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Week 3 - November 15, 1999 to November 20, 1999

Date: 11/20/99
Latitude: 77 degrees, 51 minutes South
Longitude: 166 degrees 40 minutes East
Temperature: −8°C, max −4°C, min −8°C
Wind speed: wind calm, max gust 13 knots
Wind Chill: Not Given
Wind direction: Not Given
Meters of ice collected: 0

Notes on daily life:

The weather is responsible for two more flights to Byrd camp being cancelled today. There is no flying on Sundays from McMurdo.The next opportunity to get the team and more of its gear to Byrd will be Monday. It is snowing lightly in McMurdo and with the wind chill at −19°C. The ITASE team continues to check gear, enjoy downtown McMurdo, and wait for their flight to Byrd camp

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Date: 11/19/99
Latitude: 77 degrees, 51 minutes South
Longitude: 166 degrees 40 minutes East
Temperature: −5°C, min −12°C
Wind speed: calm, max gust 26 knots
Wind Chill: Not Given
Wind direction: Not Given
Meters of ice collected: 0

Notes on daily life:

It is mostly cloudy today at McMurdo. The forecast calls for periods of light snow tomorrow which may affect the flight to Byrd camp. Joe and Tyler visited the weather office to learn more about the weather in Antarctica. More waiting for the trip to Byrd camp.

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Date: 11/18/99
Latitude: 77 degrees, 51 minutes South
Longitude: 166 degrees 40 minutes East
Temperature: −12°C
Wind speed: 13°C
Wind Chill: −27°C
Wind direction: NE
Meters of ice collected: 0

Notes on daily life:
Weather today cloudy with light snow possible
Yesterday: Did a bit more crevasse training during the morning. Afternoon − Relaxation. Still scheduled to go to the field on Saturday. Two flights will go to Byrd with 200000 pounds each! Weather permitting.

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Date: 11/17/99
Latitude: 77 degrees, 51 minutes South
Longitude: 166 degrees 40 minutes East
Temperature: −12°C, high −7°C, min. −15°C
Wind speed: 10, gusts to 14
Wind Chill: Not Given
Wind direction: SE
Meters of ice collected: 0

Notes on daily life:

Yesterday some team members took a sea ice course and learned about ice thickness, cracks, pressure ridges and safety on sea ice. Kevin entered a ping pong tournament last night − not all is work in McMurdo.

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Date: 11/16/99
Latitude: 77 degrees, 51 minutes South
Longitude: 166 degrees 40 minutes East
Temperature: −5°C, max −4°C, min −7°C
Wind speed: 7 knots, gusts 32 knots
Wind Chill: Not Given
Wind direction: NW
Meters of ice collected: 0

Notes on daily life:

All cargo has been finalized for Byrd camp and the final mechanical work has been performed on the Tucker sno-cat. The weather is finally beautiful with cool dry air flowing down from the polar plateau of East Antarctica.

The flight to Byrd camp has been postponed to Friday because of weather backups at Siple Dome.

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Date: 11/15/99
Latitude: 77 degrees, 51 minutes South
Longitude: 166 degrees 40 minutes East
Temperature: −8°C, high −2°C
Wind speed: 11 knots gusts to 33 knots
Wind Chill: −20°C
Wind direction: S
Meters of ice collected: 0

Notes on daily life:

With this break in the weather 6 team members will leave on Thursday for Byrd camp. All the equipment for Byrd camp is ready for shipment by C-130 aircraft. Yesterday a few team members traveled by Tucker snow-cat across the Ross ice shelf to visit the hut that Ernest Shackelton built when he explored Antarctica around 1910.

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