precious bay science

- 36^oC and science still goes on at Halley!

A project to look at the chemistry of the lower atmosphere has begun at Precious Bay, down at the coast some 17km away from Halley station. During springtime, chemical reactions occur on ice surfaces that associated with newly-forming sea ice (e.g. frost flowers, concentrated brines on new sea ice). These reactions generate reactive bromine compounds which are released into the atmosphere. Here they react rapidly with ozone and cause massive loss in ozone at ground level. These ozone depletion events have been studies at the Halley CASLab, but now we are trying to study them in situ. To do this a mini-max DOAS (Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy, which measures bromine monoxide) and an ozone monitor have been set up at Precious Bay to monitor the chemistry as the air arrives off the sea ice zone. The instruments have to run autonomously, and are supplied with power from a mixture of solar panels and wind turbines. We hope to run this experiment continuously over the next few months. The system was set up and the experiment started as temperatures reached –36^oC. The lucky two carrying out the work were Neil Brough (atmospheric chemist) and Thomas Speiss (UAV meteorologist) and made possible with a lot of effort and help from the Halley base.

Day 1...after arriving at the site by skidoo it was time to put the P tent up, get the caboose warm and settle in. It was still only about 25oC, and so it was fairly warm in comparison to what it is now (-42oC). The caboose or wooden/metal hut sleeps four and that is a squeeze but there were only two of us this time, me and tom, so it was comfortable. It has a heater, a stove and a tilly lamp for light, 4 beds, a table and a collection of cosmopolitan

Day2....not a great sleep in the sleeping bags but another day with more cups of tea. Put up most of the poles for the generators and solar panels. Able to work with thin gloves on due to the warm weather. Man food (bagged and freeze dried food) was for lunch but a frozen food parcel from the chef was waiting for us for the evening meal. Wet clothes hung around to dry and warm up.

Day3... woke up and felt the cold for the first time since arriving, the blow that was predicted has arrived and we have to sit it out for most of the day. It was a gusty 25-30 but we were safely inside our sleeping bags waiting for the storm to pass. Only two things needed to get up for, tea and pee....a day of reading

Day 4..set up the rest of the equipment. The temperature has dropped to -36. we are having to warm our hands in the caboose as well as run around the perimeter to keep the feet warm. The breathing causes lots of condensation at night and the cold is a discomfort and a disturbance to my sleep. The good thing is that the stars are crystal clear although star gazing is brief.

Day 5...outside temperature -36, inside temperature -25...we are having a few minor problems getting the caboose upto temperature and so we decide to head back this day since it is a clear sky. We pack up, roll the sledge over and spend 30 minutes getting it back up and reach the warmth of base an hour later. It is such a comfort to find the warmth again. More trips to precious bay are planned to check on the instruments and download the data. The fun we have....

pub crawl and rocky horror show

-35oC pub crawl

make sure you wrap up well is the first item. Forget about the make-up, high heels and handbags it will not be needed but extra thermals and woolly hats are a must...All drinks must be kept warm at all times otherwise they may freeze....

first place to visit is the sat com studio...large open space, boxes for seats, echo's off the walls. After this was the melt tank, once again no heating provided so wrap up well. Then it was over to the CASlab (1km) to warm up a bit and listen to the hum of the instruments over the music.


the caslab








then the simpson building for a drink followed by the weatherhaven for the blimp. Here the rave was at capacity of about 10 people. Others then moved onto the piggot for warmth before finally heading to the ice cave.





The ice cave, home built with seating and specialised lighting. Capacity and number limited.






the rocky horror picture show, and alex's birthday, what a sorry sight we are...







the time warp, lets do the time warp againnnnn....its just a jump to the ..... and a step to the ........






alex's decided these had been in his cupboard far too long

the sun has arrived at last

Well the sun came up after a long rest and showed us what we have been missing. It has been a long 105 days and it does change everyone’s outlook for the next few months. The major science work for me has started again, most of the experiments have a reference to light in one way or another and the quicker chemistry occurs in the spring and summer times. There has been the raising of the handrails to the caslab but whereas before there was the stars to guide me to and from work now there is daylight. Each day provides more daylight, although you have to be aware that it is still as cold and windy as before. At the moment we have about 6 hours of daylight and we are still able to get the moon and stars. We are lucky.


Sun up, the raising of the flag as opposed to sundown were we take the flag down or rather the oldest person on base takes it down. This time of sun up the youngest person on base hoists it up. In this case it was Jim ‘the chippy’ at 22, I was close but not close enough……







Sun up party, cocktails and colourful shirts come out….snow volleyball was played at –40, it didn’t last very long but an orange ball was used which was a good start













As the sun comes out Jules has a little fall and manages to fracture his ankle. The doc and dave are ready to put it all in plaster and jules now has to be dragged by pulk and walk around on crutches each day. At least he gets 5 star dinner treatment.




More birthdays in August. This time it was Kirsty’s and she decided to have an action theme…another time for me to get out the make-up, maybe there is something in this. The ideas ranged from lara croft to james bond. Who was i?




richard-stuntman, tom-gladiator, kirsty-lara croft, jim-indiana jones, pete-biggles, tamsin-power ranger, dave-hans solo, mark-col. jack o'neill, dean-james bond, andy-rocky, jules-the ugly one from the good,bad and ugly.

July blog is in the diaries

http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/diaries/halley/
2007/07/index.php




this is where the blog for july is:

mid winter festivities

Just some of the films on show on a film day. The whole day is dedicated to films, oh what fun...popcorn, lemonade and sweets on sale in between the shows.





A crazy golf competition within the building. All course hand made as well as the clubs. All holes par4 or less, no handicaps or caddies allowed on the course at the time of play. Strict dress wear must be adhered. On completion of the course the score cards must be handed in at the bar.
























whatever will they think of next!!!!





The evenings entertainment. The local and talented Z for DEAD. mark, lead singer and guitarist, alex on bass, dean on the drums and dave the guitarist and songwriter. All songs copyright and attention to sound details prohibited.

next showing tbc. book your tickets in advance they are selling fast.


Right, lots of festivities happening for the mid winter week. The lunch midwinter day starts off with a run around the laws building. Most people decide to go naked although nothing is compulsory. Its just a festival time and a tradition. Its only about 100 metres but at -30 the pull of cold onto the lungs give a sharp treat to the system. The other parts of the body take a little time to warm up afterwards. There is no call for a second go. Once is enough i assure you. Everyone is accounted for and any parts fallen off picked up to be put back in place on later.

mid winter

MID WINTER BEGINS


This is a time when all of the bases on the Antarctic share midwinter greetings and messages. There is also a 30 minute BBC world service midwinter broadcast for all of the BAS bases delivering midwinter greetings from family and friends along with a music selection from each base. It is a turning point for those staying for the year, a mark thats been reached and passed. The warm weather and light nights will soon be arriving, or at least that is what we make ourselves believe. A nice happy shot of the group in front of the bar just before the meal.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/midwinter_broadcast.shtml

Champagne and h'dourves for starting the evening. The food is only just beginning. There were about nine courses, all absolutely tingling the taste buds. A few people but on a few kilos over the week, shown in the weight watchers club. James, jules and chris are behind the bar guarding the rich pickings.




The table is set for the 18 guests. The green cloth is laid and the candles lit. The placing as per usual on a first come first served basis although everyone now has certain areas or positions on the table that they deem as their territory. Trespassers not welcome.






One of the desserts.

A carmamelised compote of pineapple with coconut tuile biscuit with a strawberry tart tatin.





As always after large meals and crackers and party hats and jokes the table gets a little messy. We all have to clean it up afterwards though.








A chance to let the vocal chords feel the chilled night air. A sing song on the laws platform choreographed by tamsin and alex.






After the food, their was brandy, furry hats, cigars and a pipe to tell a good ole yarn about the good ole days when ther was no communication with the outside world for 18 months and definately no blogs. How did they survive? On this day of midwinter cheer it was only -27oC but black, total darkness, covered the land apart from the few lights from the nearest buildings.




The next thing on the agenda was the unveiling of the presents. At the start of the year you drew a name out of a hat. You then you had to make them something for their winter present. Roughly about 4 months to come up with an idea and implement it. The presents were placed in a corner and opened one at a time. Its a delight seeing the expressions on the various faces. The whole present idea seems easy enough, not...Many nights towards the end where spent on the presents, stress levels and expectations were high.


The winter presents.
A great variety and a great collection....i think everyone is relieved to have handed something over and grateful to have received something in return.
Glad we don;t have to do it again at xmas. For all of those at home and abroad send presents and gifts to the usual address ;-). And please not that post is always slow going out and can often get lost.

a frozen hair day

Alex, kirsty, tamsin and me with wet frozen hair at -40.
Who needs hair gel?