Well it has been a number of days since I have posted. We have only had one day of flying weather on May 10th. We got two HEM flights done in the afternoon while myself and 3 others went out on the ice with skidoos to do ground based measurements. It was an exhausting day of navigating through rubble, getting stuck, then moving 50ft and getting stuck again. We started at 2pm and finished at 12:30am. Yes, it is light here all the time, and no the light does not dim at all, it is as bright at noon as it is at midnight. It is great for working because you don't get tired as easily and you don't have to worry about getting caught in the dark.
On May 9th we went to the ice caves near the base. However, they don't really exist anymore because they have melted away. Nonetheless the valley they are located in is extremely beautiful. Though i'm not a geologist it was easy to recognize rocks with large ripple marks on the surface which indicates that it was in a stream for a long time. There was also alot of snow in the valley, rabbits and tarmigan (birds). It was a great little evening skidoo trip/hike and was great for morale as we spent the entire day inside due to miserable conditions on the ice.
Today we went out on the skidoo this afternoon. It was a beautiful sunny day, but only for about 10 km around Alert, so no flying. However we had a good day. We are almost done here as we fly out on Friday. Tomorrow we will process our last ice core and start packing up equipment. I don't expect to blog again from Alert, but maybe from Resolute. I want to go back through the trip with new blog posts showing pictures, GPS tracks, maybe even some preliminary results, so keep tuned.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Fog
Today there is fog. It was not too bad this morning and locked like it would burn off but it has just gotten worse, so no flying today. However this gives me a chance to catch up on sleep (if I'm smart) and to get some work done. Also I can write this blog. So yesterday I forgot to mention that we saw a seal. I'm not exactly sure what kind but it was just sitting on the snow sunning his stomach. I will have a picture to show you. Seals create breathing holes in the ice and maintain them throughout the winter.
Otherwise we had a spectacular skidoo trip yesterday coming back from the measurements. The ice was very rough with lots of ridges and so forth. Christian also got his skidoo very stuck and ruined a belt on the skidoo but we fixed it in the field and drove back.
Today we are all just bumming around, I sort of feel like working but can't think of what to do and can't concentrate long enough to do it.
Well that is it for now.
Otherwise we had a spectacular skidoo trip yesterday coming back from the measurements. The ice was very rough with lots of ridges and so forth. Christian also got his skidoo very stuck and ruined a belt on the skidoo but we fixed it in the field and drove back.
Today we are all just bumming around, I sort of feel like working but can't think of what to do and can't concentrate long enough to do it.
Well that is it for now.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Sun, Snow and Ice = Fun
So for the past two days we have had pretty good weather. Mostly sunny, warm. This means we've been out on the ice collecting data. Yesterday we used the helicopter to get a bit farther from the base and onto a multiyear ice floe (ice that has survived at least a couple summers of melting). Today we went out with skidoos and had a lot of fun navigating the rough ice, plus lots of data.
Saw a wolf on May 5. Thanks to Melissa Peters for the photograph, as I didn't have my camera (foolish).
One thing here is that the sun does not set, it is as bright at 2am as it is at noon, I can attest. We have been working from 8am each day returning at 8 or 9pm. Luckily they save us some supper. Then each night we try to enter in our data from our notebooks and instruments.
People are friendly and the food is great. I wish I was getting more done, but we are busy with work. Once we have a weather day (bad weather) then I will get some other work done.
Well that is it for now. No pictures as the connection is too slow.
Justin
One thing here is that the sun does not set, it is as bright at 2am as it is at noon, I can attest. We have been working from 8am each day returning at 8 or 9pm. Luckily they save us some supper. Then each night we try to enter in our data from our notebooks and instruments.
People are friendly and the food is great. I wish I was getting more done, but we are busy with work. Once we have a weather day (bad weather) then I will get some other work done.
Well that is it for now. No pictures as the connection is too slow.
Justin
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
From Resolute to Alert
Hey All,
Just a short blog post today to say that I have made it from Resolute to CFS Alert on May 4 as planned. Had a good flight with a nice fuel stopover in Eureka!!!.
Alert is different. Because it is a military base it has all that you could want, a gym, mess hall, auditorium etc. But the landscape is beautiful (the mountains of Ellesmere are all around (except to the north were you can see the sea ice).
Today we went out on skidoos and conducted some drill hole thickness, ice coring, and ground based EM measurements again. The helicopters also arrived today so we may be able to fly our airborne EM tomorrow. We spent last night and this morning putting it together.
Well thats it for now.
Talk to you again tomorrow
Just a short blog post today to say that I have made it from Resolute to CFS Alert on May 4 as planned. Had a good flight with a nice fuel stopover in Eureka!!!.
Alert is different. Because it is a military base it has all that you could want, a gym, mess hall, auditorium etc. But the landscape is beautiful (the mountains of Ellesmere are all around (except to the north were you can see the sea ice).
Today we went out on skidoos and conducted some drill hole thickness, ice coring, and ground based EM measurements again. The helicopters also arrived today so we may be able to fly our airborne EM tomorrow. We spent last night and this morning putting it together.
Well thats it for now.
Talk to you again tomorrow
Monday, May 3, 2010
Out and About
Today is May 3, didn't have time to post yesterday because we got in late and the internet connection was slow last night.
So on Saturday we did not end up walking to the town of Resolute Bay, so no pictures of that. I went and walked part way towards the bay, it was incredibly warm (ice was even melting off the roof of the building).
On Sunday we decided to go for a skidoo trip. We planned to go to Griffin Island to the southwest of Resolute and then follow that south towards the open water. I've created a Google Earth track file, it plots all the points we travelled (taken every few seconds for the duration of our trip). Below is a downsampled synthetic aperture radar image from April 16, on which I've plotted the track. You can see different brightness which reflect different surface roughness (with brighter being rougher).
This ended up being a 7 hour trip, but was alot of fun. We stopped upon arriving at the shores of Griffin Island to climb some rubble. We then followed the coast line of Griffin Island south for quite awhile.
While driving the snowmobiles we conducted ground based electromagnetic induction measurements of ice thickness with two EM instruments that have different antenna lengths. As our group has six people we borrowed three skidoos (demand for skidoos limited us), and so we doubled up and took turns driving and being passenger.
At one point we stopped to do a more detailed comparison of the two EM instruments measurements but doing drill hole measurements of ice thickness, measure snow depth and pull the two instruments to the exact same place. We had some bad luck here as we lost 2m of drill flights, on the first of 20 holes (dropped down the hole into the ocean...our bad), and then after measuring the thickness of the that holes, and the measuring tape was pulled out, the T-end broke off the measuring tape. The T-end, pictured below is lowered through the drill hole, once it reaches below the ice it pivots to block the hole. When you apply force by pulling on the tape, it fold the T up again.
So we had some problems but alot of fun. Today we may go out this afternoon to do more drilling and a more careful comparison of the two EM systems. We will see. As we didn't plan to do this, we are relying on the availability of equipment that others may have reserved. The great thing about the scientific community is the sharing that happens. We borrowed sleds that someone else had reserved yesterday, but they didn't need them that day so we could use them. We were planning to leave a drill tip behind, but since we lost ours down the hole, we need our spare now.
Well if I don't post tonight it may be a day or two until I have time. Tomorrow morning we leave for CFS Alert. It will be most of the day to get there, plus we'll have to unload and move all the equipment and get settled in. From now on there will likely be fewer pictures (and they will be smaller) as I will have to post to blogger using a mail client.
Hope you are all doing well.
So on Saturday we did not end up walking to the town of Resolute Bay, so no pictures of that. I went and walked part way towards the bay, it was incredibly warm (ice was even melting off the roof of the building).
On Sunday we decided to go for a skidoo trip. We planned to go to Griffin Island to the southwest of Resolute and then follow that south towards the open water. I've created a Google Earth track file, it plots all the points we travelled (taken every few seconds for the duration of our trip). Below is a downsampled synthetic aperture radar image from April 16, on which I've plotted the track. You can see different brightness which reflect different surface roughness (with brighter being rougher).
ENVISAT ASAR image showing our track from yesterday. Image courtesy of European Space Agency and Dr. Christian Haas.
This ended up being a 7 hour trip, but was alot of fun. We stopped upon arriving at the shores of Griffin Island to climb some rubble. We then followed the coast line of Griffin Island south for quite awhile.
Christian Standing on Ice Ridge near Griffin Island, near Resolute Bay, NU
Me relaxing out of the wind on the same ridge. Photo Courtesy of Stefan Hendricks.
At one point we stopped to do a more detailed comparison of the two EM instruments measurements but doing drill hole measurements of ice thickness, measure snow depth and pull the two instruments to the exact same place. We had some bad luck here as we lost 2m of drill flights, on the first of 20 holes (dropped down the hole into the ocean...our bad), and then after measuring the thickness of the that holes, and the measuring tape was pulled out, the T-end broke off the measuring tape. The T-end, pictured below is lowered through the drill hole, once it reaches below the ice it pivots to block the hole. When you apply force by pulling on the tape, it fold the T up again.
So we had some problems but alot of fun. Today we may go out this afternoon to do more drilling and a more careful comparison of the two EM systems. We will see. As we didn't plan to do this, we are relying on the availability of equipment that others may have reserved. The great thing about the scientific community is the sharing that happens. We borrowed sleds that someone else had reserved yesterday, but they didn't need them that day so we could use them. We were planning to leave a drill tip behind, but since we lost ours down the hole, we need our spare now.
Well if I don't post tonight it may be a day or two until I have time. Tomorrow morning we leave for CFS Alert. It will be most of the day to get there, plus we'll have to unload and move all the equipment and get settled in. From now on there will likely be fewer pictures (and they will be smaller) as I will have to post to blogger using a mail client.
Hope you are all doing well.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Day 2: Resolute Bay
Today is the second day of my trip. Yesterday I left Edmonton and went to Yellowknife, NWT. Took a nice walk to the old part of town and met up with most of the group (all minus Christian Haas (my supervisor) who was already in Resolute Bay).
Then this morning at 3:30am I woke up and went to the airport to catch a 5am charter flight to Resolute Bay, NU. The charter is managed by the Canadian Polar Continental Shelf Program. The program is responsible for logistics support of scientific research in the Canadian arctic. In Resolute , they have a large hanger and warehouse, as well as accommodations (which are much like a hostel). The food is always amazing, and the people are friendly, plus you meet up with many other science groups.
This afternoon we will likely just go out for a walk and go to the actual village of Resolute Bay, NU.
Otherwise it is a bit of a shock to come here. Edmonton is getting greener every day and Yellowknife was about +10c, where as here there is a lot of snow and it is -15C but feels like -24C with the windchill. But then I like the snow, and the cold.
Later today I'll likely post a couple pictures of the town of Resolute Bay, NU.
I hope you all are doing well and I'll write again soon.
If you have requests for information or so forth, feel free to comment below the post or to send me an e-mail. As I'm very new to blogging, I can definitely use the feedback.
Then this morning at 3:30am I woke up and went to the airport to catch a 5am charter flight to Resolute Bay, NU. The charter is managed by the Canadian Polar Continental Shelf Program. The program is responsible for logistics support of scientific research in the Canadian arctic. In Resolute , they have a large hanger and warehouse, as well as accommodations (which are much like a hostel). The food is always amazing, and the people are friendly, plus you meet up with many other science groups.
This afternoon we will likely just go out for a walk and go to the actual village of Resolute Bay, NU.
Shot showing the B737 charter we took from Yellowknife to Resolute.
Yes that is a big pile of snow in the background.
Otherwise it is a bit of a shock to come here. Edmonton is getting greener every day and Yellowknife was about +10c, where as here there is a lot of snow and it is -15C but feels like -24C with the windchill. But then I like the snow, and the cold.
Polar bear in the Yellowknife airport.
Later today I'll likely post a couple pictures of the town of Resolute Bay, NU.
I hope you all are doing well and I'll write again soon.
If you have requests for information or so forth, feel free to comment below the post or to send me an e-mail. As I'm very new to blogging, I can definitely use the feedback.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Packing Personal Gear
So today, Friday, April 30th I left Edmonton. I wrote all the packing stuff on Wednesday/Thursday while packing but haven't had a chance to post it until now. As for today I walked around Yellowknife with a couple others in our group and we will now go out for supper and a drink. Tomorrow morning at 3:45am we leave the hotel for the airport to go to Resolute Bay, so more tomorrow.
It's alot like packing for a vacation. You need to balance the things you want to have with you with the things you need to have. The biggest difference is that for most vacations if you have forgotten something, you can usually purchase it. Naturally, when in these remote sites I cannot just walk down to the local store and buy some more mitts if mine are wet or not warm enough. While I can probably borrow some from other researchers, I'd rather just be prepared.
Below is a table of daily weather data for this month (April) at CFS Alert, NU. You can access this data, and data from many other locations in Canada, online at Enviroment Canada's National Climate Data and Information Archive. We can see that the temperatures have ranged between -34 and -1 degrees Celsius. However, with the wind chill, the temperature feelsmore like -50 to -10.
Naturally this means I'm going to need a lot of cold weather gear. Because we are doing in-situ measurement out on the ice and snow potentially for a whole day, my gear can get wet, the temperature can change, I will probably need backup pairs of clothes, extra mitts, etc.
The pictures below show the gear I am taking with me on Friday. I have already shipped some stuff to Yellowknife with the equipment (I sent along my winter jacket, ski pants, winter boots, gore-tec pants, and two large fleece jackets).
The key to staying warm is layers, we we have base layers, mid layer and outer layer (jackets, ski pants). However, when its cold you can add another mid layer (an extra sweater or fleece). In addition to clothing, we are required by the aircraft charter to carry a sleeping bag or blankets. Our stay in Resolute from May 1st to May 4th is at the Polar Continental Shelf Program Base, and blankets are not provided. While I have a really nice warm (-7 rated) mummy bag, I have opted to bring a smaller, lighweight bag which packs smaller and weighs less. Also as it is for indoor use, I'm not too worried about being cold (I can always through on more clothes if I am).
This is more or less everything I need, minus what I wear on Friday and a pair of shoes to wear inside. The detail isn't great, and I tend to buy black field clothing (to absorb warmth from the sunlight).
Personally, I love using duffle bags, lots of space, and they are cheap! I hate having everything mixed together, so I dividing my stuff into smaller bags for organizing. The grey bag on the left is a compression sack, which I've stuffed the sleeping bag into. The sleeping bag will compress to be just a bit larger than a 5 pin bowling ball.
And here is all the stuff zipped into my bag. It weighs about 35lbs, so I still have weight and room to fit stuff in (as the airlines only allow 40lb baggage).
Canadian Forces Station Alert, where we are staying, is pretty luxurious from a field station perspective. There is hot water, laundry, food is cooked for you, a bed, a gymasium, bowling lane, movie room, and even a bar. The laundry facilities are especially nice because it means I can wear clean clothes (unlike where on the glacier I was allowed a similar amount of personal gear, but that had to last one month with no laundry and only a cold stream for bathing if you dared).
Well I think that is it for now. I am excited to go but also a little nervous, which will pass once I am there. I don't think the scenery will be quite as spectacular as my trip on the CCG Larsen last summer but I could be wrong. Of course I always miss Nicole and Jax, and wish that they could share in my adventures, but to me fieldwork is alot like a vacation. You go to a new, exciting place with wonderful scenery, you just have to work hard while you are there.
This blog post is quite long, don't fear they will be shorter in the future.
It's alot like packing for a vacation. You need to balance the things you want to have with you with the things you need to have. The biggest difference is that for most vacations if you have forgotten something, you can usually purchase it. Naturally, when in these remote sites I cannot just walk down to the local store and buy some more mitts if mine are wet or not warm enough. While I can probably borrow some from other researchers, I'd rather just be prepared.
Below is a table of daily weather data for this month (April) at CFS Alert, NU. You can access this data, and data from many other locations in Canada, online at Enviroment Canada's National Climate Data and Information Archive. We can see that the temperatures have ranged between -34 and -1 degrees Celsius. However, with the wind chill, the temperature feelsmore like -50 to -10.
Naturally this means I'm going to need a lot of cold weather gear. Because we are doing in-situ measurement out on the ice and snow potentially for a whole day, my gear can get wet, the temperature can change, I will probably need backup pairs of clothes, extra mitts, etc.
The pictures below show the gear I am taking with me on Friday. I have already shipped some stuff to Yellowknife with the equipment (I sent along my winter jacket, ski pants, winter boots, gore-tec pants, and two large fleece jackets).
The key to staying warm is layers, we we have base layers, mid layer and outer layer (jackets, ski pants). However, when its cold you can add another mid layer (an extra sweater or fleece). In addition to clothing, we are required by the aircraft charter to carry a sleeping bag or blankets. Our stay in Resolute from May 1st to May 4th is at the Polar Continental Shelf Program Base, and blankets are not provided. While I have a really nice warm (-7 rated) mummy bag, I have opted to bring a smaller, lighweight bag which packs smaller and weighs less. Also as it is for indoor use, I'm not too worried about being cold (I can always through on more clothes if I am).
Canadian Forces Station Alert, where we are staying, is pretty luxurious from a field station perspective. There is hot water, laundry, food is cooked for you, a bed, a gymasium, bowling lane, movie room, and even a bar. The laundry facilities are especially nice because it means I can wear clean clothes (unlike where on the glacier I was allowed a similar amount of personal gear, but that had to last one month with no laundry and only a cold stream for bathing if you dared).
Well I think that is it for now. I am excited to go but also a little nervous, which will pass once I am there. I don't think the scenery will be quite as spectacular as my trip on the CCG Larsen last summer but I could be wrong. Of course I always miss Nicole and Jax, and wish that they could share in my adventures, but to me fieldwork is alot like a vacation. You go to a new, exciting place with wonderful scenery, you just have to work hard while you are there.
This blog post is quite long, don't fear they will be shorter in the future.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)