Shirley Island and Tot-Cal

Well the past couple of days has seen the wind start to increase up to about 40-50 knots (75-90KPH), with some blowing snow and the odd light snow fall. This has meant that the aircraft have been unable to fly, and as a result we have been working what would be considered a 'normal' working day, and finishing up usually by dinner time. This has also meant that after dinner (and with sunlight well into the night), groups have been able to head out for a hike, or do some cross country skiing. Most groups have hiked over to Shirley Island.... taking advantage of the fact that the Sea Ice to Shirley Island is still intact.

Hiking out to Shirley Island

Working our way down to the Sea Ice

The Sea Ice out to Shirley Island is in a narrow stretch of water between the Island and the mainland, which means that it remains in place, and solid for some time after the rest of the Sea Ice has gone!

On Shirley Island there is a large colony of Adelie Penguins, also it is not uncommon to see Skua birds, Weddell Seals, and Leopard Seals.

Adelie Penguins

View from Shirley Island

Adelie Penguins

I mentioned in the previous blog entry, of some of the science work that is happening. In particular the work around the Law Dome area, The following is some information by Reed Burgette, from the University of Tasmania, explaining the Tot-Cal project and its relationship with the CyroSat 2 mission.

 

The second season of the Tot-Cal project is off to a good start, with our first far-field GPS site installed on the Vanderford Glacier with the Twin Otter aircraft only a week after we arrived at Casey.   This season our team consists of FTO Mick Stapleton and Jack Beardsley and I from University of Tasmania.  The initial component of our project involves installing a network of six stations with GPS and meteorological sensors around Law Dome and the Totten and Vanderford Glaciers. 

The Tot-Cal project contributes to the calibration and validation of the European Space Agency's Cryosat 2 satellite. The CryoSat-2 mission is designed to monitor changes in ice volume around the Earth. Casey is well positioned for this project, as the Totten Glacier (200 km southeast of the station) has one of the most rapid rates of ice loss in east Antarctica, as observed by previous satellites. We will use the data collected from the GPS sites we install, coupled with planned ground and aeriel surveying to ensure CryoSat's measurements of the east Antarctic ice sheet are as accurate as possible. Additionally, our project will contribute to better characterizing the rate of ice movement of the glaciers around the Casey area.

Jack Beardsley and Reed Burgette in the process of connecting the equipment for the GPS site on the Vanderford Glacier.  Photo: Dave Woplin

With the GPS site completed, we prepare to fly back to Casey in the Twin Otter.  The solar-powered equipment will be retrieved at the end of the summer season.  Photo: Jack Beardsley

2011 marks the centenary of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, led in 1911 by Sir Douglas Mawson.

To coincide with the centenary celebrations, the Australian Antarctic Division is running a competition for school students in years 5 - 9, to write what they think Antarctica will be like in 2111. The competition runs between 14 - 25 November 2011. And the winning entries will be sealed in a time capsule at Commonwealth Bay, Antarctica until the bicentenary in 2111. Follow the Link.

Settling into the Casey life

Well the first week back at Casey Station has been a bit busy. With all the new arrivals trying to get set for the weeks ahead. For many of those who have not been here before, and those who have not been south for some years, heading out on field training. This training began back in Kingston, Tasmania, but is completed after arriving in Antarctica. It involves various aspects of survival and travel in Antarctica, including, travel on sea ice, navigation, vehicle travel, ice slope self arrest training.... along with many other things. You will also spend a couple of nights sleeping out on the ice, one night will be spent sleeping in 'bivvy' bag, and another out in 'polar pyramid' tents.... it can be a long and cold night, especially if the wind is blowing a bit, but what an amazing experience. As I had completed the training the last time I was here a Casey, I did not have to complete it again for this season. But below I have included some photos of my training from 2 seasons ago.

Preparing for some Ice Slope training

Self arrest training

Bedding down for the night

Checking sea ice dept for safe travel

In the past week we have had the 2 Twin Otter aircraft arrive from the South Pole Station, via Dome C (Concordia), and since arriving they have conducted some flights to Bunger Hills, and the Law Dome area, which will form part of the science works to be undertaken this season. This Link has a small article from Australian Geographic, which talks of some of the work undertaken at the Law Dome site, and the findings from Ice Cores taken from the area, and links to drought in the Western Australia region.

One of the Twin Otter aircraft has since made a flight over to Davis station, this flight is to coincide with the arrival of the resupply ship Aurora Australis, which is about to arrive at Davis for the annual resupply of personnel, food, equipment and fuel. The Twin Otter will be used to ferry some personnel from Davis station, over to Mawson station

The second Hercules flight also arrived from McMurdo, which was carrying a further 26 personnel for Casey station. And the number of people now at Casey is up around the 70 mark.

As we are getting further into the summer season, the length of daylight is also extending. At this point (early/mid November) Sunset is listed as about 1am, and sunrise at about 6am, and by early December there will only be about 2 hours between sunset and sunrise. Although the sun actually sets, as the timeframe gets shorter, it does not get much past twilight, and by Mid December, the sun will not set again until early January.

This sunset or twilight period produces some amazing changing colours across the icebergs, turning them from bright whites, to bright shades of blue and pink. The photo below was taken at Midnight from the front of Casey station.

With long long periods of sunlight, it provides great opportunities for travel. Often after dinner, groups will head out to do some cross country skiing, or take a hike over to Shirley Island (across the sea ice). Shirley Island has the nearest Adelie Penguin colony to Casey station...... I went for a hike over to the island a few nights ago, but will save some of the pictures for the next entry........

Back in Antarctica for the 2011/12 Summer Season

Well, I am back in Antarctica, at Casey Station for the 2011/12 Summer Season. After some time in Hobart completing some pre-departure training, we set off early Friday morning (the 28th October) on the airbus for Antarctica. While in Hobart, we saw the ship, 'Aurora Australis' off for it's voyage to Davis Station.

We would again be flying via the United States base of McMurdo Station, as the blue ice runway 'Wilkins', which is up on the ice plateau from Casey station, was not yet operational. As the ice runway is not yet up and running, it means that only aircraft with skis' are able to land on the snow 'skiway' near to Casey station. It's for this reason that the airbus flies to McMurdo, lands on the sea ice, and then when a weather window presents, we fly over to Casey on a ski equipped C130 Hercules.

We arrived at McMurdo and spent a few hours down on the sea ice runway, where it was about -17c. It was first intended that we would transfer straight onto the hercules for our flight over to Casey, but due to a few delays, and ultimately a poor weather forecast for Casey station, we remained at McMurdo overnight. We then had to get up to the station and sort out some beds for the night. While down on the runway we watched some of the other aircraft come and go...... incredible to think that such large aircraft, and all the buildings (which are on sleds), and machinery are sitting on sea ice.

Arriving on the sea ice at McMurdo

C17 landing on sea ice

We then had an early start for the scheduled flight over to Casey Station, it would take about 4.5 hours on the Hercules over to Casey. Shortly after leaving McMurdo, we passed over the Dry Valleys, which was an amazing view, and great opportunity for photos, albeit through the small and limited windows on the hercules.

The Dry Valleys

We arrived at Casey ski-way, to about -15c, and then made our way down to the station where it was a balmy -12c........ due to the lack of humidity, it does not feel that cold, especially when the wind is not blowing.

Arriving Casey station ski-way

We sorted all the bags that had arrived with us on the Hercules, and tried to unpack and settle into our rooms. After a good sleep, the first full day was beautiful, very little wind and amazing blue skies. Not too much work on the first day (mostly due to it being Sunday), but over the next few days it will become quite busy, as there is another Hercules flight due in with a further 26 people on board to come to the station, and there are also 2 Canadian Twin Otter aircraft to arrive. These aircraft will be conducting science work over the summer period.

View from Casey station over Newcombe bay sea ice

Casey 'Red Shed'

 The Casey 'Red Shed' is the main living quarters on the station. Inside is accommodation rooms, kitchen and mess room, lounge areas, and medical facilities. Over the next couple of blogs I hope to post some video of some various areas of the station, so people can get a better understanding of the layout, and facilities on the station.

Main road through Casey station...... the only road through Casey station