A. TRANSPORT

All major movements were by helicopter and in general the service was satisfactory. However, it was difficult at times to find out when flights were scheduled even on the day for which they had been arranged. A particular difficulty we encountered resulted in our resupply being four days overdue. For three days low cloud developed regularly in the late morning and persisted through to evening; the other day was Thanksgiving when there were no scheduled flights. The situation was made especially difficult by a requirement not to fly over the barwick valley Site of Special Scientific Interest, which covered the obvious approach to the North and East. The resupply was effected only through good communications, cooperation, and a determined helo crew, on the evening of the fourth day. A letter requesting permission for overflying Barwick Valley has since been sent to the Chairman, N.Z. National Committee on Antarctic Research.

B. MAIN AREAS COVERED

Both parties camped together on the east face of Mount Bastion on an extensive platform at 1850 m (77°15′S; 160°30′E) about halfway between the base and top of the strata under study. Most of the platform is rock but a snow bank on which to erect the tents was located without much difficulty.

In early December Event 13b moved to Mount Fleming and remained in that area for the rest of the season, camping at 77°33′S;161°16′E. Vanda Station was visited by foot, the journey taking between 11 and 13 hours one way. The only difficult area is Vortex Col. The western side is less disturbed, and even so delaying is necessary. Horseshoe Mountain was also visited and no difficulties were encountered.

Event 13a in early December moved to West Beacon, camping on a small platform at the top of a dolerite dyke on the East Ridge at 1800 m (77°49′S; 160°47′E). After two weeks here, sampling the entire 2 1000 m face, the party moved to Table Mountain (77°59′S; 162° 00′E). The camp here was at 2100 m on the boulder-strewn plateau to the south of the East Peak.

C. WEATHER

The party was landed at Mt Bastion in winds gusting over 40 knots. The following three days were clear and calm, but after that a pattern developed. The sky would be clear in the early morning, but the clouds would gather about 1000 and snowing would begin for the day. It would then clear up in the late evening. Temperatures were low (−15° to −28°C).

Mt Fleming was generally subjected to continuous Katabatic winds averaging 15 to 20 knots from the Polar Plateau which together with air temperatures generally much lower than −10°C made work uncomfortable and restricted the duration of a field day. Of the 37 days between early December and mid January when the weather page 26 was recorded only 9 had winds of less than 5 knots. Cloud and snow were generally observed to come from the east, especially as rising cloud from the Wright Valley.

The paleomagnetic party at West Beacon had generally fine weather, which deteriorated upon moving to Table Mountain. However, there was a break of sufficient length to complete the work.

D. COMMUNICATIONS

Technically, communications were good. All camps were at reasonable altitude and practically line-of-sight with Scott Base. We had no difficulty with any schedule and could almost always hear all K-network stations. At Mt Bastion, we devised an inverted-v antenna which gave very good reception.

E. LOSS/DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT

Nothing beyond some breakages with scientific equipment.

F. RECOMMENDATIONS

A. TRANSPORT

• Christchurch to Scott Base: RNZAF Hercules
• Scott Base to Fang to Erebus to Scott Base: U.S. Navy helicopters
• Scott Base to Christchurch: U.S. Hercules
• The only problems encountered were delays in leaving Erebus due to capricious cloud conditions, and in leaving Antarctica due to defects and mishaps to our aircraft.

B. AREA COVERED

The Crater, and the Fang of Erebus volcano.

C. WEATHER

Temperatures on Erebus averaged about −22°C, the lowest being −32° on Fang Glacier at night, and the highest at the summit being about −15°C.

D. COMMUNICATIONSM

The 6 p.m. sked with Scott Base was normally used, and reception was so good that we sometimes relayed messages to and from field parties far north. Kyle's USARP party were also in daily contact with MAC-centre, giving us two possible channels of communication for transport and supply, which had to be used carefully to avoid confusion. Although it was desirable to minimise transmitter usage because it obliterated the geophysical recordings, there were 42 communication periods between 14 and 29 December 1978.

E. LOSS/DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT

The magnetic induction loop wire was damaged, and the cableway across the crater was destroyed during the gale of 25-27 December. Guy ropes tore off my DSIR tent, and my DSIR mattress was lost in the same storm. On 29 December my DSIR tent, which had been repaired and re-erected by the Field Leader and assistants, and also the DSIR ground sheet, USARP mattress, VUW double sleeping bag, and a few personal items, blew away completely. A shirt, down trousers, and the tent were recovered (with the frame badly bent), but there was no trace of the rest.

F. RECOMMENDATIONS

It is now evident that tents, and nylon ropes and ribbons, are weakened by exposure to gases from Erebus Volcano. Resistant materials such as polypropylene and an extra guy rope to the top of each tent are recommended, especially close to the rim or within the crater.

The joint project between DSIR, USARP, FRANCE, and ourselves, using the NSF Observatory Hut and DSIR sleeping tents should be actively promoted (with special gratitude for USARP food and French liquid fortification)