June 2, 2017

First day of ice core drilling and processing in full operation

Core processing in the science trench.

The people in the processing line in the science trench are learning the new routines. There are many measurements to make, many cuts of the ice core to be made, and for each step careful journals have to be kept. Slowly but surely the processing line increases speed. On another front, we have been negotiating with our people in Kangerlussuaq. After careful consideration, we reached the conclusion, that we need two flights and not one next week. There is simply too much cargo we will miss, if we do not get a second plane. It is our hope, that the New York Air Guard, can schedule two planes for us next Friday.

What we did today:

1. Processing 4.95 m or bags 215-226.
2. Testing modified groomer for skiway.
3. Drilling in two shifts. 18.65 m drilled today until 19.00.
4. Two shift logging of ice cores. Logging depth 263.42 m.
5. Moving all frozen food from previous storage to entrance of new storage and removing shelf system in old storage.
6. Working on load plans for next flight.
7. German snow sampling.
8. Japanese aerosol sampling and snow experiments.
9. Water vapour sampling, methane sampling, boundary layer and meteorology station working.

Weather today: Sunshine. Temp. -12°C to -21°C. Wind: 10-12 kt from SW. Visibility: To horizon.

FL, J.P. Steffensen