May 16, 2019

Borehole logging at NEEM in progress and shallow ice core test drilling finished

Johannes is operating the shallow drill at S7 test site.

This morning at 9.00, Polar 5 took off with Dorthe and Sepp, heading for the old NEEM site. After assisting Dorthe and Sepp setting up equipment and camp, Polar 5 crew returned to EGRIP at 13.30. Weather was fine at both locations. At EGRIP, the AWI team finished testing the drill and all drilling equipment was stowed on the plane. Tomorrow morning, the AWI team will fly to the beginning of the North East Greenland ice stream, some 200 km away and drill an ice core. EGRIP drilling camp is sitting in the middle of this ice stream. The wind in the past days have been strong enough to cause snow drift and several snow drifts had to be removed in camp.

What we did today:

1. Polar 5 flew second mission and completed borehole logger deployment at NEEM.
2. AWI shallow ice core test drilling at S7 2019 (N75 37’44.4’’; W35 58’ 49.3’’) reached 40.3m depth and was finished.
3. Setting up tents and equipment for atmospheric moisture sampling and measurement.
4. Removing snow drifts from Polar 5 parking spot and grooming skiway.
5. Removing snow drifts in camp and around Mechanics garage.
6. Packing and preparing for airborne drilling campaign.
7. Trimming of the ceilings in the snow caves.
8. The isotope CFA laboratory is now in action. Measured today: bags 1931 to 1952 (1061.5m to 1073.6m)

Ad.1: For the first time since 2015, NEEM site is manned. Dorthe and Sepp have begun borehole logging. They will stay at NEEM for two days.

EGRIP population is now 24 and NEEM population is 2.

Weather today: Mostly fine, but windy until late afternoon. Some drifting snow. Temp. - 9 °C to -17 °C. Wind: 9 kt to 18 kt from WSW and SW. Visibility: Unrestricted

FL, J.P. Steffensen