May 11, 2017

Hey, a day without strong wind

Motohiro, Bo, Maria and Grant are relaxing in the lounge just before dinner.

We had a nice day today. For once the wind was not strong, and work outside was a pleasure.The drillers are now able to control the motor, so today they mounted the reamer. On the surface, we are experimenting to make cast cable ducts in the snow using the balloon technique from last year. If successful, we will be able to retrieve cable laid in the snow, saving money and reducing our environmental footprint. The radar is tested, and this evening Trevor and H.C. were guinea pigs as they went skiing outside camp. The radar was able to pick them up; but not at the desired distance.
The strong wind has blown several small birds to camp. They fly about and sit where it is warm; but they are doomed. It is almost 400 km to the nearest edge of the ice sheet and we cannot feed them. It is nature when it is harsh.

What we did today:

1. Trouble shooting too high oil pressure in planetary gear of Pistenbully 1.
2. Work in the drilling trench.
3. Work on setting up tables at stations in the science trench.
4. Test of radar.
5. Making new outhouse.
6. Blowing trench for first test of balloon cable ducts.
7. Work on mounting freezer aggregate in extraction tunnel.
8. German snow sampling.
9. Japanese aerosol sampling and snow experiments in progress.
10. Water vapour sampling, methane sampling, boundary layer and meteorology station working.

Weather today: Thin high clouds. Temp. -20°C to -27°C. Wind: 10 kt from W to 3 kt NNE. Visibility: To horizon.

FL, J.P. Steffensen