A full science trench celebrating good progress. Left to right: Zhang Qi, Sarah, Lisa, Valerie, Nanna, Carlo, Jesper, Sepp, and Kerim (behind camera).

Camp is up to full speed

As camp is settling after the major crew exchange over the weekend, the activity level is rising. The deep drilling started out with some beautiful cores in the morning, but unfortunately a lost core piece and an issue with drill communication inhibited further drilling in the afternoon. In the science trench the daily production increases as all positions are occupied both for the core processing and the continuous water isotope analysis.
On the surface, the Swiss camp for fast access drilling is now established and a pilot hole for the casing is being drilled. At the firn gas site 1.23 km south of main dome, a powered camp has been established. All surface programs are running and a detailed Japanese pit study was carried out in the clean snow area. Finally, a new Weatherport was raised in order to provide more housing space. At 11 pm camp is still very much alive.

What we did today:

1. Deep drilling core length 5.70 m
2. Logging depth: 345.01 m
3. Processing depth: 251.35 m
4. Water isotopes depth: 206.80 m
5. Establishing firn gas drilling camp 1.23 km S of camp
6. Pilot hole drilling for Swiss RADIX casing
7. Water vapour, methane, aerosols, snow and boundary layer measurements
8. Detailed Japanese pit study in clean snow zone
9. Setting up the last Weatherport

Weather: Thin overcast morning and evening otherwise blue sky and good outdoor working conditions. Temp. -6 °C to -18 °C. Wind: 4-12 kt from W.

FL, Anders Svensson

Jakob and Remo preparing the RADIX drill in Swiss camp

Fumio and Wataru carefully sampling a pit under lint free conditions