May 15, 2019

Deployment to old NEEM site and shallow ice core test drilling has begun

Steff in progress of fixing the anti-torque section to the motor section of the deep drill.

This morning began grey and overcast and windy with some drifting snow, but as the clouds were high and visibility o.k. Polar 5 took off towards the old NEEM site some 440 km away. The crew was able to deploy the heavy winch needed to lower our bore hole logger into the 2530 m deep borehole. Tomorrow, the rest of the equipment and two people will be left at NEEM to perform bore hole measurements over two days. The AWI shallow ice coring team reached 23 m depth at the test drilling site close to EGRIP. They are soon ready to fly out and drill at various locations. Temperatures went up today, making outside work easier.
Nicolai, our carpenter, did many little things to improve the main dome: Shelves and a mounting a door closing device on the main door. In the drill trench, mounting of the deep drill continues.

What we did today:

1. Polar 5 flew first mission to deploy bore hole logger at NEEM.
2. AWI shallow ice coring at S7 2019 has reached 23 m depth.
3. Setting up tents and equipment for atmospheric moisture sampling and measurement.
4. Removing snow drifts from entrances of drill trench and cooks freezer.
5. Shooting exercises for designated shooters.
6. Mounting the deep drill.
7. Trimming of the ceilings in the snow caves.
8. Work on setting up the isotope CFA laboratory.

Weather today: In the morning, mostly overcast and drifting snow.Clearing in the evening. Temp. - 9 °C to -20 °C. Wind: 14 kt to 20 kt from SW and SSW. Visibility: Few km to unrestricted.

FL, J.P. Steffensen

People in the drill trench.