June 30, 2017

We are on an ice sheet

Khanghyun and Helle pointing out the ice core containing logged bag 1000.


With all the comforts available in our camp here at EGRIP, it is very easy to forget how remote and exposed this ice sheet location is. Today the weather started out very nicely with light winds, but right before dinner time, the wind picked up quite suddenly causing drifting snow and visibility to drop to approximately 200 meter. Camp had to be secured and the drilling of the snow/firn core some 350 meter from camp was stopped for now. A good reminder that we are indeed operating in a location where we need to consider the elements.
In the drill and science trenches we are sheltered, and can thus operate almost independently from weather conditions, hence work continued unhindered there. The drillers started the day with continued good production of beautiful ice cores, interrupted by some bore hole logging. The logging showed that the bore hole inclination is still rising. With the new electronics section in place, we hope to be better able to bring this rise to a halt. After dinner the loggers passed 55 cm core section (i.e. bag) number 1000, another nice milestone to be reached.
In the science trench physical properties measurements continued, as did the surface science program.

What we did today:

  1. Servicing snow blowers and snowmobiles, securing camp due to windy conditions.
  2. Deep drilling core length at 19.00: 15.48 m.
  3. Logging depth at 19.00: 548.73 m.
  4. Bore hole logging.
  5. Defrosting ice core logging cooler for 5.5 hours (during night).
  6. Water isotopes: No melting today, helping out with hand-auger core.
  7. Water vapour, methane, aerosols, snow and boundary layer measurements
  8. Physical properties measurements.
  9. Drilling hand-auger core 350 m WSW of drill trench (12.4 meters today).

Weather: Mostly overcast, but with a few sunny spells. Light wind from SW, turning SE and increasing to 12 m/s, during the evening, causing snow drift and poor visibility. Temperature between -23°C and -10°C.

FL, Bo Vinther