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Week 4 - November 21, 1999 to November 27, 1999
Date: 11/27/99
Latitude: 80 S
Longitude: 120 W
Temperature: −15°C
Wind speed: 20 knots, gusts to 27 knots
Wind Chill: −39°C
Wind direction: NE
Meters of ice collected: 0
Notes on daily life:
Under partly cloudy skies, with blowing snow and a barometric pressure of 23.57 inches of mercury, the ITASE continued to prepare for their first days of sampling. Equipment has been loaded on the nansen sleds and everything is ready for leaving Byrd camp tomorrow or the next day. Today's chores include moving 55 gallon fuel drums and continued modifications of the radar system
Date: 11/26/99
Latitude: 80 S
Longitude: 120 W
Temperature: −19°C
Wind speed: 20 knots
Wind Chill: Not Given
Wind direction: NE
Meters of ice collected: 0
Notes on daily life:
At Byrd camp, under partly sunny skies with blowing snow and a barometric pressure of 28.76 inches of mercury and steady, the ITASE team continues their work. The chores yesterday included improving the skiway, sorting gear, and practicing with the equipment. The last C-130 airplane flight came in last night and dropped the final pieces of gear.
The team also located the automatic weather station (AWS) that has been transmitting weather information from that location for the past eight or nine years. Bob's ice penetrating radar system is working better than expected. Bob has located numerous objects buried in the ice around Byrd camp. The radar system has also been able to penetrate through the entire 2000 meters of ice under Byrd camp to the bedrock below.
Today will be just another work day and the ITASE team wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving from Antarctica.
Date: 11/25/99
Latitude: 80 S
Longitude: 120 W
Temperature: −14°C
Wind speed: 2 −3 knots
Wind Chill: Not Given
Wind direction: NE
Meters of ice collected: 0
Notes on daily life:
First full day at Byrd camp. The weather here at Byrd camp is much more calm though much colder than at McMurdo base. The barometric pressure is 28.79 inches and falling under mostly clear skies. The team spent the day checking their personal and scientific gear. Bob checked his radar units and Tyler, Joe, and Mark helped to reflag the runway for additional supply planes. Last night Kevin Pusey, the safety officer, cooked dinner in the Jamesway (20 foot by 30 foot permanent shelter) for everyone. Though they missed Thanksgiving dinner in McMurdo everyone is excited to start doing science.
There is a lot of work to do around Byrd camp to prepare the equipment for collecting the snow and ice samples. Team members should start the collecting process as early as tomorrow as the teams heads out from Byrd on the first leg of their traverse. After three weeks in McMurdo station, Byrd camp is a welcome sight.
Date: 11/23/99
Latitude: 80 S
Longitude: 120 E
Temperature: −21°C
Wind speed: 8 knots
Wind Chill: Not Given
Wind direction: Not Given
Meters of ice collected: 0
Notes on daily life:
They have arrived at Byrd! Six team members were dropped off last night by plane. Scott tents were put up and everyone was curled in their bags by midnight. Today's schedule is to set-up equipment and get ready to start collecting samples. The landscape at Byrd seems more alien than did the landscape at McMurdo, like being on an entirely new planet. The present conditions at Byrd are: Mostly cloudy with a calm wind, and cold!
Date: 11/22/99
Latitude: 77 degrees, 51 minutes South
Longitude: 166 degrees 40 minutes East
Temperature: −9°C, Hi −9°C, Low −12°C
Wind speed: 12 knots
Wind Chill: −22°C
Wind direction: N
Meters of ice collected: 0
Notes on daily life:
Flight to Byrd was cancelled yesterday, however the group is scheduled to leave tomorrow at 1830 McMurdo time. Weather has improved at Byrd. A new group of visitors have arrived, the skuas. They are a large seagull like bird that comes into to McMurdo area as the sea ice diminishes. No visible open water yet, but it is getting close as summer moves ahead.
Date: 11/21/99
Latitude: 77 degrees, 51 minutes South
Longitude: 166 degrees 40 minutes East
Temperature: −9°C Min −15°C
Wind speed: 14 knots Gust to 26 knots
Wind Chill: Not Given
Wind direction: SE
Meters of ice collected: 0
Notes on daily life:
7 inches of new snow. All gear for going to Byrd is loaded on the airplane and ready to go. Still waiting on good weather for the flight.
Average Wind chill −25°C
Max Wind chill −37°C
Kevin Pusey the safety officer was volunteering in the kitchen to make a dessert for Thanksgiving. In McMurdo there are 37 turkeys waiting for stuffing,
so if we're delayed in McMurdo through Thanksgiving, we'll have quite a meal.