NEEM > Field diaries > Field season 2008
Field season 2008
The 2008 field season has been completed successfully
2008-10-10
All NEEM personnel has now left the camp. We start the work in Greenland again in May 2009.
The floor where the Viessman cabins are to be placed was carefully levelled following Henry’s method.
2008-08-11
Levelling floors involves moving snow (as most other activities in camp)
A Toyota break down stopped the radar measurements for the day
2008-08-10
It turned out that a bearing was broken on the right back mattrax and the Toyota had to be placed on pallets and pulled 5 km back to camp.
Saturday evening with an American Buffet.
2008-08-09
The Saturday meal was cooked by the Americans in camp and we all enjoyed it.
Many of the projects are reaching the end
2008-08-08
The season is reaching the end and in camp we can see the end of many of the major projects.
Drill tower in place.
2008-08-07
The drill tower was placed today in the drill trench. The tower parts where attached with 80 bolts and the tower base was adjusted so the drill will be centered over the borehole
Finishing Dome constructions 2008
2008-08-06
This is the last mayor construction in the dome this year.
Finally the top windows are in place
2008-08-05
Finally the day came where we could place the top windows in the dome
The most wonderful weather today
2008-08-04
Today we had no wind, -3 C and sunshine so we used the opportunity to work as much as possible on the surface.
Small projects finished
2008-08-03
Many of the long lasting activities like making stairs in the inclined trench and gluing rubber to the main dome are nearly finished.
The last traces of the firn village are removed.
2008-08-02
Todd’s tent was taken down at the air gas site and all bamboo poles NOT marking the boreholes to be kept where removed.
97% solar eclipse at NEEM
2008-08-01
After a night only a few hours long for most camp personal we enjoyed watching a 97% solar eclipse at 07:30
The big DV day.
2008-07-31
Sad goodbyes to 10 friends from NEEM and a busy day guiding our 16 guests around at NEEM.
The fight period with the DV visit is coming close and the day is a big cleaning day in the camp
2008-07-30
Just like at home – you clean before the guest arrive – the camp was busy cleaning
The 3 ton heavy winch has been moved down in the drill trench
2008-07-29
We used the crane of the PistenBully as a contra weight so the winch would not slip from us and slide into the trench.
The traverse is back at NEEM
2008-07-28
At 14:00 the whole camp greeted Anders and Sverrir welcome back to camp.
Work continues in camp
2008-07-27
A Sunday with digging in the trenches, construction of the core buffer, shelves in the dome, final drilling and gas pumping at the firn-gas village…
Saturday evening and Bo's 30 year birthday
2008-07-26
The theme for Saturday night was celebration of Bo’s 30 year birthday. Carina and Bo prepared a most excellent Indonesian meal followed by ice cream cake with candles.
The big snow removing day - and Laki found for the third time this year!
2008-07-25
In the science trench the drift at the closed inclined entrance is moved - unfortunately removing the cute penguin cut the day before by Valerie
The cooks snowmelter and sodamachine is installed
2008-07-24
Camp life went back to normal after a successful flight day yesterday. In the dome a cooks snowmelter was installed with improvised material.
Flight day with goodbyes and welcomes
2008-07-23
The Skier arrives in camp at 08:10 with Thomas St, Trine, Jens Peter, Laurin and Ramon.
The day is spiced with preparations for the flight the next day, Wednesday
2008-07-22
Besides from the normal work in camp (firn-gas program, ice core processing, drill trench preparations) the movement of equipment from garage 1 to garage 2 starts.
Dishwasher, toilet with flushing water, indoor shower, handwash with water - the camp is one big smile.
2008-07-21
Water in the system, heat in the radiators. A very big day for the camp. Just to watch people exit the bathroom area with a smile from ear to ear.
The main generator heat exchanger is replaced and - the heating system with the snowmelter works!
2008-07-20
In S2 a big melt layer is found at the depth 43m and recognized as the meltlayer from the warm years around 1889 some years after the Krakatu volcanic eruption in 1883.
High winds stops camp activities and all snug in preparing Saturday evening
2008-07-19
Winds picked up in the morning hours from 20 kn to 28 kn and before noon we had to call the firn-gas team back from their site 1.4 km from camp.
The traverse to NGRIP departs
2008-07-18
The hours of departure were like preparing a family for a camping holiday – Sverrir, Lars and Anders kept running back and forth after this and that!
Firn-gas program comes into routine and the new kitchen is under construction
2008-07-17
When the requested depths are reached the gas pumping team lowers their equipment into the holes and pump air from the bottom of the borehole.
Reaming was finished and a camera showed the bottom of the 92m deep hole
2008-07-16
A camera was lowered down to the bottom of the hole to see the bottom before the casing tubes are placed in the hole.
A windy day - but all activities continue
2008-07-15
The power cable installations, dome constructions, water and heating installations continued and the snowmelter was moved into camp.
The first monitoring of greenhouse gasses.
2008-07-14
The frame of the second garage goes up and the end wall covers are mounted. Before the main cover can be placed wind picks up.
The first snow the last 3 weeks
2008-07-13
Believe it or not – we had several very happy scientists in camp because we got overcast with snowfall. We had a very busy day pulling cables in the camp.
Main Generator moves into camp
2008-07-12
The generator was moved from the cargo area to the main dome with the Pistenbully and placed near the main dome
Success with the fueling system
2008-07-11
Friday we received the last 13 people in NEEM for this flight period and said goodbye to Claus. We are now 32 in camp – a very high load with the still rather primitive camp we have.
The camp drowns in cargo
2008-07-10
The second mission this week was planned for today. No passengers and a full load of cargo. This is the days where all our wishes come true.
An eventful day
2008-07-09
Today was the day where the exchange of the NEEM team started.
More people arriving tomorrow
2008-07-08
Everybody in camp is busy preparing the camp for the increase of people from 16 to 32 tomorrow.
A beautiful day with no winds and sunshine in the evening
2008-07-07
The camp is preparing to be expanded from 16 to 32 people.
A flight period is coming up and the new fuel system is being prepared
2008-07-06
A day with high broken overcast. In the dome the construction of the first floor continued and we have begun placing walls on the ground floor. The passage team broadens the passage between the science and drill trenches.
The day when the moles broke through between the science and the drill trenches
2008-07-05
After carefully measuring directions a team equipped with motorsaw managed to break through after 5 m digging between the science and drill trenches.
A very successful day for the BAS radar team, Fabian and Tim
2008-07-04
The day started very early for Michael and Dorthe with the main camp generator on strike at 2 am.
The drilling of the NEEM pilot hole was finalized at the depth 106.16m
2008-07-03
The drillers and logger reached the final depth of the pilot hole. Construction of the main dome continued and the highlight was afternoon tea on the stair in the dome.
The first fuel tank is on sledge
2008-07-02
The first fuel tank has been mounted on its sledge and we will start testing the fuel pump in a few days. Drill goes on steadily with a few hours of generator problems during the morning.
The dome is in progress and we plan the interior.
2008-07-01
In the dome, the floor on the ground floor is finished with plywood above the insulation material. The second garage snow hill was finished and the top levelled so we are ready to set the second garage tent up.
The camp celebrated the very first NEEM ice core
2008-06-30
Drill started after celebrating Hans Peters birthday with cake.
The position of the deep ice core borehole was marked in the drill trench.
2008-06-29
The weather in camp is still clear with blue sky and it is a pleasure to work on the surface. The roof on the science trench is finished and sealed with snow on the edges.
Again the roof building was the main camp task. And of course: It was Saturday night.
2008-06-28
Most of the team continued the work with the drill trench roof. Today we bridged the pass way between the science trench and the drill trench using the crane to support Peter placing the beams over the pass way.
The main task of the day was to build the science trench roof. While building we received guests.
2008-06-27
Friday was a day with warm temperatures. In the morning we had high overcast and low winds. We received skier 73 and received the last cargo for this week.
Another flight mission and lots of activity
2008-06-26
Again a beautiful day with a flight mission and also high activity in camp. The weather today was quite similar to the weather yesterday and again a mission was planned in the early morning. Three left camp, Sarah, Bruce and Blair, and four arrived, Valerie, JiWong, Timothy and Fabian.
Crew change
2008-06-25
Today weather was perfect for flights there was an exchange of personnel at NEEM. The remaining day was used for the newcomers to adjust to camp and camp activities and for the overlapping doctors, cooks and mechanics to exchange information. With 2 cooks in camp the food was overwhelming including sushi, lasagne, 2 cakes, and chocolate strawberries. Thanks!
No plane, so building continues
2008-06-24
Today's flight was cancelled due to weather, so we continued mounting windows, floors and panels on the top of the main dome. It took a little while for people to adjust to the fact that there was no flight, but after that we had a good day of work in and around the main dome and finished off by celebrating mid-summer one day late, as we had expected a new crew today.
Today we finished excavating the science trench - now we need to put a roof on
2008-06-23
Today was the day when Gaël finally finished his job of excavation, and
tomorrow he is scheduled to leave. The science trench is ready to get a roof on
Sunday, a bit slow but we mounted some difficult panels
2008-06-22
Today was clearly a Sunday. People began work a bit later than usual; but
soon people were working at their different tasks. We are also beginning to prepare for the big exchange of
personnel next week.
Summer solstice. Greenland national day
2008-06-21
Now the walls connect to the ground floor, in some places and
again today we worked in sunshine all day.
As usual for Saturday, Sverrir setup the shower inside the
garage, and everybody got a nice wash before Saturday night dinner.
Working in sunshine
2008-06-20
Today we worked in sunshine all day. That was a pleasure. The final panels
of the vertical row were mounted, just as the Pistenbully with the crane
had to be taken out of action for repairs.
Panelling on a good weather day
2008-06-19
Today weather was surprisingly good to us. As there was almost no wind, it
was a pleasure to be outside.
Panels and snow and snow and panels....
2008-06-18
Today was the fifth day in a row with total overcast and snow fall all
day. We are grateful that his is not a planned flight week, as we would
have to cancel all flights.
Panels, panels and more panels
2008-06-17
After the first relatively easy rows of panels, the crew today faced some
more difficult ones. They now mount panels on the wider and more vertical
parts of the dome.
The Main Dome gets a skin
2008-06-16
This morning we said goodbye to the GRIT traverse crew. They were pleasant company for
two days. After they left, we went to work.
Dome frame complete
2008-06-15
The snowy and windy weather did not really want to leave today. This
prevented the drill trench crew from finishing their job. We managed to
finish the dome frame.
Blizzard – not again!
2008-06-14
Gaël was
operating the snow blower in the drill trench, as the storm hit us at
12.30.
An unusual guest and hot summer weather
2008-06-13
Construction of the main dome continues. Today we finished the dome
spherical structure. And then we found a poor little visitor today.
Dome construction and excavating the drill trench
2008-06-12
Construction of the main dome continues. Today we almost finished the 1st
floor.
Dome construction
2008-06-11
Today we mounted the ground floor of the main dome, and began construction
of the 1st floor. Once this floor is in, we can use it as support of our
scaffold to mount the very top to the dome structure.
What a difference one good day makes
2008-06-10
When we woke up this morning, the wind and the clouds were gone. At the
breakfast table, everybody was happy and eager to go to work.
The forecasted storm hit us
2008-06-09
Through the night the storm picked
up force, and through the day the wind just blew. At the same time we were
peppered by new snow and a lot of blowing snow.
Now the drill trench has a roof
2008-06-08
The weather forecasts indicated we would get
really windy conditions on Monday. Therefore we decided to put
all efforts into putting the drill trench roof in place.
Excavating drill trench and building dome
2008-06-07
We mounted new levels on the dome structure today. Weather was o.k. albeit
a little windy. The crane came in extremely handy.
Another fine day for working outside
2008-06-06
We mounted new levels on the dome structure today. Weather was really fine
and people were eager to work outside.
Danish Constitution Day, another fine day
2008-06-05
Like yesterday we received two flights today, one in the morning and one in the
afternoon. As illustrated on the picture, the main dome construction is also moving on.
Big success and break through
2008-06-04
Today we received two flights, one in the morning and one in the evening.
The whole operation went like a clockwork. We also continuously blow snow from the drill trench.
Todays flight did not land
2008-06-03
The plane flew over head at 12 o’clock, but did not attempt to land. We were extremely
frustrated.
The weather is fine – we work
2008-06-02
Today the weather behaved. We were able to make a small snow hill with
hardened snow for the main dome.
We receive another plane
2008-06-01
The very doubtful weather from Saturday night continued Sunday morning. The weather then cleared unexpectedly – even the forecasters were surprised, so we were able to call in the second
plane.
We receive a plane
2008-05-31
Finally the weather cleared up a bit. The morning had snow showers, but
finally at 10 o’clock we were able to call in a plane. It landed at 2
o’clock, just as the weather changed again, and snow began to fall.
Bad weather ends (hopefully)
2008-05-30
The night was very noisy as the wind was pounding on all buildings. Snow
drifts grew over night, and the bad weather continued until noon.
Bad weather
2008-05-29
Weather has been really bad, with strong winds and a lot of blowing snow.
People could only open the kitchen door with great care to stop the wind
from blowing it off the hinges.
Sticky weather continues
2008-05-28
It’s hard for people to keep occupied when most tasks in camp involves a
certain amount of good weather. Strong winds, warm temperatures and
constantly moving snow are not among the good things in camp right now.
Sticky weather
2008-05-27
The morning was windy, overcast, and it snowed. It was also very warm,
which made the snow really sticky. We decided it was not possible to
continue digging the drill trench.
A feeling of Christmas
2008-05-26
When we woke up this morning, we almost felt like Christmas. Big chunky
snowflakes were falling. It was overcast with a slight breeze from S and
very warm: -9 C.
Large construction work in progress
2008-05-25
Today was the day for heavy metal, cranes and hard hats, as we raised the
arches for our new garage.
Moving onto main street and receiving visitors for afternoon tea
2008-05-24
Today was the first big move, as we moved the heart of the camp, the kitchen,
from the old 3.7m by 6m weatherport to the new 7.6m diameter circular
dome tent.
Building a new kitchen
2008-05-23
Our carpenter,
Claus, and the doctor, Hans Christian, have been hammering and sawing the
whole day, making furniture for Sarah, our cook so we may move in
tomorrow.
Another fine day on the ice
2008-05-22
Today the skyline of camp changed dramatically. Both red dome tents were
finished, each on a snow hill.
After the storm
2008-05-21
We woke up this morning to a different world. The weather was really nice
and we got a lot of work done.
Blizzard trouble
2008-05-20
During the night, we could fell the wind picking up. It was windy and
gusty. As we woke up at 7.30, snow was everywhere.
Is the storm coming?
2008-05-19
During the morning, winds increased from 14 knots to 18 knots, and as temperatures were about -27 C, the windchill became lower than -50. The wind persisted all day and in the evening the surface snow became agitated.
Construction work begins
2008-05-18
We now begin to erect tents that are planned to stay up through the winter. The tents are set up on 2 m high snow hills.
The 6th and final plane arrives
2008-05-17
Today we received the last plane in this flight period and another
crew member: Sebastian. Ahead of us, we now have 12 days where we can concentrate on construction work. It is Saturday evening, which is relaxing time.
The 5th plane arrives
2008-05-16
We received fuel and timber on this week’s fifth plane. The flight conditions were so good that the plane took off using only half of the skiway without rockets.
3rd and 4th plane arrive
2008-05-15
We have fought bravely against nature, but we have not been able to remove
the bumps on the skiway. This means that the planes cannot land with as
much cargo as planned. The two planes today arrived with a 1 hour interval. There was hectic ctivity in camp at this time.
2nd plane arrives
2008-05-14
We received the second shipment of construction material today. The plane
arrived just after noon and it delivered our new Pistenbully tractor.
Another plane arrives: a nail-biting experience
2008-05-13
Today was the day when we received the first aeroplane in a sequence of five that brings in construction material, tools and machines. Not everything went according to plan.
Preparing for the plane to arrive
2008-05-12
All the buried pallets with cargo were pulled over to the cargo line, the deep holes in the snow left behind by the pallets were backfilled, and the flags marking the sites removed. At the end of the day, the camp looked tidier than ever. The whole flight operation areas for the Hercules planes: skyway (landing strip), taxi ways, and apron were groomed.
A nice day for cleaning up
2008-05-11
On this Whit Sunday we started a bit later than normal, but as weather was so beautiful we accomplished a lot. Gaël and Thomas spent all day working with shovels and the snow blower. Jim spent another day grooming the skiway, Sverrir maintained and repaired equipment and J.P. spent a day in the office (kitchen) writing reports and setting up the satellite link.
A camp is taking shape
2008-05-10
Everybody now feels much more acclimatized. People are sleeping well and the cold does not bite as much anymore. The process of making the camp ready to receive 5 flights next week is in good progress. Hard manual labour is still the way forward.
A fine day spent doing planned tasks.
2008-05-09
Today was warmer than the past two days, and as there was less wind, work outside was quite comfortable. The shovel was again the main tool. It takes a lot of shovelling to excavate a heavy sled with cargo.
We dig and receive the second plane at NEEM this year
2008-05-08
The second flight at NEEM arrived with cargo, and the remaining time was spent shovelling snow away from equipment and preparing the skiway.
Arrival at NEEM
2008-05-07
After the attempt to fly into NEEM on Tuesday, the flight to NEEM today was successful. We departed Kangerlussuaq 8:25 onboard Skier 94, landed at NEEM 11:22, and at 11:52, the plane left us in camp with 5 shovels and a lot of snow.
Out and back
2008-05-06
The put-in team of five people arrived in Greenland Sunday and Monday May 4-5, and today, a first but unsuccessful attempt to open the NEEM camp was made.
Yet another day at the office
2008-05-02
After another day working with cargo, skidoo assembly, and office work, the FOMs decided to take advantage of the perfect weather and spend the evening on a visit to the ice margin.
From harbour to airport
2008-05-01
Work on cargo handling continues: Here Lars is moving a fraction of the 35 tonnes of timber that will be used to build the roof of the trenches in camp.
A big bird in town
2008-04-28
Our cargo from Copenhagen has arrived, and a US Air Force 105th Air National Guard C5 cargo airplane visited Kangerlussuaq Monday.
Fleet management
2008-04-26
During these first days, most of the time is spent getting the vehicles running and re-establishing the infrastructure.
Field office in Kangerlussuaq opened
2008-04-24
The first team arrived in Kangerlussuaq and opened the field office, which is the logistics and communications hub during the field season.
