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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 2004-05: VUWAE 49
*ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
*ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
*Sites Visited
| Site name | Evans Piedmont Glacier |
| Site location (coordinates/description) | 77°43.542′ S, 162°34.836′ E, glacier surface |
| Dates occupied | 28 Oct 2004 to 16 Nov 2004 |
| Total days (or hours) at site | 20 days |
| Maximum number of people at site | 5 |
| Total person-days (or person-hours) at site | 100 |
| Main activity undertaken | Ice core drilling, high resolution snow pit sampling, installation of weather station and deployment of mass balance device |
Geological Material
| Location | 77°43.542′ S, 162°34.836′ E |
| Specimen type | Ice cores and snow samples |
| Quantity (kg) | 5000 lbs |
Equipment installed/left in field
| Type of equipment/marker installed | Weather station and submergence velocity device for mass balance measurement (Fig.13) |
| Location of installation left in field | 77°43.533′ S, 162°35.294′ E |
| Size of items left in field | 2×3m stainless tube, 3m mast, battery, solar panel, wire guides (weather station) 2×3m stainless tube (submergence velocity device) |
| Number of items left in field | 3 |
| Date of intended retrieval | Weather station in 2006, submergence velocity device - end of project |
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Fig. 13: A) Schematic figure of submergence velocity device, B) submergence velocity device and weather station at EPG, C) base and battery seat for the weather station dug in, D) dimension of weather station base.
An automatic weather station has been established near the 2004/2005 ice coring site that will record several parameters to help characterise the snow accumulation regime of the local glacier area (Fig.8B).
page 18
- Air Temperature at 2.5 height
- Snow accumulation, and air temperature at 1.5 m height
- Dew point temperature at 2.5 m height
- Solar radiation (incoming) at 2.5 m height
- Snow temperatures (thermistor resistance) from 0.5 to 2.5 m depth in at 12 cm intervals
Barometric pressure and wind speed/direction (ultrasonic) sensors are installed but were inoperative when the party left on 16 November.
The installation is expected to operate throughout the upcoming winter. The data will be downloaded from the site in 2005/06 and the installation maintained and the non operational sensors incorporated into the recording program.
*Other environmental impacts
Exhaust fumes from generators
*Differences from original Preliminary Environmental Evaluation (PEE)
None
*Sites Visited
| Site name | Mt Erebus Saddle |
| Site location (coordinates/description) | 77° 30.90′ S, 167°40.59′ E |
| Dates occupied | 24 Nov to 10 Dec 2004 |
| Total days (or hours) at site | 17 |
| Maximum number of people at site | 5/6 |
| Total person-days (or person-hours) at site | 101 |
| Main activity undertaken | Ice core drilling, high resolution snow pit sampling, casing of the borehole |
*Other environmental impacts
Exhaust fumes from generators
*Differences from original Preliminary Environmental Evaluation (PEE)
In-situ investigation of crystal structure and stratigraphy during the drilling suggests that the ice at MES – although only 210m deep – might be as old as 200,000 years. This was unexpected but make the site scientifically exceptionally interesting. For this reason we requested to case the borehole, so that if our assumption proves to be correct, further sensitive borehole temperature measurements can be performed. The casing consists of a plastic bucket, which is has been dug 30cm into the borehole and anchored with two 2m long stainless steel rods, placed in a horizontal cross through the bucket. The vertical 3m long stainless steel rod has been frozen into the bucket and is kept in place by three rope guides. The structure was filled in with snow almost immediately, hence the lack of a close up picture.
page 19
The structure is easily removable to allow access to the borehole and will be removed once the measurements have been conducted within the next 3 years.
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Fig. 14: Borehole casing at MES
*Sites Visited
| Site name | Victoria Lower Glacier |
| Site location (coordinates/description) | 77°43.7′ S, 162°33.7′ E, glacier surface |
| Dates occupied | 16 Nov 2004 – 20 Nov 2004 |
| Total days (or hours) at site | 5 days |
| Maximum number of people at site | 3 |
| Total person-days (or person-hours) at site | 16 |
| Main activity undertaken | Mass balance measurement and high resolution snow sampling |
*Other environmental impacts
None
*Differences from original Preliminary
Environmental Evaluation (PEE)
None