Daily reports from the NGRIP-camp - week 28 year 2001
Monday, July 9th
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| Daily life |
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| Science |
| Glycol is dumped in the hole to free the drill. First 3 kg and later
1.5 kg. But the drill does not get loose. There are several theories why
the drill gets stuck. One theory suggests that it is very difficult to
break the core because of the very large crystals in the ice. As was determined
in the thin section produced on Friday the size of ice crystals is now
of the same order of magnitude as the width of the ice core. This means
that possibly it is only one or a few crystals that have to be broken when
the core is pulled up. Breaking only a few crystals is possibly more difficult
than breaking a core with small crystals. Another theory suggests that
due to the high temperature of the ice, close to its pressure melting point,
the ice behaves more like a viscous liquid. Instead of breaking like cold
ice, the ice is just slowly deforming, and at the knives that are supposed
to break the core long ice slices are being ’cut’ which are being wedged
along the sides of the drill. Finally it is feared that the temperature
in the hole is higher than anticipated and that there therefore could be
water in the hole. In that case the drill could be seriously stuck. |
| Logistics |
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Tuesday, July 10th
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| Daily life |
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| Science |
| Monday night at 10:30 pm the drill is free again! Whew! Let it never
happen again. |
| Logistics |
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Wednesday, July 11th
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| Daily life |
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| Science |
| Due to the rough treatment of the equipment during the drill recovery
it is necessary with quite some maintenance before drilling can be continued:
The cable has to be checked for kinks and/or broken wires. The drill electronics
inside the drill has to be checked. The console and computer on surface
have to be checked. The winch brake has to be repaired. It shows up that
the batteries in the drill have been damaged and they have to be replaced.
Both mechanical and electrical spare parts have to be ordered and installed.
When the drill is back in working condition the hole has to be cleaned
for glycol slush before drilling can be continued. |
| Logistics |
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Thursday, July 12th
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| Daily life |
| A musk ox project for the French National day on Saturday started 3
days ago when a block of 10 kg frozen musk ox was moved to the main dome
for unfreezing. The camp is eager to see if the meat can be chewed. |
| Science |
| In the workshop a pump to help sucking up ice chips has now been installed
in the drill. Tests indicate that the pump works. |
| Logistics |
| The Royal Danish Air Force had offered to make an airdrop with the
needed winch brake spare parts. The wind picked up during the morning and
at the time of the airdrop (12:15) wind was 12-18 m/s. The
Golf Stream made 2 passes first. During the third pass the airdrop
was made at the west end of the skiway. The camp was very impressed by
the precision of the airdrop, despite the marginal weather, and we would
like to thank RDAF for the effort. All members of the camp braved the weather
and eagerly followed the airdrop. |
Friday, July 13th
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| Daily life |
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| Science |
| The winch brake is being repaired with the pare parts that arrived
yesterday. |
| Logistics |
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Saturday, July 14th
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| Daily life |
| It is the French National Day. The musk ox meat shows up to be excellent. |
| Science |
| The cable is tested without discovering any problems. |
| Logistics |
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Sunday, July 15th
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| Daily life |
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| Science |
| The drill electronics needs major maintenance. |
| Logistics |
| The next flight is due on Tuesday, and the skiway is being prepared,
pallets are being packed etc. |
Continue to Week 29
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