.gif)
Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1974-75: VUWAE 19
PREPARATIONS FOR VUWAE 19
PREPARATIONS FOR VUWAE 19
A proposal outlining a programme involving six main scientific projects was submitted to the March meeting of RDRC. Among these projects was an expedition to Mt. Erebus, as detailed by Kyle. The VUWAE programme was approved and passed on to Antarctic Division.
-
Erebus expedition
To continue geological and salt mapping and warm ground temperature measurements outside the main crater of Mt. Erebus and to extend this inside the crater system.
To sample fresh lava and high temperature sublimates inside the crater system.
To obtain records from a seismic network around and within the main crater and to correlate this with visual observations of activity in the inner crater.
-
DVDP McMurdo Sound Drillhole/Glacial Sediment studies
To log, describe and sample core from the DVDP hole in McMurdo Sound near New Harbour, and to sample present day analogues at the snout of the Taylor Glacier, and on the Ferrar Glacier near Table Mountain.
-
Seismic Profiling in McMurdo Sound
To profile the area of the McMurdo Sound drillhole and extend this to cover the whole Sound region thus allowing the stratigraphy of the drill core to be extended laterally.
-
Late Cenozoic Stratigraphy
To extend the chronology and correlation of glacial deposits in the Dry Valleys, mainly working on the Cenozoic bedded polymicton type sediments within the Taylor Valley.
-
Basal Beacon Studies
To study in detail at various localities the New Mountain Sandstone, the lowest formation of the Beacon Supergroup, to establish its environment of deposition, sediment transport direction, and age of the unit.
-
Salts Project
To continue the collection and mapping of salts in the McMurdo Sound region to determine distribution and migration processes of such salts, concentrating in greater detail on the Antarctic "soils".
Logistic Support
Major requirements requested from Antarctic division were the usual items of field equipment, fuel and food. Helicopter time requested was 20 hours, this being based on helo movements from both Scott Base and Vanda Station. In the event fewer flights originated from Vanda than was expected and VUWAE helo time ran short with consequent cuts in the programme. However co-operation from Jim Newman, OIC, and John Stanton, Deputy OIC, Scott Base, minimised these cuts to some extent. It is suggested that more flexible helicopter time allocation and allowances for deviations from the planned schedule would enable completion of scientific programmes.
Further Planning
At the Seattle conference of DVDP in May 1974, Kyle suggested Black Island as a possible DVDP drillhole site. A reconnaissance of the area was scheduled for early December or January. An early ice-breakout affected DVDP sites in McMurdo Sound, with the result that Barrett and Powell devoted their attention to the new New Harbour hole. Furthermore in May 1974 Barrett had learned of the existence of trapped sediments on the Crary Ice Rise, Ross Ice Shelf. Correspondence with the Ross Ice Shelf Project manager failed to elicit assistance from RISP. However discussions with Newman at Scott Base eventuated in a 10 day visit to the Ice Rise.
A detailed programme and flight schedule for VUWAE 19 was submitted to Antarctic Division in July 1974 and was revised in August and September as flight schedules to Antarctica changed.
Once in Antarctica changes in flight dates and requirements were implemented following discussions between Newman and Stanton at Scott Base and Keys, Barrett and other VUWAE members.