14 May 2009

We work inside and below - outside is a mess

Drifting snow in camp. Where does the ice end and where does the sky begin?

Drifting snow in camp. Where does the ice end and where does the sky begin?

All through the day we have been forced to stay out of the weather. The wind reached its maximum in the afternoon with speeds of 38 knots. Being outside in the wind wasn’t so bad, as it was much warmer than we are used to; but once outside, you got plastered with snow in your face so it was hard to see where you were going. Obviously, the planned flight today was cancelled. In the drill trench, the drillers performed a pull test to 1.8 tonnes. The winch worked and the drill's attachment to the cable held. Later, our short drill was mounted, and tomorrow the drillers will send the drill into the hole for a cleaning operation before the long deep drill is mounted for real ice core drilling.

What we have done today:

  1. Completed the pull test. The “Hans Tausen” drill is now being mounted. The drill is named after the Hans Tausen ice cap in Peary Land, where it was first used in 1995.
  2. Mounted new water taps in kitchen.
  3. Mounted new tables and shelves in kitchen.
  4. Upgraded electrical supply to main dome.

Weather: Overcast -11°C to -8°C, 20-38 knots from S.
Visibility: 200 m. Snow and blowing snow.

FL, J.P. Steffensen

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