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)