June 6, 2017

Drilling is gearing down and processing continues

Dennis is on an errand. He is shopping food with his “shopping cart”.

Drillers have now found a good mode of operation, and as we are short of drilling fluid until the flight on Friday, they now take their time to experiment with various add-ons that could optimize the operation. They will also test the new electronics after modification. In the science trench processors are really picking up speed and the planned target of processing 600 m core until 25th June is within reach. On the surface, weather stays fine; but it is as if the weather gods know that we have flights on Friday. The forecast for Friday indicates clouds, rising temperatures and winds across the skiway. We cross our fingers that the flights on Friday can happen anyway

What we did today:

1. Processing: 28.05 m or bags 299-349 (191.95 m).
2. Drilling in one shift. 11.24 m drilled until 19.00.
3. One shift logging of ice cores. Logging depth: 316.17 m.
4. Ceilometer (Cloud measuring laser) now powered up and will become active tomorrow.
5. Work on electricals in science and drill trench.
6. Skiway and turnarounds groomed.
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. -11°C to -23°C. Wind: 3-7 kt from SW. Visibility: To horizon.

FL, J.P. Steffensen