Daily reports from the NGRIP-camp - week 20 year 2003
Monday, May 12th
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| Daily life |
Due to technical problems with one of the C-130 planes from N.Y.
one plane was missing in Kangerlussuaq late monday evening. This means
that the put-in to NGRIP can not take place tuesday, as a backup plane
is needed in Kangerlussuaq in case of problems on the ice.
The put-in has been postponed to Wednesday morning.
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| Science |
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| Logistics |
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Tuesday, May 13th
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| Daily life |
The problems with the planes continue. Out of three C-130's only
one is in Kangerlussuaq and operational at the moment. Unfortunately this
is not sufficient, as the open-field landing at the first put-in to NGRIP
requires a back-up plane to be ready in Kangerlussuaq. The put-in is now
scheduled for friday morning.
The team in Kangerlussuaq spent their time moving cargo and sight-seeing
at the icemargin, which may be seen in the picture gallery.
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| Science |
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| Logistics |
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Wednesday, May 14th
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| Daily life |
Still waiting .... and it started to snow in Kangerlussuaq.
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| Science |
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| Logistics |
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Thursday, May 15th
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| Daily life |
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| Science |
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| Logistics |
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Friday, May 16th
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| Daily life |
Finally the put-in succeeded!
Despite relatively bad weather the C-130 could land on the ice. The snow
cover was up to the doorhandle on the dome, and the team could enter the
dome and send a message to Kangerlussuaq from the HF-radio, which still had
power on its battery. The temperature in the dome was -16C, but fortunately
the genrator started without problems, and within a few hours the water supply
and all means of communication were established. As could already be seen
on the pictures taken from the mail plane in april there is quite a lot of
snow in the camp. It took several hours of shoveling before the snowblowers
and the Kaesbohrer were free and running.
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| Science |
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| Logistics |
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Saturday, May 17th
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| Daily life |
Fortunately the weather at NGRIP is nice and sunny. This helps
with all the outdoor work that has to be completed.
Saturday evenings at NGRIP are always special evenings. Everybody dresses
up and a nice dinner is served. This week it was a "candle light dinner",
since the window is burried under 3 m of snow. Normally sun light gets into
the dome day and night during the summer season. Saturday night was celebrated
with the wishes for a successful field season and in memory of Niels Gundestrup.
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| Science |
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| Logistics |
There is plenty to do. A ramp to the garagetent was constructed,
and all vehicels are now out and working. The top of the elevator used for
lifting ice boxes from the trench was located under 2 m of snow. The trenches
under the surface are clearly marked by the weight of the past two years
of snowfall. In the drill trench from 1996 the height is 1,50m and in the
science tranch 1,85m. Many beams in the roofs are broken. The roof of the
new drill
trench is intact and using laser distancer it was concluded that the drill
tower can be tilted to vertical with a very minor adjustment.
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Sunday, May 18th
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| Daily life |
Still nice weather.
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| Science |
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| Logistics |
Grooming of the skiway has begun. The next plane will be on tuesday,
and the skiway has to be prepared so the C-130 can land and take-off. The
skiway flags are raised and bad flags exchanged. Tents have been put up,
the entrance to the drill trench was located, and a ramp established.
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Continue to Week 21
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