GOLF 4-3-9 Antarctica Expedition 2008
Report Day 14 -- Sunday 09 November 2008 -- The Polar Haven Site
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GOLF 4-3-9 Antarctica Expedition 2008 |
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In the morning we went out with Amy, Tristi and Andrew to look at the "Polar Haven Site" in the middle of the lake where they are doing most of their work. We decided to put our mooring as close to their site as possible so we can use their characterization of the chemistry, physics and biology of the lake. There, we will drill a ten-inch diameter five meter long hole through the ice of Lake Fryxell. Our hike to the site is not trivial. Most of the way is very slippery ice so we have to wear crampons or stabilizers on our boots. The ice surface is extremely uneven with ups and downs of about three feet, depending on how the winter scoured (ablated) the ice and how the sun melted and let re-freeze the water during the summer. This is called "candle ice" because it forms long thin sections that resemble candles. It is tricky walking but lots of fodder for the photographer.
When we arrived at the Polar Haven Site we needed to figure out where and how to drill. We quickly found a good site, and we decided to use the 10 inch Jiffy Drill. This ia an Auger drill, with an "Archimedes" type screw to expel the ice shavings. The Jiffy drill seemed straightforward but we were worried that the drill might freeze into the hole. We decided to go with the Jiffy on the following day.
In the afternoon, we prepared our mooring in the laboratory, so we do not have to assemble it all in the windy and cold weather on the lake. Once that was done we explored the region around the camp, took some photos of Canada Glacier. On the way, we came across a mummified seal that found its demise, as it lost its way on the sea-ice of Ross Bay into Taylor Valley. The cold dry conditions mummify them and they have been dated to be hundreds of years old. Such mummified seals are very common in Taylor Valley. On occasion, penguins are also seen in Taylor Valley as well as the seals. In the evening we cooked a meal for the combined bravo and golf research teams. Greetings from Fryxell Hut.
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