June 6, 2019

Drilling is struggling and the 2nd MAGPIE 100 km mission was accomplished

Søren working in the under-snow heated drill workshop modifying and preparing various specialized parts for the drill.

The deep drilling is struggling with chips in the hole and penetration issues. Last night some 60 kg chips were recovered from the borehole, but it appears still not to be clean. The good spirit is kept, however, and we expect progress in the coming days. The MAGPIE team set up two additional measurement stations 50 km and 100 km to the NW of EGRIP respectively. Driving perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction proved demanding because of the transverse snow dunes (sastrugies). Last night, the drone had a very successful flight where water vapour samples of different isotopic composition were sampled above and below the boundary layer.

What we did today:

1. Drilling is struggling with chips in the hole and lack of penetration.
2. Ice core logging depth: 1850.1 m (length: 1.7 m).
3. Station for atmospheric moisture sampling and isotopic measurement is active.
4. The isotope CFA laboratory bag 2896 to bag 2926 (length: 16.50 m).
5. MAGPIE set up two more stations at 50 km and 100 km NW of EGRIP.
6. Successful drone flight last night, sampling above and below a low boundary layer.
7. Maintenance of skidoos, heavy vehicles, cranes and tiller is ongoing.

EGRIP population is 24.

Sunny all day with few high clouds in the evening. Temp. -14°C to -25°C. Wind: 2 kt to 10 kt from SW.

FL, Anders Svensson

Søren working in the under-snow heated drill workshop modifying and preparing various specialized parts for the drill.