Monday 7 October 2013

Monday 7th October 2013

Today the blizzard has increased to 50 knots and its very cold and depressing outside. After doing the ARPANSA filter change I decided to work from my room today as I just didn't feel like spending any more time out in those conditions if I don’t have to. 

Later on I installed a satellite tracking program and ran some plots on the International space station. During the final hectic rush to get all my gear down here I threw in some satellite gear in the hope I may be able to work some of the LEO satellites and the ISS. Before leaving home I ran some rushed plots on the ISS and proved there would be a short window into Mawson giving seven minutes at only five degrees, but what I didn't look at was who else would be in the footprint? 

Well now I know; no one! I was hoping I could work into South Africa but it’s just out of the foot print. I could possibly work Davis for a very short time if someone there was active and I was hoping to work the astronauts during the mid winter celebrations, but at those brief opportunities its just not worth the effort, so I will pack away that gear and give it a miss. 

We have now started working on a year book so I spent a while looking for photos to contribute which if a bit task as last time I checked I have taken 15,425 photos !!


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A nunatak (from Inuit nunataq) is an exposed, often rocky element of a ridge, mountain, or peak not covered with ice or snow within (or at the edge of) an ice field or glacier. The term is typically used in areas where a permanent ice sheet is present. Nunataks present readily identifiable landmark reference points in glaciers or ice caps and are often named. Mawson and the far surrounding region has numerous nunataks.
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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous10 October 2013 at 13:55

    Hi Craig
    Looks like you've had a windy week, and its about to get a whole lot worse over the weekend. The antarctic made it into our local (Melb) ABC radio news yesterday with a story about how the american govt shutdown is going to stop research projects from the three US stations down there, with comment from a kiwi at Scott base. I presume the ripple effects may come as far as Mawson?
    I've been away for a few weeks, and came back to read all about your trips to the russian plane and out to Colbeck - all very well presented; congrats. Living in a hut with a foot of ice on the floor sounds weird (and cold), but I guess is par for the course for you guys by now. Getting the hagg through those tide cracks must have put the stress levels up somewhat?...
    Cheers
    Peter

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  2. Craig Hayhow10 October 2013 at 20:54

    Hi Peter,

    We are now into day eight of this blizzard and its showing no sign of letting up yet. Normally they only last for two o three days at most. There is a real chance we will suffer a flow on effect from the American shutdown as we use their planes from McMurdo. Lucky for me I'm heading back on the AA. The Colbeck trip was great but by the time I got back I was trashed after concentrating so hard for so long driving in near whiteout conditions and looking for tide cracks. I have a great movie of me driving when the Hag broke through the sea ice and we were so lucky we didn't have to winch it back out or loose it all together. Every thing here is a calculated risk, get it wrong and the consequences can be severe. Mind you the water depth there was about 1,800 feet !! As for the ice floor, just trying to stay upright was a challenge.

    Regards,

    Craig

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