5% | Low | Unres |
22 Nov | 22:56 | −16.7 | 905 | E | 3 | 5% | Low | Unres |
23 Nov | 08:52 | −8.0 | 904 | E | 1 | 5% | Low | Unres |
23 Nov | 23:00 | −4.9 | 904 | W | 13 | 45% | Low | Unres |
24 Nov | 09:05 | −9.9 | 905 | E | 3 | 100% | Low/high | 2km |
24 Nov | 23:39 | −11.0 | 904 | E | 4 | 90% | High | Unres |
25 Nov | 08:55 | −2.0 | 904 | 0 | 10% | Low | Unres | |
26 Nov | 14:23 | −7.1 | 912 | E | 5 | 0 | Unres | |
27 Nov | 02:50 | −13.07 | 905 | W | 3 | 0% | unres | |
27 Nov | 15:13 | −6.1 | 908 | E | 6 | 70% | Interm | Unres |
28 Nov | 15:21 | −5.7 | 902 | E | 5 | 50% | High | Unres |
29 Nov | 02:43 | −11.3 | 902 | 0 | 95% | High | Unres | |
29 Nov | 12.17 | −4.4 | 906 | E | 4 | 60% | High | Unres |
30 Nov | 02:36 | −14.2 | 910 | 0 | 10% | High | Unres | |
30 Nov | 12:08 | −9.0 | 914 | E | 5 | 10% | Low | Unres |
01 Dec | 03:54 | −9.2 | 907 | E | 1 | 10% | Low | Unres |
01 Dec | 13:27 | −4.9 | 902 | E | 5 | 1% | Low | Unres |
01 Dec | 23:24 | −13.2 | 898 | E | 6 | 2% | Low | Unres |
02 Dec | 11:49 | −6.6 | 901 | E | 6 | 55 | Low | Unres |
02 Dec | 22:22 | −11.6 | 904 | E | 5 | 40% | Low/high | Unres |
03 Dec | 09:41 | −7.4 | 904 | E | 4 | 60% | Low/high | Unres |
Date | Time | T (°C) | P (hPa) | Wind direction | Wind speed | Cloud cover | Cloud type | Visibility |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
04 Dec | 16:23 | −19.4 | 737 | S | 17 | 5% | Low | Unres |
05 Dec | 17:56 | −17.0 | 736 | S | 15 | 5% | Low | Unres |
06 Dec | 15:20 | −19.2 | 730 | S | 12 | 70% | Low | Unres |
07 Dec | 20:34 | −17.3 | 731 | S | 13 | 60% | Interm | Unres |
08 Dec | 08:15 | −20.1 | 732 | S | 15 | 20% | Interm | Unres |
*ACCIDENTS, INCIDENTS OR HAZARDS
NA
FIELD EQUIPMENT
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Field Clothing
The issued field clothing was appropriate and functional. A proportion however was damaged (ripped zippers, lost buttons etc.) or had not been washed.
-
Field Equipment
The supplied field equipment was in good condition and very reliable.
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20 person day ration box system
The food boxes were well packed in terms of quantity and nutrition.
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Specific Field Equipment
The allocated skidoos and generator were in good condition. One skidoo had to be abandoned after an engine failure during our traverse from SB to Scott Base. The quick supply of a new skidoo was appreciated
RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
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Suitability and effectiveness of the radio equipment
The issued radio kits (VHF and HF) were very reliable and good condition
-
Reception/transmission conditions and suitability of radio schedule timing
Reception and transmission were generally good and the timing of the radio schedule convenient
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Scott Base's general efficiency during radio schedule
Radio communication was mainly very efficient, professional and appreciated
SCOTT BASE AND ARRIVAL HEIGHTS LABORATORY FACILITIES
Facility | Use |
---|---|
Hatherton Geoscience Laboratory | |
Q-Hut Laboratory benches | |
Scott Base Wet Laboratory | |
Scott Base Summer Laboratory | |
Arrival Heights Laboratory |
COMPUTER FACILITIES
- Suitability and effectiveness of computer network: satisfying
- Quality, suitability and performance of public computers: satisfying
*ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
*Sites Visited
Site name | Victoria Lower Glacier |
Site location | S 77° 19′ 48.365″, E 162° 31′ 55.491″ |
Dates occupied | 10 Nov to 03 Dec |
Total days (or hours) at site | 24 days |
Maximum number of people at site | 6 |
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site | 107 |
Main activity undertaken | Ice Core Drilling |
*Sites Visited
Site name | Polar Plateau (near Shapeless Mountain) |
Site location | S 77° 21.092′, E 159° 52.226′ |
Dates occupied | 04 Dec to 08 Dec 01 |
Total days (or hours) at site | 5 days |
Maximum number of people at site | 3 |
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site | 15 |
Main activity undertaken | Collection of snow samples from snow pit |
Protected Areas Visited
N.A.
Interference
N.A.
Geological Material
Location | Victoria Lower Glacier |
Specimen type | Ice |
Quantity (kg) | 4700 lb |
Location | Polar Plateau (near Shapeless Mountain) |
Specimen type | Snow |
Quantity (kg) | 120 lb |
Chemicals
Chemical form | Isopropyl Alcohol |
Quantity used | 5 L |
Location of use | Victoria Lower Glacier |
Storage/release details of unused chemicals |
Explosives
N.A.
Importation
N.A.
Equipment installed/left in field
The drilling hole at Victoria Lower Glacier has been cased and capped to preserve the hole for future measurements. The casing consists of a 2.50m long, 5″ diameter plastic tubing, capped with plywood. Once the measurements are completed the casing can easily be removed.
*Other environmental impacts
All activities were based on permanent ice surfaces. Environmental impacts were less than minor.
*Differences from original Preliminary Environmental Evaluation (PEE)
None
HISTORIC SITES
N.A.
PROTECTED AND MANAGED AREAS
N.A.
ANTARCTIC GEOGRAPHIC PLACE NAMES
N.A.
* transferred on 16 Nov from K114 to K049
# transferred on 29 Nov from US project to K049 and transferred back to US project on 03 Dec