LOGISTICS REPORT
K047: Climate and Landscape History from shallow drilling in the Dry Valleys
Antarctica New Zealand 2002/03
*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. Massive ground ice was discovered for the first time in Pearse Valley during the field season 2001/02.
The sampling programme of the 2002/03 season aims to 1) clarify the nature and origin of massive ground ice in Pearse Valley, 2) gain a better insight into the glaciomorphological history of Columnar, Pearse and Victoria Valleys, and 3) clarify the evolution and occurrence of sand dunes in Pearse and Victoria Valleys.
*PERSONNEL
Name | Designation | Organisation | Departed Chch | Returned Chch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Warren Dickinson | Event Leader | VUW | 9 Nov 2002 | 11 Dec 2002 |
Nicola Wilson | Honours Student | VUW | 9 Nov 2002 | 13 Dec 2002 |
Cliff Atkins | PhD student Ex K114 | VUW | 9 Oct 2002 | 12 Dec 2002 |
Camilla Colebatch | PhD Student | VUW | 9 Nov 2002 | 11 Dec 2002 |
Joe Trodahl | Professor Ex K 131 | VUW | 3 Nov 2002 | 18 Nov 2002 |
Daniel Pringle | PhD Student Ex K 131 | VUW | 1 Nov 2002 | 23 Nov 2002 |
Hamish McGowan | Lecturer | U. Queensland | 25 Nov 2002 | 11 Dec 2002 |
David Neil | Lecturer | U. Queensland | 25 Nov 2002 | 11 Dec 2002 |
*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, receiving the field manuals in advance this year was very useful |
v. | No suggestions on change to the medicals etc. |
*PREPARATIONS FOR THE FIELD
i. |
Reception and planning for your event: The K047 primary objective supported by Antarctica NZ was to carry out sampling of the sand dunes in the Pearse and Victoria Valleys, and to undertake reconnaissance glaciomorphological mapping and sampling of massive ground ice in Pearse Valley. Because there were only 4 people associated with the event, logistical planning was minimal. Selection of actual campsites in each of the valleys was accomplished largely by relying on previous year's campsites. Scott Base personnel provided excellent support. There was a minor incident during the first fly-out of event personnel when the second load of passengers and equipment was allocated a US helo transport in the last minute. The straight-pole polar tent had to be exchanged to a foldable polar tent due to the restrictions by the US helo programme (transport of polar tents on the skids is not permitted) and there was no time to put the tent up to check it – this particular tent turned out to be very difficult to put up due to a problem in one of the supporting poles. |
ii. |
Availability and condition of equipment received: page 2The equipment made available to K047 from Scott Base was in good condition and performed well in the field with the exception of two primus stoves (box type). All Scott Base equipment was tested and repacked at Scott Base. However, it was difficult to obtain equipment that was not on the original request list, prepared 3 months in advance. The reason is largely because of the limited resources at Scott Base and the large number of field parties that must be supported. Obtaining equipment (because of an altered situation) at the last minute is always problematic. |
iii. |
Field training: AFT was undertaken by Nicola Wilson Camilla Colebatch Joe Trodahl and Daniel Pringle; Cliff Atkins and Warren Dickinson had a refresher course. |
iv. |
Delays at Scott Base, whatever the cause: There was a one day delay (only for Colebatch) for the flight out from Scott Base on 10 December, this was due to the weather conditions. |
v. |
Safety and Risk Management Processes: These processes were discussed with Jim Cowie, operations manager, prior to departure for the field. |
*Event Diary
Date | Main Activities and Location | Other Comments |
---|---|---|
10 Nov | Arrive in ChCh, kit-up | |
11 Mon | Depart for SB at 9:00am, boomerang back to ChCh due to weather at SB | |
12 Tue | Depart for SB at 8:30am, arrive at 2:30pm, briefing and AFT briefing | |
13 Wed | SB, NW & CC AFT; CA & WD pack field equipment | windy conditions with snow,-14C |
14 Thu | SB, NW & CC complete AFT; CA & WD pack field equipment | beautiful walk on the sea ice |
15 Fri | SB, testing and final packing of field equipment,repacking of food boxes | |
16 Sat | SB to Table Mt, NW,WD,JT&DP 1st helo; CA&CC 2nd | last minute swap of polar tents |
17 Sun | TM, recon walk around the area | wind picking up,very windy night |
18 Mon | TM, OSL sampling, recon Columnar Vly and reprogram temp probes | late finish |
19 Tue | TM, shallow drilling on polygons in Columnar Vly, finish recon | late finish, need a bigger drill |
20 Wed | TM to Pearse Valley, Pringle to SB; short recon walk around Lake House end of PV | Pearse Vly much warmer |
21 Thu | PV, NW&CC dig 5 pit; CA&WD recon | late dinner at 10:30pm |
22 Fri | PV, NW,WD&CC core one pit,CA recon Lake House area | late dinner at 10:45pm |
23 Sat | PV, core and OSL sample another pit, dig 3 more pits | windy and cold evening |
24 Sun | PV, recon of dunes, CC to Lake Joyce & Taylor glacier tongue | late dinner at 11pm |
25 Mon | PV, NW&WD OSL sampling at dunes; CA&CC dig pits | cold evening −16C |
26 Tue | PV, CA,CA&CC core + sample third pit, NW petrography@camp | dinner at 10pm |
27 Wed | PV, CA&WD further recon, NW&CC OSL sampling; DV visit @2pm | Helo move confirmed |
28 Thu | PV, walk to Lake Joyce Taylor glacier tongue, dig more pits | confusion about helo sched |
29 Fri | PV to Vic Vly for CA, NW & WD; DN, HM, DW SB to VV; CC to SB | just made it to SB,weather bad |
30 Sat | VV, rec, interviews by DW | early start |
1 DEC | VV,recon walk to the dunes, DV visit @3:45pm, sieving of samples | DW retro SB with DV's |
2 Mon | VV, surveying, pit digging and drilling at the dunes | |
3 Tue | VV, GPS survey of dunes, check and relocation of weather stations | |
4 Wed | VV, recon of Victoria glacier tongue, collect samples form sediment traps | |
5 Thu | VV, OSL sampling and surveying | |
6 Fri | VV, NW completed GPS survey of dunes, weather stations relocated | |
7 Sat | VV, rest of the surveys completed, filming at Packard Glacier,visit Lake Vida | Packard Stm flowing |
8 Sun | VV, OSL and ice samples from Victoria glacier | |
9 Mon | VV to SB NW DN 1st helo & WD, CA, HM on 2end;10a start | Endura tent difficult to pack |
10 Tue | SB, cleaning, sorting & packing of field equipment | |
11Wed | SB to ChCh-WD,HM,DN & CC | Av Wgtn 8ppage 3 |
12 Thu | SB to ChCh CA | |
13 Fri | SB to ChCh NW |
EVENT MAP
The Table Mountain camp (fig. 1) was located on a small patch of snow at (altitude 1850m; S77°57.631′ E161°57.324′) and was selected for the snow patch and close location to the temperature probes. Winds during the field visit were mostly between 10 and 30 knots with gusts up to 40 knots.
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 (Schlatter glacier). Wind direction and strength seems highly variable throughout the valley and diurnal variations were common. During the field visit, winds did not exceed 20 knots and seemed strongest from 2 – 5 am.
The Victoria Valley camp (fig. 3) was located on an alluvial terrace derived from meltwater off the Packard glacier and situated adjacent the dune field (400m; S77°22.082′ E162°12.720′). It was selected because of its flat nature and close proximity to the working environment. There was little snow around so water had to be obtained from the Packard glacier, a short walk up Packard Creek. The majority of winds were easterly or down valley with a few periods of stronger, reversed directional westerly winds.
page 4*WEATHER
For most days in the field the weather was generally good. Field movements by helicopter were not constrained by the weather although it was a close call for the movement scheduled on 29 November. Field work was not restricted due to weather conditions at any time. Temperatures at Table Mountain ranged from −20°C at night to −12°C during warmer days but strong wind chill occasionally caused temperatures down to −30°C. Pearse Valley was warmer with temperatures ranging mostly from −8°C to −4°C with a few nights of −14°C. Victoria Valley was colder again with –8°C to –12°C but warmed up to –1°C with the arrival of winds of up to 25 knots in the last few days.
*ACCIDENTS, INCIDENTS OR HAZARDS
There were no accidents or incidents during this field season.
RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
VHF radio communications at each of the valley campsites was extremely limited. At Table Mountain the VHF high-gain aerial worked in selected places and in Pearse Valley there was no VHF reception from Scott Base at the camp. Communication in Pearse Valley was possible only with the HF 'butterbox' with a very poor reception or by climbing .5 hr to a suitably high location.
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 | Table Mountain |
Site location | S77 57.631′ E161 57.324′ |
Dates occupied | 16 - 19 Nov 2002 |
Total days (or hours) at site | 4 |
Maximum number of people at site | 5 |
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site | 20 |
Main activity undertaken | Repair/programme temp probes, recon, soil sampling and description |
Site name | Lake House (Pearse Valley proper) |
Site location | S77 42.101′ E161 26.924′ |
Dates occupied | 20-28 Nov 2002 |
Total days (or hours) at site | 9 |
Maximum number of people at site | 4 + DV visitors |
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site | 36 |
Main activity undertaken | Recon, soil sampling and ice core extraction |
Site name | Victoria Valley |
Site location | S77°57.011′ E161°59.350′ |
Dates occupied | 29 Nov - 9 Dec 2002 |
Total days (or hours) at site | 11 |
Maximum number of people at site | 6 + DV visitors |
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site | 58 |
Main activity undertaken | Recon, soil & ice sampling, GPS surveys, weather observations |
Geological Material
Pit and sample locations - for more detail, see table of samples in Scientific Report
Table Mtn and Pearse Valley
Name and Location of Pit/Drillhole/Sample | Type and approximate quantity of sample |
---|---|
TMCV-7 S77 58.071, E161 55.623 | 1 kg ice chunks |
PVP-1 S 77 42.405′, E161 28.881′ | 800g soil sample |
PVP-2 S 77 42.168′, E161 30.340′ | 75 cm ice core, 7 soil samples totalling < 3kg, 500g surface gravel |
PVP-6 S77 42.274′, E161 30.257′ | 75 cm ice core, 3 soil samples totalling < 1.5 kg; 500g surface gravel, 500g ice chips |
PVP-16 S77 42.167′, E161 30.318′ | 78 cm ice core, 500g ice chips, 2 soil samples totalling < 1kg, 500g surface gravel |
PVRG-1 S77 42.259′, E161 35.062′ | 1 kg ice chunks |
PVRG-2 S77 42.211′, E161 35.242′ | 1 kg ice chunks |
Schlatter Glacier, Pearse Valley | 1 kg ice chunks |
Taylor Glacier/Lake Joyce tongue, Pearse Valley | 2 kg ice chunks |
Various locations in Pearse Valley | 36 hand samples of surface lithology, totalling <10 kg |
Victoria Valley
Name and Location of Sample | Type and approximate quantity of sample |
---|---|
VV1-RB S 77 22.114′, E162 12.454′ | 500g soil sample |
VV-C1 S 77 22.250′, E162 12.330′ | 500g soil sample |
VV-C2 S 77 22.130′, E162 13.720′ | 500g soil sample |
VV-C3 S 77 22.323′, E162 10.713′ | 500g soil sample |
VV-C4 S 77 22.528′, E162 08.555′ | 500g soil sample |
LB-1 S 77 22.533′, E161 54.803′ | 500g soil sample |
LB-2 S 77 22.499′, E161 55.859′ | 500g soil sample |
LVG-1 S 77 22.087′, E162 17.470′ | 500g soil sample |
LVG-2 S 77 22.326′, E162 18.341′ | 500g soil sample |
Various locations in Victoria Valley | 40 hand samples of surface lithology, 20 kg |
Equipment installed/left in field (Table Mtn)
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, 0.25m3 on surface) × 2 |
Number of items left in field | 2 probes |
Date of intended retrieval | Nov 2003 |
*Differences from original Preliminary Environmental Evaluation (PEE)
Environmental impact from the 2002-2003 season was well within the limits of the PEE which was approved.